Labette Health Foundation Awards Scholarships to 15 Students

PARSONS, Kan., July 24, 2009 -- The Labette Health Foundation presented scholarships totaling $11,500 to 15 students in healthcare-related fields during a luncheon at Commercial Bank. Foundation President Brian West and Labette Health Chief Executive Officer William Mahoney presented the scholarships.

Recipients include three pharmacy students at the University of Kansas, Emily Gilpin, Danielle Smith and Neil Young; and one at the University of Missouri Kansas City, Kelsey Carter. All four received $1,500 scholarships.

Recipients of $500 scholarships included five students at Labette Community College: Tara Britton, Bailey Gilbreath, Beth Shipp and Bobbi Wolgamott in the radiology program, and Melody Ramirez in the nursing program. Peyton Kessler and Amber Walker are in the nursing program at Pittsburg State and Levi Saye is in the paramedic program at MSSU. Shayla Smith and Jill Spriggs are studying to be physical therapy assistants, Smith at Washburn University and Spriggs at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M University. Megan Roberts is studying to be an occupational therapy assistant at KU.

Since 1996, the Foundation has given away more than $72,000 in scholarships, and many of those recipients are working at Labette Health today.

Commercial Bank donated and served the luncheon.

Recipients of scholarships awarded by the Labette Health Foundation at its luncheon Friday included, front row from left, Jill Spriggs, Kelsey Carter, Peyton Kessler; middle row from left, Shayla Smith, Amber Walker, Tara Britton, Danielle Smith, Emily Gilpin; back row from left, Melody Ramirez, Levi Saye, Neil Young. Not pictured are Bailey Gilbreath, Megan Roberts, Beth Shipp and Bobbi Wolgamott.