PORT ANGELES — Twenty-nine people have been awarded a total of $500,000 in scholarship money to begin or further their medical education, with a goal of adding home-grown medical staff to Olympic Medical Center.
The scholarships were announced Wednesday by Bruce Skinner, executive director of the Olympic Medical Center Foundation.
“There are many people who want to go back to school to advance their careers, change career paths, or who want to start college but can’t afford to do so,” Skinner said. “We are giving significant scholarships so that we can take cost out of the equation for these students.”
The program, launched by the foundation in September 2023 after it was suggested by OMC CEO Darryl Wolfe, is supported by local donors to fund the training of local students — most at Peninsula College — to fill positions at Olympic Medical Center in nursing and a variety of other health care professions, ranging from lab technicians to medical assistants.
The scholarship is a full ride in that it covers not only tuition, fees and books but also living expenses, allowing students to focus solely on their studies.
Four of the students received scholarships made possible by a donation from George Brown in memory of his wife, Barbara.
“It is certainly one of the few opportunities locally to have tuition, fees, books, supplies and additional support for living expenses like child care that exist in the area,” said Kate Dexter, the clinical, outreach and accreditation coordinator for the nursing program at Peninsula College.
“It can be a huge game-changer for students,” she added.
Vickie Swanson, chief nursing officer at OMC, said the program is “a win-win for both of us.
“The individual has gotten some educational assistance to help meet some of their dreams, and OMC is getting employees who are very invested in the organization,” she said.
“We don’t have to look for housing and some of the other challenges to recruit people to the area,” added Swanson, who is set to welcome more than 20 registered nurses in the spring, as soon as they pass board exams.
Twenty-four of the 29 scholarships awarded for the beginning of the fall are to Peninsula College. Others fund continuing education beyond the offerings at the community college or help students acquire medical expertise not taught at the college.
For instance, Peyton May Rudd of Port Angeles has been granted a scholarship to Spokane Community College to study diagnostic medical imaging, a program not taught at Peninsula College.
Rudd, a third-generation Port Angeles native, plans to return to OMC.
Peninsula College “offers a bunch of the pre-requisites but does not offer ultrasound,” the 20-year-old said. “I feel so blessed that they were able to give me that.”
She recently moved to Spokane to begin her studies, which will be all in-class work the first year with a clinical internship the second year.
“I’m hoping I can come back and do my clinicals at OMC,” she said.
For those who already work in the medical field locally, the scholarship is an opportunity to expand their training and expertise.
Devanee Jane Cipriano has worked as a certified medical assistant at OMP Pediatrics for five years and plans to pursue RN studies at Peninsula College. Stacia Marie Kiesser is now working as RN manager clinical training and development at OMC. She has worked in that position for 11 years and now aims to complete a master’s degree in nursing leadership and management.
Michelle Leslie Williams of Port Angeles appreciates that the scholarship will allow her to finish a nursing degree without having to work. The single mother said it was difficult to balance work, study and care for her 16-year-old son. But at 35, she wanted a better life and more career opportunities.
She has an associate of arts degree in medical assisting and worked at OMC for four years and then Peninsula Behavioral Health for three years.
“I’ve been working in the medical industry for seven years,” she said. “You can only learn so much and do so much as a medical assistant.”
As an RN, she hopes to work in a psychiatric setting or in an intensive care unit.
“I’m very thankful” for the scholarship, Williams said. “They pay for tuition, books, testing, and also give you a living amount, which is quite substantial.
“Having the ability to just focus on learning the skills is a blessing. It’s a lot off my shoulders,” she said.
Her growing career means that her son “doesn’t have to worry about having basic things.
“It’s the stability I was looking for,” Williams said.
Swanson is looking forward to continuing growth of the program, perhaps with work done to interest high school students before they decide on a career path.
Said Dexter: “I appreciate Bruce’s leadership on this. We owe him thanks for his effort to do it and thank you to community members who have stepped up.”
Dexter can be reached at kdexter@pencol.edu.
The foundation offers information about the application process at 360-417-7144. Those interested in making donations can call the office or email bruce@omhf.org. Donations also can be mailed to 1015 Georgiana St., Port Angeles.
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Leah Leach is a former executive editor for the Peninsula Daily News.
Scholarship awardees
PORT ANGELES — Here’s a list of the 29 students recently awarded $500,000 in scholarships.
Continuing, awarded for the second time — Kayla Blodgett, Kristina Connor, Whitney Christianson, Erin Ewing, Sharon Kiplagat, Abigail Raphael, Ilene Rogers, Jack Sisson, Gloria Tietz, Michelle Williams.
First-time recipients — Joshua Bolton, IrieAna Brown, Simon Close, Devanee Cipriano, Lara Eash, Isabelle Felton, Karissa Hayter, Kayla Keller, Stacia Kiesser, Madelyn Korshoff, MeLyssa Lovell, Amanda McKoin, Alexanda Parrill, Peyton Rudd, Devon Scribner, Sharon Senner, Tila Stackhouse, Douglas Weatherly, Elizabeth Wood.
