Fall 2021/Spring 2022 Scholarship Recipients
Fall 2021/Spring 2022 Award Recipients
The Foundation is pleased to announce the following Fall 2021/Spring 2022 Scholarship Recipients:
Introducing Rebecca Warnock of Fort Smith, AR who is attending the University of Central Arkansas to achieve a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing. She plans to graduate in May 2023. She states she has always wanted to be a medical professional because of her desire to help and care for people. Her dream job, after working as an RN for a certain amount of time, would be to go back to school and become a nurse anesthetist. We wish her the best in the future! Welcome to the Degen family, Rebecca.
And here is Ms. Anna Grace Chapen of Alma, AR. She is attending the University of Arkansas Fort Smith to achieve her bachelor’s degree in nursing and will graduate in May 2022. Anna Grace's first words on her application were: "I believe my purpose on this earth is to love others. Nursing is an amazing profession that will give me more opportunities to put the needs of others before myself." This is the type of self-less individual that will give her all to the nursing profession and we are truly blessed to have her in our area! We wish you the very best, Anna Grace!
Bailey Smith of Van Buren Arkansas was one of the first recipients of the Crawford County Special High School Degen Scholarships! She has been with our program since 2015. She attends the University of Central Arkansas and will graduate with her Doctoral degree in Occupational Therapy in August 2022. We are very proud to have been able to support her in her efforts and know she will be outstanding wherever she lands! She wants to concentrate on hand therapy. She had some great experiences in this area while doing her level 2 fieldwork at Baptist outpatient in North Little Rock and gained even more experience in her second clinical at Hippos & Fish in North Little Rock. We look forward to seeing what Bailey's future holds - and it is going to be very bright. Congrats, Bailey!
Meet Kylie Howard, a new scholarship recipient from Roland, OK. She is working towards her bachelor's degree in Diagnostic Medical Sonography. She attends UAFS with plans to graduate in Spring 2022. She states on her application that she always planned on working in the medical field. She was the family caretaker when someone got hurt or was sick. Kylie describes herself as hardworking, determined, and caring. She gives her all in everything she does because she is a perfectionist. We know she will make a wonderful sonographer when she graduates, and we plan to see her remain in our area.
We are pleased to "re-introduce" Miss Claire Pinter (rhymes with winter!) who is a repeat scholarship recipient. Claire is attending UCA and working towards her master’s degree in Communication Sciences & Disorders and plans to graduate in Summer 2023. This bright and shining star has maintained a 4.0 GPA throughout her undergraduate years, and we suspect she will continue to do so. As a child, she experienced several developmental delays and received speech therapy to improve her language abilities. She soon realized how passionate she was to help others communicate effectively. She knows firsthand what a positive impact speech therapy can have on one's life. We cannot wait to see what she does upon graduation. We are so proud of you, Claire!
Introducing Rachael Schluterman of Charleston, AR as a new recipient of a Degen Scholarship. She is attending UCA to achieve a master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology with plans to graduate in August 2022. This bright young lady maintained an overall 4.0 GPA throughout her undergraduate career and works very hard to achieve this goal. She will be a bright and shining star for our area once she becomes a licensed speech pathologist and intends to make a positive impact on her clients' lives - and improve their quality of life. We know she will succeed. Welcome to the Degen Family!
Another "repeat" Degen Scholarship award winner is Elizabeth Hinshaw of Fort Smith, AR. She recently graduated with her BS in Speech Language Pathology - and is now pursuing her master’s degree at The University of Tulsa. Elizabeth interned at Mercy Hospital in Fort Smith one summer and this helped to "solidify my decision to be involved in the medical community". She plans to graduate in Spring 2022. We look forward to Elizabeth coming back to our community and offer her services as a Speech Pathologist.
