White Salmon, Wash. – The Skyline Foundation recently awarded $12,500 in scholarships to five local women – all pursuing their dream of making a difference in health care. This year the foundation has more than doubled its scholarship awards.

“In memory of Ted Brown who passed away in January, we decided to honor his dedication to Skyline by awarding a higher scholarship amount to recipients of the Brown Nursing Scholarship. Typically, the amount awarded is in the range of $500 – $1,500 per scholarship,” said Bob Weisfield, Skyline Foundation president. “It was important to the Skyline Foundation board to pay tribute to Brown after his significant gift to the foundation.”

This year’s recipients of the annual Brown Nursing Scholarship are Gena Martinez of White Salmon, Katelyn Logan of Hood River, Isela Luna of The Dalles and Paige Bardin of Goldendale.

The recipient of the Wayne M. Henkle, M.D., Scholarship Fund is Jessica Short of Hood River.

Martinez is a registered nurse at Skyline Health and is studying to obtain her Certified Emergency Nurse credentialing. She has a passion for health care and is committed to continuing her career at Skyline, as well as her dedicated to service to our communities. Martinez was awarded $500.

Logan has a long history of community-minded action. At age 16 she became a student firefighter and then an EMT during her senior year in high school. She is currently attending Concordia University in Portland and aspires to become a fight nurse working for Life Flight based out of Dallesport. She was awarded $3,000.

Bardin is an ambassador for the Knight Cancer Institute and the Vice President of Columbia Gorge Community College. She has received Honors, Dean and President awards for the last eight consecutive terms. Her ambition is to specialize in either wound care or travel nursing. Bardin was awarded $3,000.

Short has worked in the medical field for the last nine years. As a Certified Nursing Assistant at Skyline Health she is involved in many community outreach programs. She is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing. Short was awarded $3,000.

“The board extends its good wishes for the recipients’ continuing education and for making a difference in our communities. We also thank Ted and Sylvia Brown for giving such a gift to our community in the form of the Brown Nursing Scholarship Fund,” continued Weisfield.

The Brown Nursing Scholarship was established by Ted and Sylvia Brown in 2014. The fund is awarded each May and is designated for residents of the Columbia River Gorge who are pursuing a career in the nursing profession. Residents must be dedicated to returning to this area to work or volunteer in health care for a least one year.

The Wayne M. Henkle, M.D., Scholarship was established in memory of a longtime and much-loved community physician. The fund is awarded each May and designated for residents of western Klickitat or eastern Skamania counties, and Skyline Health employees who seek secondary education or further training in the health care field. Recipients must be dedicated to returning to this area to work or volunteer in health care for at least one year.

To learn more visit www.skylinefoundation.org or by contacting the foundation at 509-637-2602.

The Skyline Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable corporation dedicated to improving health care in Klickitat and Skamania counties by promoting financial support to Skyline Health and supporting events to improve community health programs and hospital services for the area.