Each year, the Clara Barton Foundation awards scholarships to applicants interested in pursuing a degree in the medical field. These scholarships have been funded through scholarship endowments that have been established over the years. This year the foundation awarded nine scholarships, totaling $6,000.

The Verda Lane Scholarship was made possible through an endowment established by her family in honor of her years of dedicated nursing service. This scholarship supports students in their academic journey toward becoming Registered Nurses (RNs), Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs), Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) graduates, or pursuing a Doctorate in Nursing. This year, the Verda Lane scholarship was awarded to Krista Schneider of Olmitz, Jennah Jeffrey of Hoisington, and Chloe Schenk of Otis. 

• Schneider is a former graduate of Hoisington High School (Class of 2018). Krista graduated with her BSN from Fort Hays State University in May 2022 and passed state boards. She began the Doctor of Nursing Program at FHSU in June 2022 and moved to Wichita. While pursuing her doctorate, she’s been working as an RN in the Trauma/Surgical Intensive Care Unit at Wesley Medical Center. Krista plans to return to a rural Kansas community as a Family Nurse Practitioner in the clinical setting, caring for others in all areas of life. 

• Jeffrey is a former graduate of Central Plains High School (Class of 2021) and a current RN at Clara Barton. While working towards her associate degree in nursing at Barton Community College she was concurrently enrolled in Grand Canyon University’s online RN to BSN program. She is in the process of earning her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from GCU and has been accepted into an RN Residency program in the ICU at HaysMed. After completing the program, she dreams of becoming either a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) or a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP). Jennah hopes to make a positive impact in the rural area in which she was raised and become a compassionate and caring medical provider. 

• Schenk is a 2023 graduate of Otis-Bison High School. In 2021, she obtained her CNA from Barton Community College and began working at Rush County Memorial Hospital. In the fall, she will attend the Practical Nursing program at BCC. Once completed, she plans to apply for a  Registered Nurse program and obtain her Bachelor of Science in Nursing through the University of Kansas’s online RN to BSN program. After a few years of working in critical care, her goal is to enroll in the Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist program at KU. Chloe truly enjoys getting to know her patients and looks forward to a rewarding and challenging career becoming a Nurse Anesthetist.

The Jonathan Witt Scholarship supports students planning to pursue a healthcare professional curriculum. This scholarship is the oldest scholarship offered, having been continually awarded since the formation of the Hospital Auxiliary organization in the 1950’s. The auxiliary members voted to rename the scholarship in 2004 and established an endowment with the Foundation in honor of Jonathan Witt, son of Dr. Dan and Sandi Witt. This year the scholarships were awarded to Marisa Jonas and Livvy Brewer, both of Hoisington. 

• Jonas is a former graduate of Hoisington High School (Class of 2016). In 2021, she graduated from Fort Hays State University with her Bachelor of Science. In May, she started her fourth and final year of optometry school at Northeastern State University Oklahoma College of Optometry. Marissa enjoys patient interactions, diversity of cases, variety of patient treatments, and seeing patient satisfaction. After professional school, Marisa plans to return to the area and give back to the community that raised her. Ultimately, she would love to own and operate her own practice.

• Brewer is a former graduate of Hoisington High School (Class of 2022). She has been a CNA at Clara Barton Medical Center since June of 2021 and has officially been accepted into the nursing program at Fort Hays State University. Livvy has always enjoyed helping others, and her passion for the nursing profession has only grown during her experience working as a CNA. She enjoys the close-knit feel of the community and hopes to return to the area to practice locally after graduating as a Registered Nurse with her Bachelor of Science in Nursing. 

The Sadie Stalcup Scholarship was established in more recent years to honor Sadie Stalcup, a long-time nurse at Clara Barton Hospital. This year, the scholarships were awarded to Maleigha Schmidt of Hoisington and Brynna Hammeke of Claflin. 

• Schmidt is a former graduate of Hoisington High School (Class of 2019) and is currently a student at Fort Hays State University. She recently attained a Bachelor of Science in Biology (Pre-Med) and is now working to complete her Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry. Throughout her childhood, she witnessed firsthand the positive impact doctors have had on her family and it solidified her decision to pursue a medical degree. After completing her degree, Maleigha’s goal is to pursue a Doctorate in Anesthesia and return to work locally to give back to the community.

• Hammeke is a 2023 graduate of Central Plains High School. She’s always had an interest in the medical field and found a passion for respiratory care after witnessing the need for these specialists when someone close to her was put on a ventilator. In December 2022, she received her CNA from Barton Community College and began working in the Respiratory Therapy department at Clara Barton the following June. Brynna has been accepted into the Respiratory Therapy program at Johnson County Community College and will begin classes in August. 

The Dr. Robert Moore Scholarship was established at the request of the late Dr. Moore’s family to assist employees of Clara Barton Hospital with their continuing education. This year, the scholarships were awarded to Jonell Demel and Samantha Roddey, both of Great Bend. 

• Roddey has been a Physical Therapy Assistant at Clara Barton Medical Center since 2017. Constantly seeking new and innovative ways to approach patient care, she will be participating in an ASTYM continuing education course. ASTYM therapy is a specialized approach to treating soft tissue injuries and dysfunctions. By taking this course, she hopes to further refine her skills, provide even better care to her patients, and bring new techniques and insights back to the workplace. 

• Demel has been a Pre-Op/PACU Registered Nurse at Clara Barton Medical Center since 2021. She is a current member of the American Society of PeriAnesthesia Nurses (ASPAN) and is in the process of earning two additional certifications to become a Certified Ambulatory Perianesthesia Nurse (CAPN) and a Certified Post Anesthesia Nurse (CPAN). These certifications and additional education will help her deliver the next level of care each patient deserves in the fast-paced work environment within the newly built surgical addition.

Anyone interested in making a contribution to any of these endowments or to the Clara Barton Foundation can visit www.clarabartonhospital.com, contact the Foundation at 620-292-0814 or mail your tax-deductible contribution to P.O. Box 25 Hoisington, Kansas 67544.