Columbia Basin Care Foundation awards $8,000 in scholarships 

August 2023 —The Columbia Basin Care Foundation has awarded $8,000 in scholarships to four local area students pursuing careers in health care during the upcoming college 2023-2024 school year.

Scholarships of $1,500 up to $2,500 were awarded in two categories: Residents of the Columbia River Gorge and Employees of Columbia Basin Care, a skilled nursing facility located in The Dalles.

Recipients of the 2023 Columbia Basin Care Foundation Scholarships are: Whitney Hauner, Krista Clark, Kristin Bighorn and Kayla Bailey. 

Krista Clark, of Troutlake, Washington attends nursing school at Columbia Gorge Community College. She will be starting her second year this fall and hopes to connect to and give back to her community through providing nursing services to those in need. Her goal is to be an ICU or Cardiology Nurse.

Kristin Bighorn, of Goldendale, Washington attends Columbia Gorge Community College. She is in the 2nd of the Associate of Applied Science in Nursing program and plans to pursue a bachelors after completion. Inspired by many of her family members who are healthcare workers, Kristin aspires to be a Radiology Nurse, and ultimately gain a master’s degree in nursing.

Kayla Bailey, of Dufur, Oregon, is a recipient of a Columbia Basin Care Foundation scholarship and is starting her journey this year with the Associates of Science Degree in Nursing at Columbia Gorge Community College here in The Dalles. She is passionate about serving her community and feels a career in Nursing is the best way for her to achieve this goal. Currently her interests lie with Pediatrics, but she is open to new experiences and to see where she can apply herself best, as she learns and grows within her chosen field.

Whitney Hauner, of Goldendale, Washington, is a Columbia Basin Care employee currently, and would like to expand her education from being a Certified Nursing Assistant to becoming a Registered Nurse, so she can continue her work at Columbia Basin Care which she describes as “extremely rewarding”. After completing her degree and honing her skills, she would like to eventually work as a flight nurse within the Life Flight network.

The Columbia Basin Care Foundation is the charitable arm of Columbia Basin Care. Located in The Dalles, Columbia Basin Care is the region’s only independent, nonprofit facility for short-stay rehabilitation and long-term care.

“The foundation has been very generous in helping people obtain their goals of higher education and/or trade school” said Aubree Schreiner, Executive Director of Columbia Basin Care. “Each year it is inspiring to see the number of applicants pursuing careers in healthcare.”

Scholarship Opportunities

APPLICATION DEADLINE: MAY 25, 2023

Empowering individuals through education, the Columbia Basin Care Foundation offers scholarships to those pursuing health-related careers.

We support education for a variety of health-related careers, such as, but not limited to:
• Nursing: RN, LPN, CNA, CMA, Nurse Practitioner, Physician Assistant, Phlebotomy . . .
• Food & Nutrition: Registered Dietician, Nutritionist, Meal Planning, Health & Wellness
• Therapy: Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy 
• Public Health, Human Resources & Management 
• Health & Wellness - Socialization and Activities
• Health Care Communications & Marketing 
• Social & Human Services  

Scholarships are awarded in two categories:

SCHOLARSHIP FOR EMPLOYEES OF COLUMBIA BASIN CARE
This $2,500 scholarship encourages and supports employees who wish to further their education, better perform in their current position, or to secure increased responsibility and advancement within the company. All employees are eligible to apply. Funds may be used for health-related studies at a college, university, or trade school of your choice.

SCHOLARSHIP FOR RESIDENTS OF THE COLUMBIA GORGE
This $2,500 scholarship encourages and supports individuals pursuing careers in health care fields. Applicants must live within the immediate Columbia River Gorge region (Wasco, Hood River, and Klickitat counties). Funds may be used for health-related studies at a college, university, or trade school of your choice.

How To Apply: 
Complete the Online Application — click Apply Now button below.
Or, download, print, and complete this application, and send by mail or email:
Columbia Basin Care, 1015 Webber St, The Dalles, Oregon 97058 
Marketing@ColBasin.com  

Application Deadline: May 25, 2023 
Scholarships Awarded: Late July 2023

"We rise
by lifting others." 

— Robert Ingersoll

Columbia Basin Care Foundation

PROVIDING SUPPORT & SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

The Columbia Basin Care Foundation supports the work and mission of Columbia Basin Care, an independent, nonprofit, skilled nursing since 1964.  Donations help to foster our mission: To improve the lives of those we serve.

Help ensure our legacy of compassionate care continues. Your generosity allows us to continually enhance the lives of our residents, make improvements to our programs, and attract, develop and retain the best employees. Columbia Basin Care is a registered 501(c)3 not-for-profit and your donation is tax deductible.

