News release:

(COLUMBUS, Neb.) – Columbus Community Hospital, the Columbus Community Hospital Foundation and CCH’s Volunteer & Guest Services Department recently announced the winners of their 2020 scholarships. Sixteen local students received $9,100 to further their educations.

Below is a list of the scholarship winners:

CCH Foundation Scholarship Awarded to Derek Elton: Derek Elton of Columbus is the winner of the $500 CCH Foundation Scholarship. This scholarship was established in 2017 by the CCH Foundation Board and is awarded to students furthering their education in any health care field. Preference is given to CCH employees or the children or grandchildren of CCH employees.

Elton is 2019 graduate of Columbus High School. He attends the University of Nebraska at Kearney, where he is working toward a Bachelor of Science in exercise science. Elton is also a UNK provisional athletic training student and a candidate for the Master of Athletic Training Program. At Columbus High School, Elton served as president of Future Business Leaders of America and was active in numerous youth leadership organizations. He also lettered on the CHS varsity track team. Elton is employed as a seasonal farm worker and is a volunteer at the three Columbus high schools. He also served as an athletic training student and medical volunteer at sporting events at UNK. He is the son of William and Heather Elton of Columbus.

Eagles Radiological Scholarship Awarded to Ashley Strain: The CCH Foundation has announced Ashley A. Strain as the winner of the 2020 Eagles Radiological Scholarship worth $1,000. The Eagles Radiological Scholarship Fund was established in 2006 by Columbus Eagles No. 1834 Aerie and Auxiliary to promote excellence in the field of prevention, diagnosis and treatment of heart disease and cancer in the Columbus area.

Strain is currently employed at CCH as a radiology/CT technician. She is a student at Central Community College in Columbus, where she is pursuing an associate degree in nursing. She is a member of the American Society of Radiologic Technologists and the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists. Strain has been honored numerous times for outstanding academic performance at Central Community College. Strain and her husband, Cory, live in Genoa.

Dallmont J. and Bernadine Erickson Memorial Scholarship Awarded to Jacee Dush: Jacee Lynne Dush of Columbus is the recipient of the 2020 Dallmont J. and Bernadine Erickson Memorial Scholarship. The scholarship is awarded through the CCH Foundation and is worth $500. The Erickson Scholarship was established by the Ericksons’ daughter, Korene Fehringer, to assist a CCH employee or the child of an employee who is enrolled in educational training in an area of nursing for which the current need is greatest.

Dush is a 2015 graduate of Columbus High School. She graduated in 2018 from Central Community College in Columbus with an associate degree in science and prerequisite nursing classes. She attended the University of Nebraska at Lincoln where she majored in nursing. She is currently a student at Bryan College of Health Sciences in Lincoln where she is working toward a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Dush has been a certified nursing assistant at CCH since 2016. Her parents are Shannon and Ron Dush of Columbus.

Prochaska Scholarships Awarded to Payton Rinkol and Stephanie Weverka: Payton V. Rinkol of Silver Creek and Stephanie M. Weverka of Columbus are the recipients of the 2020 George Prochaska Scholarships through the CCH Foundation. Both of them will be awarded a $500 scholarship to advance their educations in the medical field. The George Prochaska Scholarship Fund was established in 2005 to help promote educational achievement and service excellence among area health care professionals.

Rinkol is 2020 graduate of Twin River High School in Genoa, where she was the senior class president. Rinkol was named to the “A” honor roll with distinction and was active in sports, speech and band in high school. Rinkol received her certified nursing assistant certification from Central Community College in Columbus and works in the long-term care unit at a Genoa medical facility. She plans to attend the University of Nebraska at Kearney this fall to begin her education toward a doctorate of chiropractic health science. Rinkol is the daughter of Randy and Nancy Rinkol of Silver Creek.

Weverka started her nursing career in 2009 and is currently a registered nurse in the Maternal Child Health Department at CCH. She started the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program through Clarkson College in Omaha in August 2019 and plans to graduate in May 2021. Weverka is a member of Alpha Delta Nu Nursing Honor Society, Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society and volunteers through her church. She and her children reside in Columbus.

