Dilcia Franco de Burgo, Olivia Richardson and Tatum Leeper received $1,000 scholarships from the Van Diest Medical Center Auxiliary recently. Pictured with the recipients are Auxiliary Board Members Sue Anderson, Lorraine Habben, Pat Nokes, Shirley Bowman, Diane Doering, Debbie Jaycox and Linda Bourne. Ellenor O'Hearn, another scholarship recipient, was not present for the photo.

Van Diest Medical Center Auxiliary recently presented six $1,000 scholarships to local individuals who are pursuing degrees in healthcare fields.

Scholarships were awarded to 2025 Webster City High School graduates McKenna Kohl, of Blairsburg; Tatumn Leeper, of Woolstock; and Olivia Richardson, of Webster City.

Kohl will be attending Mercy College of Health Sciences in Des Moines to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Leeper will attend Iowa Central Community College where she plans to seek a degree in nursing. Richardson will also attend Iowa Central to complete a nursing degree, with plans to eventually obtain a Bachelor of Science in Nursing.

Three scholarships were also awarded to three previous graduates. Katelyn Bell, of Ames; Dilcia Franco de Burgos and Ellenor O’Hearn, both of Webster City. Bell is studying for her BSN at Mercy College of Health Sciences in Des Moines. Franco de Burgo and O’Hearn are working to obtain their RN degrees at Iowa Central.

Begun in 1977, the Auxiliary Scholarship Fund has provided educational assistance each year to area students pursuing careers in health-related fields.

Lori Foster, VDMC Senior Director of Public Relations and Marketing, presents a $1,000 scholarship to Katelyn Bell.

Lori Foster, VDMC Senior Director of Public Relations and Marketing, Janet Moody and Rusty Gaul, VDMC Auxiliary members, present McKenna Kohl with a $1,000 Auxiliary Scholarship.