Your gift provides tangible support to:

• Scholarship Fund– provides opportunities for career advancement

• Resident Life Enrichment– funds programs to enhance our Residents’ quality of life

• Special Projects – provides assistance to major site-specific improvements

WAYS TO GIVE:

HONOR A LOVED ONE
Honor a loved one with a gift in their memory. Pay tribute and honor someone special or commemorate an important milestone. Upon receipt of your gift, we’ll notify the honoree or family with a personalized card. A donation amount is not listed but you will receive a receipt for the amount of your gift.

RECOGNIZE A SPECIAL PERSON
Make a gift in recognition of a caregiver or friend who gave you or your loved one special attention and care. Upon receipt of your gift, we notify the individual with a personalized card. A donation amount is not listed but you will receive a receipt for the amount of your gift.

ENCOURAGE EDUCATION
The Columbia Basin Care Foundation empowers individuals through education by offering annual scholarships to those pursuing health-related careers. Your gift helps grow the expertise of our local health care professionals — a gift that benefits us all.

HOW TO GIVE:
• Send a check, payable to:
Columbia Basin Care Foundation
1015 Webber St, The Dalles, OR 97058

• Meet with us:
Contact Aubree Schreiner, Executive Director, 541-296-2156, ext. 3213

In 2022, Columbia Basin Care Foundation awarded $11,500 in scholarships  

 JUNE 2022 — The future of good health just got a boost, thanks to the Columbia Basin Care Foundation which recently awarded $11,500 in scholarships to five local students pursuing careers in healthcare.

Scholarships of $1,000 to $3,000 were awarded in two categories: Residents of the Columbia River Gorge and Employees of Columbia Basin Care, a skilled nursing facility located in The Dalles, Oregon.

The Columbia Basin Care Foundation supports the work and mission of Columbia Basin Care, the region's only independent, nonprofit, skilled nursing facility. Since 2019, the Foundation has provided over $50,000 in scholarships to help grow and develop expertise of the local medical community.

Recipients of the 2022 Columbia Basin Care Foundation Scholarships are: Hailey Anderson, Gillian Nelson, Mireya Jimenez-Magana, Maritza Vasquez, Karen Jesch.

Hailey Anderson, of Maupin, was awarded the Asher Anderson Award, a scholarship of $3,000 given in memory of Asher who passed in 2008 and for whom Columbia Basin Care established a scholarship tribute. A 2022 graduate of South County High School, Hailey plans to attend Linfield University to earn a bachelor's degree in Nursing. "I am honored to be the first of my family to attend college," she says.

Gillian Nelson, of Dufur, was awarded $2,500 to pursue a master's degree in Nursing Education. She currently works as a clinical supervisor at Bristol Hospice (formerly Heart of Hospice). "My ultimate goal is to become a Nurse Educator," says Gillian. "It takes a dedicated nurse to bring out the ability to care, comfort, and support patients and their families. This scholarship will allow me to continue my education so that I can teach the next generation of nurses."

Mireya Jimenez-Magana, of Hood River, was awarded $2,500 as she begins medical school at Oregon Health and Science University. She holds a bachelor's of science degree in Biology from Gonzaga University and has spent two years working as a Certified Nursing Assistant. Upon graduation, Mireya intends to work as a medical doctor serving Spanish-speaking communities. "Growing up in a migrant family and being surrounded by other migrant families has propelled me to serve that demographic," she says. "I see the need for Spanish-speaking doctors every time I enter a medical setting."

Maritza Vasquez, of The Dalles, was awarded $2,500 to pursue studies at Columbia Gorge Community College. She has worked as a Certified Nursing Assistant at Columbia Basin Care for over 10 years and serves as a Care Coordinator at Mid-Columbia Center for Living. Maritza aspires to a career as a Nurse Practitioner. "I want to keep learning, growing, and making a difference," she says.

Karen Jesch, of The Dalles, is a previous recipient of the Columbia Basin Care scholarship and was awarded $1,000 to continue her nursing education. She has worked as a Certified Nursing Assistant at Columbia Basin Care for four years while also attending nursing school at Columbia Gorge Community College. This fall she will begin work toward a bachelor's degree in Nursing at Bushnell University. "Columbia Basin Care has been with me from the start of my education career," says Karen. "I am so very grateful for every single person I have met and interacted with here."

The Columbia Basin Care Foundation is the charitable arm of Columbia Basin Care, the region’s only independent, nonprofit, facility for short-stay rehabilitation and long-term care.

“We received a record number of applicants this year which speaks well for the future of health care in the Columbia Gorge," said Mike Courtney, member of the Columbia Basin Care Board of Directors. "Thanks to the generosity of those who donate to the Columbia Basin Care Foundation, we are able to improve the lives of those we serve and support the education of those who care for others."

Columbia Basin Care is located at 1015 Webber St. in The Dalles, Oregon. To learn more or to donate to the Foundation, go to colbasin.com/foundation, or contact Aubree Schreiner, Executive Director, at 541-296-2156.

