Students receive scholarships from Medical Center Auxiliary

High school and college students planning to pursue a medical career were awarded scholarships Thursday by the Menifee Valley Medical Center Auxiliary. Menifee photos: Doug Spoon

The Menifee Valley Medical Center Auxiliary presented scholarships to 33 honorees Thursday, including local high school and college students planning to pursue a medical career and Medical Center nurses looking to further their education.

The annual scholarship luncheon was held at the Menifee Masonic Temple. Each honoree was presented a $2,300 scholarship to be used in pursuing an education in the medical field. Donica Loney, a senior at Santa Rosa Academy, received $2,500 after being named winner of the Darleen Bullock Memorial Award. She plans to attend Cal Baptist University and major in health sciences.

Honorees were given the chance to introduce themselves and tell audience members what school they plan to attend and what their goals in the medical field are. The program was put together by the Auxiliary Scholarship Committee, made up of Ed Hollowell, Rick Alvarez, Judy Bair, Louise Gallaher, Maria Garcia and Phyllis Hershey.

Dan McLaughlin (left), CEO of the Menifee Valley Medical Center, addressed the honorees as well.

"You have chosen a great profession," McLaughlin told the students, who plan careers as doctors, nurses or medical support staff. "You're changing lives. Remember, it's the people who make it happen. You have such an opportunity to pay it forward through the investment of these dollars.

"Stay the course; don't ever give up. The journey is worth it. If you can just change one life, it's worth it."

Funding for the scholarships is provided through a grant received from the Menifee Community Health Investment Program and by the Valley Health Systems Foundation, in addition to proceeds from the medical center's gift shop and fundraisers. The Auxiliary has awarded 252 scholarships totaling about $350,000 since 1994.

To be eligible for the scholarship, one must be a student at a local high school or at Mt. San Jacinto College or an employee of Menifee Valley Medical Center. Candidates must maintain a 3.0 GPA and attend a personal interview.

Menifee Valley Medical Center is located at 28400 McCall Boulevard.

The 2017 scholarship recipients:

Frank Aceves, Brianna Beauchamp, Christalen Beltran, Keiko Bovee, Nathan Brown, Andrea Cadaing, Yarell Cervantes, Brianna Cruz, Katelyn Denny, Karina Diaz, Ana Dimas;

Larissa Duran, Hanna Doty, Elvie Gonzalez, Samantha Gray, Juliet Griffin, Maria Gurrola, Samantha Kiewel, Donica Loney, Cynthia Lopez, Heriberto Lopez, Sarah Marin;

Noemi Mendoza, Ivy Nguyen, Briany Padilla, Sara Pearson, Trevor Salas, Giti Skolncik, Kellie Span, Nancy Spence, Kassidy Vogel, May Yositsaki, Shely Zeiter.