We are "re-introducing" Bailey Whittington of Fort Smith, AR, who has been with the Degen Scholarship program since December 2017. Bailey received her bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology with a concentration in Exercise Science in 2019 from the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville. She is now focusing on pursuing a degree as a Physician's Assistant at UAMS with plans to graduate in August 2022. A mission trip to Haiti when she was a high school sophomore led her to think the medical field was a good fit for her. We're so glad she took that trip and is following her dreams. We plan to see her in the River Valley area upon graduation!!
Introducing Reema Gopal of Van Buren, AR as a new recipient of a Degen Scholarship. Reema attends the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville Eleanor Mann Nursing School and will graduate in December 2021. She was accepted into the nursing program early and is currently employed at Mercy in Rogers, AR as a patient transporter. She wanted to familiarize herself with the hospital and gain experience at the same time. She does plan to return to Fort Smith after graduation in order to secure a position where she can work with children - which is her passion. We cannot wait to see her smiling face somewhere in our area!
Another recent Degen Scholarship recipient is Ms. Jillian Swain who currently lives in Russellville AR while she attends UCA. Jillian is a BSN who is working towards her Family Nurse Practitioner degree. She plans to graduate in May 2023. She is currently employed in the Covid ICU at UAMS in Little Rock, AR. She and her husband, Blake, attended County Line High School and they want to return to Branch, AR after completing their schooling. This bright and very determined young woman will make an excellent FNP and we will welcome her back to the area.
We are pleased to introduce Mikaela Pschier of Greenwood AR. She is working towards her bachelor’s degree in Sonography to become an Ultrasound Tech from UAFS in May 2022 after receiving her associate degree in Radiology this past year. This focused young woman currently works for Mercy Convenient Care to gain knowledge and provide great care to patients. Her ultimate goal is to become an active member of the military as it would give her great pleasure to do what she loves, help serve her county, and help soldiers in medical need. She would like to stay in the area after graduation.
And here is a third-round scholarship recipient Cole McCrary of Muldrow, OK. Cole has been a part of the "Degen Family" since 2019 and will graduate with his doctorate from the University of Oklahoma College of Pharmacy in May 2022. Cole is an American Indian who enjoys spending time with his family. And speaking of family, he will be starting his own next June by marrying Allie Henshaw, also of Sequoyah County. On his initial application, Cole stated that "after graduating from the OU College of Pharmacy, it is 100% my plan to return to Sequoyah County to live and work in this area." We certainly hope you do just that, Cole! Congratulations to you and Allie on your upcoming marriage!
Bethany Haney of Charleston AR is attending Southwest Baptist in Bolivar, MO get her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree. She plans to graduate in May 2023. She let us know that one of the projects she was assigned in 7th-grade careers at Charleston was to job shadow a profession she was interested in. As she had no clue at that point what career she wanted to work towards, her father suggested that she shadow a Pediatric Physical Therapist. After she did this, she found her love for the field of physical therapy. She plans to come back to the Fort Smith area to give back to her community as a Physical Therapist. We can't wait to see what she does next!!
Introducing Rebecca Warnock of Fort Smith, AR who is attending the University of Central Arkansas to achieve a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing. She plans to graduate in May 2023. She states she has always wanted to be a medical professional because of her desire to help and care for people. Her dream job, after working as an RN for a certain amount of time, would be to go back to school and become a nurse anesthetist. We wish her the best in the future! Welcome to the Degen family, Rebecca.
Introducing Malorie Radley from Ozark, AR who is a new recipient of a Degen Scholarship. Malori has her Associates's degree in radiology and was accepted into the Diagnostic Medical Sonography program at the University of Arkansas Fort Smith with plans to graduate in May 2023. She credits her mother with teaching her that hard work and dedication are key to being successful in life. She states she is very family-oriented and dedicated to her studies. She is currently working at the Johnson Regional Medical Center in Clarksville for the summer. Once she graduates, she plans to work in the Fort Smith area and would love to join an OB/GYN practice. We wish you the best of luck, Malorie!