In 2021,
Columbia Basin
Care Foundation 
awarded $12,500
in scholarships  

SEPTEMBER 15, 2021 — The Columbia Basin Care Foundation has awarded $12,500 in scholarships to seventeen local students pursuing healthcare careers. Scholarships of $1,500 to $3,000 were awarded in two categories: Residents of the Columbia River Gorge and Employees of Columbia Basin Care, a skilled nursing facility located in The Dalles. 

Recipients of the 2021 Columbia Basin Care Foundation Scholarships are:  Jeremy Fogle, Crystal Janson, Kaylee Towle, Carla Barajas, Kayla Bailey, Kylie Moltzen, Ellie Stone, Karen Jesch, Grace McLaughlin, Lily Galvez-Galzada, Nicole Christiansen, Kristen Stembridge, Preslee Clark, Karen Granados, Ivonne Sanchez, Ashly Ringer and Robin Jackson.

Jeremy Fogle, A U.S. Navy veteran, has 13 years of medical experience including combat medicine and first aid. He was awarded a scholarship towards his nursing education at Columbia Gorge Community College. His goal is to become a critical care nurse in an intensive care unit.

Karen Jesch, is a Certified Nursing Assistant at Columbia Basin Care in The Dalles . She received a scholarship towards her nursing education at Columbia Gorge Community College and is considering a career as a Nurse Practitioner.

Robin Jackson has over 23 years of healthcare experience, with 16 of them at Columbia Basin Care, currently as a Certified Nursing Assistant and Certified Medication Aide. Robin received a scholarship towards her nursing program education at CGCC, which she plans to graduate from in 2023.

Kylie Moltzen, of The Dalles, completed her associates degree for Registered Nursing at Columbia Gorge Community College and is now working toward her bachelor’s degree in Nursing at Oregon Health and Sciences University in Portland. She is working toward a career as a labor & delivery nurse. 

Crystal Janson attends Columbia Gorge Community College in The Dalles where she is working towards her degree in the 2-year Nursing program, then plans to work towards a bachelor’s degree in the science of nursing. A mom with 4 children, her focus is on Midwifery.

Carla Barajas, of White Salmon, Washington, is in her second year of the nursing program at Columbia Gorge Community College in the Dalles. Her goal is to work in a hospital setting as a Cardiology nurse. 

Kayla Bailey, of Dufur, attends Columbia Gorge Community College, where she is currently in the nursing program.

Ellie Stone is in the pre-nursing track at Washington State University in Pullman, Washington and plans on applying to nursing schools in December. Her future plans include receiving her bachelor’s in nursing and RN license. She is currently a licensed Certified Nursing Assistant.

Lily Galvez-Galzada is working towards her RN degree in the nursing program at Columbia Gorge Community College in The Dalles and plans to work towards her master’s degree in nursing in the future. She hopes that becoming a nurse will allow her to use her personal understanding of the Hispanic culture to bridge the gap with members of that community.

Nicole Christiansen, of Goldendale, Washington, graduated from Columbia Gorge Community College with her associates degree in Nursing and is now working towards her bachelor’s degree at Boise State University. She hopes to get her master’s degree as either a Nurse Practitioner or Nurse Educator.

Preslee Clark is a nursing student at Columbia Gorge Community College. Born with a congenital heart defect, she became inspired to become a nurse by the nurses who cared for her and supported her through her toughest times.

Karen Granados, of Hood River, will be starting her second year in the nursing program at Columbia Gorge Community College, with an interest in public health. She is currently a Certified Nursing Assistant.

Ivonne Sanchez is passionate about healthcare and currently in the nursing program at Columbia Gorge Community College. After receiving her associates degree, she plans on pursuing her bachelor’s, then her master’s degree to become a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist.

Ashly Ringer is in the nursing program at Columbia Gorge Community College. She currently works for Columbia Basin Care as a dietary aide and says she enjoys working in healthcare can’t wait to be a nurse and be able to care for many more people.  

Other scholarship recipients who are pursuing a career in health care are Kaylee Towle of Lyle, Washington, Grace McLaughlin of The Dalles, and Kristen Stembridge of Hood River.

The Columbia Basin Care Foundation is the charitable arm of Columbia Basin Care. Located in The Dalles, Columbia Basin Care is the region’s only independent, nonprofit facility for short-stay rehabilitation and long-term care. 

“I am happy that this organization is able to help so many people attain their goals to work in health care,” said Jasen Tennison, Executive Director of Columbia Basin Care. “Through the assistance of the Columbia Basin Care Foundation, we are able to help improve the lives of those we serve by supporting the education of the future healthcare generation.”

Nestled in the sunny climate of The Dalles, Oregon, — on the eastern edge of the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area — Columbia Basin Care is the region’s only independent nonprofit nursing facility for short-term rehabilitation and long-term care.

Founded in 1964, Columbia Basin Care employs over 100 individuals, with each dedicated to the mission: To improve the lives of those we serve.

To learn more or to donate to the Columbia Basin Care Foundation, contact Jasen Tennison, Executive Director, or Tamara Emler Ball, Marketing Director, at 541-399-0629.