Alice Huebert is a Windom Area Health Foundation donor and former Board Member. A longtime supporter of the hospital, she joined the newly formed Foundation in its early years, sharing “I was a part of the original group that established the Foundation and continued on as a Board Member for 19 years.”
To her, having a strong hospital presence is essential to a community like Windom. “I tell everyone that we’re fortunate to have the hospital in Windom and the Foundation helps support it as well as our surrounding communities,” she said.
She remembers the fundraising days of walking tacos before Riverfest and other events to help the hospital stay open during a difficult period. “I really enjoyed the functions we put on around town to fundraise, but the thing I’m most proud of from my time was establishing the Scholarship program. It gives kids in our community a little help for college and I think it’s a great idea.”
The WAH Foundation has awarded 106 $1,000 scholarships to 69 local high school and college students pursuing health-related careers. Typically, 5–8 scholarships are granted annually. Numerous scholarship recipients currently work at WAH: Abby Elness, Ethan Mathis, Joel Riordan, Landon Johnson, Sarah (Steele) Smith, Abby (Luitjens) Kipfer, and Katie (Symens) Bennett. Six other recipients have worked at WAH in the past, but have since moved on. Mary Klosterbuer and her sister, Shirley, have donated money for the Mildred Klosterbuer memorial scholarship for ten years. Nancy Meyer has also given funds for the Ron Meyer memorial scholarship that runs through the WAH Foundation.
Katie Bennett, RN
ED/Trauma/Stroke Coordinator, Nursing Department Scholarship Recipient
“The Foundation scholarships helped lift some of the financial stress of paying for college and allowed me to spend more time focusing on school. Offering scholarships to local students is a way to ‘grow our own’ by investing in our community and its future. It is so important to encourage and support those interested in the healthcare field and help them to excel.”
Joel Riordan, DPT
Rehabilitation Department Scholarship Recipient
“I think it is very important as a rural community to invest in local students in hopes that those individuals will come back to continue to provide crucial healthcare services close to home. This scholarship program by the Foundation has allowed me to return to my hometown of Windom and given me the opportunity to give back to the community that made me the person I am, providing skilled care to those who have helped me along the way.”
The Windom Area Health Foundation Scholarships are made possible by community donations and Foundation fundraisers. For more information on the scholarships, contact Foundation Director, Kim Armstrong, at 507-831-0615.