Scholarships available for care workers in Wallowa County
By Paul Hall on Friday, April 30th, 2021 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News
WALLOWA COUNTY – Wallowa Valley Health Care Foundation is offering scholarships to care workers in Wallowa County. One of the scholarships is the Frances Boyd Burbridge Scholarship. Gene Boyd and his wife Charlene were big supporters of the Wallowa Valley Health Care Foundation. Gene who recently passed away, help create the Edgar Burbridge and Frances Boyd Burbridge Scholarship, in honor of Gene’s sister Frances, who left a $286,000 estate gift to the foundation in 2018. The Edgar & Frances Boyd Burbridge Scholarship were started in 2018 by Gene Boyd, the brother of Frances. Boyd, a graduate of Enterprise High School, worked with his family to start the scholarship in his sister and brother-in-law’s name.
Another scholarship is the Gwen and Gladys Coffin Memorial. The Gwen & Gladys Coffin Memorial Scholarship were started in 2011, spearheaded by their daughter, Gail Swart. Swart, who was a Foundation Board member from 1996-2019, wanted to honor her parents and support dual causes the retired music teacher feels passionately about: quality health care and education. Swart’s mother, Gladys Coffin, gave an irrevocable gift of $500,000 in 1995, in her late husband Gwen’s honor.
Relatives of the families take pride in the legacy left by these gifts, and the scholarships they are supporting.
The criteria for both scholarships are:
Must be a resident of Wallowa County and must have been employed in a nonprofit health care setting (Wallowa Memorial Hospital, Care Center, or other organized nonprofit)
Must be investing in your second year or higher of education or training to enhance your skill level and professional development, and it must also benefit health care services in the county
Must continue to work in Wallowa County for a minimum of one year following receipt of the scholarship
Education or training must not be a requirement of your current position
Must be over age 18 and have already completed high school
Another scholarship is the Gwen and Gladys Coffin Memorial
The deadline is June 1st to have applications turned in.
For more information on the scholarship, contact the Wallowa Valley Health Care Foundation, 541-426-1913 or visit their website Foundation – Wallowa County Healthcare District (wchcd.org).
