On the left is Madelyn Willis and on the right is Elena South.
For Immediate Release
The Daniels Memorial Healthcare Foundation board of directors recently approved and awarded two educational scholarships to employees of the Daniels Memorial Healthcare Center.
The 2025 John and Christina Hoepner Educational Scholarship awards of $2000 per applicant was presented to Madelyn Willis and Elena South, with the one-year grant going towards furthering their degrees in their respective studies and careers.
Madelyn Willis has worked at DMHC for about 3 years, with 2 of them being a CNA. Madelyn will be going into Nursing at Dickinson State University this fall and has already taken, as a high school senior, six general college classes which are 18 college credits. Her plans and goals are for a Bachelor’s Degree in Science and Nursing. “I am so thankful for DMHC and the experiences I have gained from working for them. I am also grateful to the Foundation for this scholarship to help further my education in Nursing,” said Madelyn. “The staff I have worked with at DMHC has influenced me to further my education in becoming a nurse.”
Elena South has worked at DMHC f or ten years, starting out as a CNA while waiting for her RN nursing license to be transferred from Europe. She is currently studying for her Masters of Science in Nursing, with the end goal of becoming a Family Nurse Practitioner. “I have really enjoyed my studies this last year and have learned a lot so far. I look forward to starting clinicals this summer, as I continue to work toward my MSN,” stated Elena. “A big thank you to DMHF for the scholarship and support on this journey.”
The John and Christina Hoepner scholarship program was first started in 1983 with the Hospital Association and then transferred to be managed by the Foundation in 1986. There have been sixty-six scholarships given out from 1983-2014, totaling over $129,000, and now in the past two years, another $8000 given. The number of scholarships given each year and the amount is at the discretion of the Foundation board, with grants up to $2000 each.
Through the John and Christina Hoepner Scholarship, the Foundation plans to offer and award the yearly scholarships to DMHC employees and/or local students that are pursuing a degree, seeking a higher degree or starting their education in any area of healthcare. Grant guidelines and applications can be acquired at the Foundation office in the lower level of the DMHC.
Beth Pickthorn
06/24/2025