Scholarships

Columbus Community Hospital and the Columbus Community Hospital Foundation recently announced the winners of their 2021 scholarships. Ten local students received $5,100 to further their educations.

Below is a list of the scholarship winners:

CCH Foundation Scholarship Awarded to Coden Prokopec: Coden B. Prokopec of Columbus is the winner of the $500 Columbus Community Hospital (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.

Prokopec is a graduate of Columbus High School. He attends Midland University of Nebraska in Fremont, where he is working toward a bachelor’s degree in nursing. Prokopec was employed at Columbus Community Hospital in the TestNebraska program and also as a COVID screener. In high school, Prokpec was active in the Revolution group, a program offered by the Center for Survivors and the Federated Church youth group. He is the son of Carrie Prokopec of Columbus.

Eagles Radiological Scholarship Awarded to Katelyn Keffeler: Katelyn B. Keffeler is the winner of the 2021 Eagles Radiological Scholarship, valued at $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.

Keffeler is currently employed at CCH as a COVID screener for the occupational health department. She is a student at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in the radiography program through Community College in Columbus. She was the recipient of a Chadron State College RHOP scholarship in 2018 and was on the president’s and dean’s list for academic recognition. Keffeler plans to pursue a career as a radiologic technologist. She is the daughter of Bryan and Paula Keffeler of Holdrege.

Dallmont J. and Bernadine Erickson Memorial Scholarship Awarded to Emily Theis: Emily J. Theis of Osceola is the recipient of the 2021 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.

Theis is a 2021 graduate of Osceola High School, where she held leadership roles in the National Honor Society, student council and Future Farmers of America (FFA). She also was involved in the spring play, basketball and track. She is employed as a certified nursing assistant (CNA) at Osceola’s Good Samaritan Society nursing home. Theis plans to enroll this fall at the University of Nebraska at Kearney to study to become a registered nurse. Her parents are Dan and Amy Theis of Osceola.

Prochaska Scholarships Awarded to Brenna Messersmith and Madelyn Rinkol: Brenna G. Messersmith of Columbus and Madelyn N. Rinkol of Silver Creek are the recipients of the 2021 George Prochaska Scholarships through the CCH Foundation. Both of them will receive 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.

Messersmith is a 2021 graduate of Columbus High School, where she was involved in the National Honor Society and was a Salvation Army bell ringer. Messersmith was named to the “3.5” honor roll in high school. She is employed as a certified nursing assistant (CNA) at Emerald Court Nursing and Rehab. Messersmith plans to attend Midland University in Fremont this fall. Her career goal is to become a registered trauma nurse. She is the daughter of Scott and Michelle Messersmith of Columbus.

Rinkol is a 2018 graduate of Twin River High School in Genoa. She then attended Wayne State College through the Rural Health Opportunities Program (RHOP). Rinkol has been enrolled at the University of Nebraska Medical Center since the fall of 2020. She is employed as a CNA at the Genoa Medical Facility Long Term Care Unit. Her professional career goal is to become a family nurse practitioner (FNP). Rinkol is the daughter of Randy and Nancy Rinkol of Silver Creek.

Gerhold Scholarship Awarded to Bailey Lemberg: Bailey N. Lemberg of Clarkson is the recipient of the 2021 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.

Lemberg is a 2021 graduate of Clarkson High School, where she was ranked first in her graduating class. She is active in the National Honor Society, volleyball, basketball and track and in her church youth group. Lemberg was consistently named to the superior honor roll and received the Presidential Academic Achievement and Excellent Award each year from 2011 to 2021. She was employed at the Clarkson swimming pool as a lifeguard, pool manager and instructor. Lemberg plans to attend Northeast Community College in Norfolk where she will major in nursing. Her goal is to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and to work in a hospital.

Columbus Community Hospital High School Scholarship Awarded to Alissa Kasik: Alissa M. Kasik of Leigh is the recipient of the 2021 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.

Kasik is a 2021 graduate of Leigh High School, where she was a letter winner in volleyball, basketball, track, one-act play and journalism. She was member of the National Honor Society, FFA, band and choir. She plans to enroll this fall at Northeast Community College in Norfolk to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Kasik is the daughter of Joe and Heather Kasik of Leigh.

Dwayne Willers Memorial Scholarship Awarded to Holly Kuhr: Holly B. Kuhr of Clarkson 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.

Kuhr is a 2019 graduate of Leigh High School. She was selected for the Rural Health Opportunities Program (RHOP) in 2019 and attended Wayne State College for two years. She will begin her studies at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in the fall of 2021. Her professional career goal is to become a radiologic technologist. Kuhr has been placed through the RHOP at Columbus Community Hospital. Kuhr is the daughter of Russ and Beth Kuhr of Columbus.

HDR Scholarship Awarded to Chau (Lily) Nguyen: Chau (Lily) Nguyen of Columbus is the recipient of the 2021 HDR Scholarship through the CCH Foundation. Each year, the HDR Scholarship helps a student who is pursuing a career in health care. Preference is given to students who plan to attend Central Community College in Columbus.

Nguyen, a foreign exchange student from Vietnam, will graduate from Scotus Central High School. She is a member of Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) and is on the track team. She is a volunteer at the Connection Church in Columbus. Nguyen is on the straight A honor roll and was honored for academic excellence in chemistry and algebra II. She will attend Central Community College in Columbus this fall to begin to earn her degree as a registered nurse. Douglas and Kayla Heard of Columbus are her host parents.

Charles and Myrna Meyer Memorial Scholarship Awarded to Carissa Roth: Carissa A. Roth is the 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 need.

Roth is a 2021 graduate of Lakeview High School, where she was active in Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) and FFA, and earned an educational internship at Shell Creek Elementary School and a sports medicine internship at Lakeview. She is currently employed as a CNA at Brookestone Acres in Columbus. Roth plans to attend Central Community College this fall to pursue her career goal of becoming a registered nurse.

Contact Us

For more information on these scholarship opportunities, please contact:

Melinda J. Allen HR
Employment & Education Coordinator
Phone: 402-562-3363
Fax: 402-562-4672
mjallen@columbushosp.org