Gerhold Scholarship Awarded to MaKenzie Kay Enderlin: MaKenzie Kay Enderlin of Columbus is the recipient of the 2020 William and Barbara Gerhold $500 Scholarship through the CCH Foundation. The William and Barbara Gerhold Scholarship was established in 2005 to help promote educational achievement and service excellence among area students going into the health care field.

Enderlin is a 2020 graduate of Scotus Central Catholic High School where she was named to the straight “A” honor roll and played on the girls’ golf team. She is employed at Brookestone Acres as a certified nursing assistant and has participated in numerous job shadow experiences at CCH. Enderlin will attend Northeast Community College in Norfolk. She intends to complete her nursing degree at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Norfolk and become an obstetrics nurse. She is the daughter of Craig and Kathy Enderlin of Columbus.

Columbus Community Hospital High School Scholarship Awarded to Vrbka: Jayce C. Vrbka of Shelby is the recipient of the 2020 CCH High School Student Scholarship. The scholarship is awarded through the CCH Foundation and is worth $300. The CCH High School Scholarship was established in 2008 and is awarded to a qualified high school student who is taking a certified nursing assistant or other entry level health care course.

Vrbka is a 2020 graduate of Shelby-Rising City Public High School where she was vice president of the National Honor Society. She was also active in sports, student council, Future Farmers of America, Future Business Leaders of America, band and 4-H. After her high school graduation, Vrbka will take certified nursing assistant courses at Central Community College in Columbus and will then enroll in Northeast Community College in Norfolk to pursue a career in nursing or dental hygiene. Vrbka is the daughter of Corey and Jennifer Vrbka of Shelby.

Dwayne Willers Memorial Scholarship Awarded to Mia Janssen: Mia Nicole Janssen of Columbus is the recipient of the $300 Dwayne Willers Memorial Scholarship, awarded through the CCH Foundation. The Dwayne Willers Memorial Scholarship was established in 2013 by Willers’ family and is awarded to a qualified student who is pursuing a career in the field of radiology.

 Janssen is a 2018 graduate of Columbus High School and she is working on her bachelor’s degree in medical imaging at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. She was named to the dean’s list in 2018 and 2019. Janssen is a member of Sigma Kappa Sorority, the Pre-Health Professionals Club and the UNO Honors Student Association. While in high school, Janssen volunteered at her church, the Columbus Rescue Mission and at Columbus Community Hospital’s “We Can Run, Walk and Roll” event. Mia is the daughter of Doug and Janelle Janssen of Columbus.

HDR Scholarships Awarded to Sara Becker and Timothy Ehlers: Sara A. Becker of Columbus, and Timothy A. Ehlers of Columbus, are the recipients of the 2020 HDR Scholarship through the CCH Foundation. Each year, the HDR scholarships help two students who are pursuing careers in health care. Preference is given to students who plan to attend Central Community College in Columbus and for one scholarship preference is given to a student who is proficient in Spanish.

Becker has been employed at CCH for the past nine years as a certified nursing assistant. She has been accepted by Central Community College in Columbus and will begin to work toward her degree as a registered nurse this fall. Sara, her husband, Kyle, and their family live in Columbus.

Ehlers is 2020 graduate of Scotus Central Catholic High School. He was very active in his church and band in high school. He served as the band uniform manager and was a member of the conference honor band and the Masonic All-Star Marching Band. He was employed at several part-time jobs during his high school years. Ehlers has been accepted by Central Community College in Columbus and will begin to work toward his degree as a registered nurse this fall. His ultimate goal is to become a certified registered nurse anesthetist. Ehlers is the son of Jason and Sarah Ehlers of Columbus.

Deb Kessler Memorial Scholarship Awarded to Sarah Huettner: Sarah R. Huettner of Humphrey is the recipient of the Deb Kessler Memorial Scholarship. This $500 scholarship was established in 2019 by Jack Kessler and Deb’s family and friends to help promote educational achievement and service excellence among area students pursuing a career in nursing. Preference is given to a CCH employee or child of an employee.   

Huettner is furthering her health care career by pursuing a Master of Science of Nursing/Family Nurse Practitioner at the University of Nebraska Medical Center - College of Nursing. She has been a registered nurse in the Post Anesthesia Care Unit at CCH for more than seven years and has also been a service line coordinator. She is involved in the nursing peer review committee and with the surgical services expansion project. Additionally, Huettner is a basic life support instructor and volunteers her time as an EMT in Humphrey. She is a member of the American Association for Nurse Practitioners and performs annual health checks for students in grades K- 12 at a local private school. Huettner, her husband, Kyle, and their children live in Humphrey.

