WEST DES MOINES, Iowa (August 4, 2022) – The Iowa Health Care Association (IHCA) Foundation has announced the winners of its 2022 health care scholarship programs. This year, the IHCA Foundation awarded 78 scholarships totaling over $105,000 to assist Iowans who want to advance their health care education and work in long-term care.  This is the highest number of scholarships awarded by the IHCA Foundation in a single year. In 2018, the IHCA Foundation offered 15 scholarships totaling $15,000. This year, the IHCA Foundation received more than 190 applications for the 78 available scholarships.

The IHCA Foundation has a long history of offering scholarships for current long-term care employees to advance their skills and for those interested in joining the profession, including high school students and veterans. This year, the IHCA Foundation added two new scholarships, with one for Iowans who live in rural communities interested in joining the health care profession and another for current long-term care employees seeking to advance their leadership skills.  Scholarship applications are evaluated by the IHCA Foundation Board of Directors based upon the applicant’s experience, recommendations and future educational and career goals in long-term care. This year’s IHCA Foundation scholarship winners include (from this area):

John W. & Kimberly D. Grubb Registered Nurse (RN) Scholarship Recipients – This $3,000 scholarship is sponsored by the John R. and Zelda Z. Grubb Charitable Foundation, and it is for employees of IHCA member organizations pursuing an RN degree. Scholarships were awarded to the following recipients:

* Eyon Steffensen, Exira Care Center, Exira
* Saraha LeClair, Maple Heights Nursing Home, Mapleton
* Tara Gaa-Bluml, Regency Park Nursing Home and Rehabilitation Center of Carroll

MolinaCares High School Scholarship Recipients – This $2,000 scholarship, made possible by The Molina Healthcare Charitable Foundation (MolinaCares), is for Iowa high school seniors pursuing a certified nursing assistant (CNA), licensed practical nurse (LPN), RN or bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) program. A scholarships was awarded to:

* Miranda Ring, Tri-Center High School, Neola

IHCA Member Employee Scholarship Recipients – This $1,500 scholarship is for employees of IHCA member organizations who are pursuing a nursing, health care administration or physical or occupational therapy training program, and is made possible by IHCA Districts, Iowa Council of Nurse Leaders, Iowa Society of Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine, The Vetter Foundation, Brighton Consulting Group, HPSI Purchasing Services, Right Dose, A Guardian Pharmacy and Robert and Shirley V. Dahl Foundation. Scholarships were awarded to the following recipients:

* Marah Larsen, Accura Healthcare of Stanton
* Riley Hunter, Accura Healthcare of Shenandoah

About the Iowa Health Care Association Foundation…
Founded in 1988 by the Iowa Health Care Association (IHCA), the mission of the IHCA Foundation is to foster excellence in long-term care for Iowans by building a stronger workforce. The IHCA Foundation carries out this mission by empowering individuals to reach their career goals in the long-term care profession through scholarships, career education and career access programs. IHCA Foundation programs help support career opportunities available in the long-term care continuum, including nursing facilities, assisted living programs, residential care facilities, senior living communities and home health agencies