United Hospital District (UHD) announced today that its Foundation Board has selected eight recipients for their Healthcare Scholarship Award Program for the 2021-2022 school year.
The UHD Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing financial support to UHD to
ensure continued healthcare excellence in the communities served by UHD. Scholarships of $1,000
were offered to seniors from six area high schools: Blue Earth Area; Fairmont; Granada Huntley East
Chain; United South Central (Wells, MN); North Iowa (Buffalo Center, IA); and North Union (Armstrong,
IA). To be eligible, seniors must be accepted into an accredited academic program and planning to
major in a healthcare field. Applicants were required to write an essay expressing their educational and
career goals and influences on career choice, provide verification of current grade point average and a
letter of recommendation from a non-family member.
The Foundation received a total of 29 applications; all students were very high performers in
academics, athletics, community service and volunteerism, and the arts. Winners were selected using
several considerations, including a desire to return and serve their home community after completing
their degree and training.
The winners are:
Blue Earth Area High School: Callena Ferguson, Pre-Med with an Integrative Medicine emphasis,
University of Arizona; and Kylie Rosenau, Biochemistry/Pre-Med, South Dakota State University.
Fairmont Jr/Sr High School: Alec Reutzel, Biology/Pre-Med, Augustana University; and Carissa
Saxton, Rehabilitation Science/Pre-Physical Therapy, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.
Granda Huntley East Chain High School: Merissa Cartwright, Nursing, South Dakota State University.
North Iowa High School: Leah Kramersmeier, Radiology Tech, Iowa Central Community College.
North Union High School: Rachel Henricksen, Nursing, Northwestern College.
United South Central High School: Skylar Niebuhr, Nursing, University of North Dakota.
“The Foundation was very excited to have so many wonderful candidates to choose from. Final
decisions were especially difficult since all applicants were so similar in academic achievement, school
activity, and community service,” said Paula Kabe, UHD Foundation Coordinator.