SHELTON, WA – This spring, the Mason General Hospital Foundation Centennial Guild proudly awarded $20,000 total in Kristi Armstrong Memorial Scholarship funds to nine individuals pursuing higher education in medical fields. Among the recipients were four Shelton High School (SHS) graduating seniors, three SHS alumni who received the award in years past, one Mason Health employee and one Shelton resident. Centennial Guild treasurer Patty Rhoades and members Kim Keeler, Kim McElliott and Barb Smith presented the SHS students with their awards at the SHS Awards Night on Thursday, May 16.

The scholarship recipients are:

Shelton High School students:

• Carson Bursch -- $3,000. Bursch plans to attend Eastern Oregon University in La Grande, Oregon, to pursue a degree in human health and performance, with an emphasis on exercise science. He would like to continue his studies further to earn a doctorate in physical therapy.
• Evelyn Flores -- $3,000. Flores plans to attend Washington State University in Pullman, Washington. Her personal family health experiences and a summer shadowing pediatric nurses at the University of Washington have motivated her to pursue a career in nursing.
• Kaylin Mutoli -- $3,000. Mutoli plans to attend Fresno Pacific University in Fresno, California, to pursue pre-medicine or nursing, while continuing her athletic career as a NCAA Division II swimmer. Her volunteer work at Capital Medical Center solidified a desire to enter health care.
• Kylie Brown -- $1,000. Brown plans to attend either the University of Washington or Arizona State University to pursue a bachelor’s degree in nursing.

Former SHS students:

• Alyssa Medcalf -- $2,500.00
• Morgen Shrum -- $2,500.00
• Katelyn O'Keefe - $2,000.00

Mason Health employee:

• Morgan Elissalde -- $2,000

Shelton resident:

• Kenzie Smith -- $1,000.00

The Centennial Guild was established in 1989 and in 1996 became a chapter of Mason General Hospital Foundation. In 2016, long-time member Kristi Armstrong, a registered nurse at Mason General Hospital, passed away.

“Her passion for her work, her patients and the hospital left a huge hole in our hearts and the staff at Mason General,” said Centennial Guild member Patty Rhoades. “Her untimely passing led to our unanimous decision to switch our goals from medical supplies to scholarships. In her honor, we created the Centennial Guild Scholarship. We want to do what we can to help students ease the cost of their education in the medical field.”

Mason General Hospital Foundation furthers the mission of Public Hospital District No.1 by enhancing the quality of health care enjoyed by patients of Mason County. MGHF provides financial support to Mason Health.