Thanks to the generous nature of several Summit Pacific Medical Center employees, six local area high school seniors have been awarded a combined $6,000 in scholarships.

The Employee Scholarship Fund is a long-standing tradition of the hospital district that supports local students in obtaining further education in the health care field.

This fund is strictly supported by donations from Summit Pacific employees. Summit Pacific Medical Foundation oversees the fund, which has awarded nearly $70,000 to 87 students since it was established in 1993.

“This year, we had enough to give scholarships to every applicant,” said Scholarship Committee Chair Joy Iversen.

Scholarships are awarded to graduating seniors each spring. For more information or to download the applications, visit www.summitpacificmedicalcenter.org.

The recipients:

Montesano High School

Matthew Johnson plans to attend Grays Harbor College, where he will begin prerequisite work for Central Washington University’s paramedic program.

Danika Peterson plans to study nursing at Saint Martin’s University.

Elma High School

Adriana Rojas Vargas plans to attend South Puget Sound Community College as a first step in becoming a physical therapist.

Kassedy Olson plans to study dental hygiene at Eastern Washington University.

Angelica Clark plans to study nursing at Grays Harbor College, then continue her education to become a nurse practitioner.

Brooke Sutherby plans to attend Spokane Community College, where she will study to become an ultrasound technician.

Courtesy photo Elma’s scholarship recipients, from left: Adriana Rojas Vargas, Brooke Sutherby and Kassedy Olson.