 Robert and Verdella Emerson Scholarship Awarded to Debanhi D. Adame-Hernandez: Debanhi D. Adame-Hernandez is the first recipient of the Robert and Verdella Emerson Scholarship. The scholarship was established in 2019 by Robert and Verdella Emerson. It awards $500 to a student who is enrolled in any medical educational training. Preference is given to those demonstrating financial hardship.

Adame-Hernandez is a 2020 graduate of Scotus Central Catholic High School. She received the All Conference Academic Excellence Award, was named to the All-Conference Band and received the Fine Arts Letter Award for Speech and Band. She was active in her church and held a part-time job during her high school career. Adame-Hernandez job shadowed at CCH’s Wiggles and Giggles Wiggles & Giggles Therapy for Kids and is enrolled at Augustana University in Sioux Falls, South Dakota where she intends to pursue a career in speech pathology.  She is the daughter of Antonino Adame and Rocio Hernandez-Adame of Columbus.

Charles and Myrna Meyer Memorial Scholarship Awarded to Dalton Borchers: Dalton J. Borchers is the first recipient of the Charles and Myrna Meyer Memorial Scholarship. This scholarship was established in 2019 by Kim Meyer and Brad Meyer to honor the memory of their parents, Charles and Myrna Meyer. It awards $500 to a student who is enrolled in any medical educational training. Preference is given to those demonstrating financial hardship.

Borchers is a 2020 graduate of Scotus Central Catholic High School, where he was active in sports all four years. He was an active volunteer at his church and in the community and was named to the straight “A” honor roll throughout high school. He served as president of the Scotus Chapter of HOSA Future Health Professionals and held a part-time job while in school. Borchers is enrolled at Southeast Community College in Lincoln. He plans to become a physician assistant. Borchers completed a certified nursing assistant course and will be employed at CCH this summer. He is the son of Cletus and Lisa Borchers of Columbus.

VolunTEEN Scholarships Awarded to Amanda Daugaard, Karissa Gleeson and Melissa Ramaekers: Amanda Daugaard and Karissa Gleeson of Columbus and Melissa Ramaekers of Bellwood are the recipients of the 2020 VolunTEEN Scholarships through CCH’s Volunteer & Guest Services Department. Daugaard will be awarded a $500 scholarship. Gleeson and Ramaekers will both be awarded a $1,000 scholarship. The VolunTEEN Scholarship was established in 2018 and is awarded to graduating high school seniors actively involved in the CCH VolunTEEN program. 

Daugaard has been a CCH VolunTEEN since 2017 and is a 2020 graduate of Columbus High School. She plans to attend the University of South Dakota where she will study nursing. While attending Columbus High School, Daugaard was active in numerous youth leadership organizations including HOSA, National Honor Society, marching band and pep band. Daugaard is active in her community through Habitat for Humanity and Night to Shine. Daugaard is the daughter of Don and Renee Daugaard of Columbus. 

Gleeson has been a CCH VolunTEEN since 2017 and is a 2020 graduate of Columbus High School. She plans to attend Nebraska Wesleyan University where she will study biology as she pursues a career in medicine. Gleeson’s activities at Columbus High School include student council, Key Club, CHS 101 Mentors, New World Singers and Neptune’s Angels. During her senior year, Gleeson was employed at CCH’s Wiggles & Giggles as a rehab aide. Gleeson is the daughter of Chris and Janice Nichols of Columbus. 

 Ramaekers has been a CCH VolunTEEN since 2017 and is a 2020 graduate of Columbus High School.  She will be attending Central Community College where she will begin her studies in pursuit of a career in respiratory therapy. While attending Columbus High School, Ramaekers was involved in National Honor Society, yearbook and served as the girls’ basketball manager in addition to being on the softball and track teams. Ramaekers’ community activities include being a youth praise and worship leader at Trinity Lutheran Church. Ramaekers is the daughter of Shannon and Angie Ramaekers of Bellwood. 

For more information on scholarships awarded through the CCH Foundation, visit www.columbushosp.org or call the CCH Foundation at 402-562-3377.