The 2025 Foundation Auxiliary Scholarship application is now available!

If you are a Mason Health employee (part-time or full-time), or a Mason County high school student graduating this year, you may apply. Applications can be downloaded from the tabs below (scroll down to bottom of page) or picked up at the MGH Foundation office located at 2505 Olympic HWY North, Suite 170, Shelton, WA 98584 between 8-4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

All scholarship applications must be postmarked or received by Friday, April 18, 2025, at 4 p.m. in order for your application to be considered.

For questions about the Auxiliary scholarship application process, please contact Carol Goodburn, Foundation Auxiliary Treasurer, at (360) 426-8433.

Monica Bates is no stranger to Mason Health. After 30 years as a Medical Supplies Buyer in the Supply Chain Department, Bates retired in 2021. She returned to the Mason Health family this summer as the new volunteer Gift Shop Manager for the Mason General Hospital Foundation Auxiliary Gift Shop at Mason General Hospital, which re-opened in May 2023.

“I missed and enjoy the family aspect of being at the hospital,” Bates said. “When it was just the hospital, it was a family. When we took on all the clinics and opened Mason Clinic in 2020, it became a community. Going to the gift shop was always one of my favorite things to do.”

After retiring, Bates moved to Oakville, Washington, in Grays Harbor County. In December 2022, she moved back to Mason County, minutes away from the hospital, to be closer to her children and grandchildren. She’s excited to be closer to her family, both at home and at the hospital.

“After working at the hospital for so many years, I saw so many patients coming in and out, for medical reasons, but the gift shop was always a safe place, even for employees,” Bates said. “Employees could come in and take a break from the stress, patients and visitors could come in and take a breath from whatever was going on in their lives. It is truly retail therapy.”

In the summer of 1950, the administrator of Shelton General Hospital met with seven local women who were interested in organizing an auxiliary to aid the only hospital in the area. Following a luncheon for prospective members, there were 113 ladies willing to participate in fundraising projects.

In 1968, the Auxiliary was reorganized under the name of Mason Health Foundation Auxiliary. The membership continued to grow and over the years, through various money-making projects, the Auxiliary has annually donated funds for new hospital equipment.

The Auxiliary supports and staffs the MGHF Gift Shop within the Hospital with the proceeds going to scholarships for students entering the nursing or other medical professions. The Auxiliary also supports the Life Line Program to help four low-income subscribers.

Varied fundraising projects over the years have included: card parties, concerts, cookbooks, raffles, and bake sales. The ladies have assisted with the Blood Bank draws and helped with Fantasy Forest activities. If you are interested in joining the Foundation Auxiliary or have questions, please plan on attending the next monthly meeting.

To make a donation to the Auxiliary Scholarship Fund in memory of Colleen Ripley, please follow this link: Auxiliary Scholarship Fund - Colleen Ripley Donations

Checks to the Auxiliary can be made out to MGHF Auxiliary and mailed to PO Box 1668, Shelton, WA 98584.

The 2024 scholarship recipients:

Shelton High School students (each receiving $2,500):

• Lily Bennett: Bennett will be attending Lewis-Clark State College in Lewiston, Idaho. She will be working towards earning her bachelor’s degree in radiographic science to become an X-ray and MRI technician. She graduated Shelton High School with the Highest Honors.
• Carson Bursch: Bursch graduated from SHS with High Honors and 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 earn a doctorate in physical therapy.
• Mariliz Luna: Luna plans to continue her studies at St. Martin’s University in Olympia. She graduated Shelton High School with High Honors and the Seal of Biliteracy.
• Lindsey Ozuna Uriostegui: Ozuna Uriostegui will be furthering her education at Gonzaga University in Spokane. She is interested in health care administration. She graduated Shelton High School with the Highest Honors and the Seal of Biliteracy.
• Alexandra Ramirez-Villa: Ramirez-Villa will be completing her Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing at Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma. She graduated Shelton High School with the Highest Honors and the Seal of Biliteracy.

Mason Health employees (each receiving $1,000):

• Linda Cook, Medical Assistant-Certified: Cook is excited to further her education at Clover Park Technical College for nursing.
• Morgan Elissalde, Laboratory Assistant: Elissalde is pursuing her bachelor’s in science degree in nursing at Olympic College and complete the ASCP Medical Lab Technician certification.
• Iris Hilburger, Volunteer Coordinator: Hilburger will be enrolling this fall at South Puget Sound Community College to complete prerequisites to start a nursing program in 2025.
• Zoe Rondello Reim, Radiology Tech Aide: Rondello Reim will be studying to become a surgical technician at Clover Park Technical College.
• Julia Solano Martinez, Patient Access Specialist: Solano Martinez is pursuing a nursing degree. She received this award in 2022 and 2023.

SHS alum (receiving $2,500):

• Evan Marshall: Marshall is studying computer science at the University of Washington.

The Mason General Hospital Foundation Auxiliary is a chapter of Mason General Hospital Foundation. Since 2018, the Auxiliary has awarded $127,000 in scholarships. The Auxiliary raises funds through scholarships and proceeds from the MGHF Auxiliary Gift Shop at Mason General Hospital.

"I just went to the Gift Shop after my appointment at the hospital, and I always think about how whatever I buy there helps nursing students, so I always spend too much. The nurses at Mason General Hospital are just always smiling, always polite and always helpful. They always seem to know ahead of time what you need. They are very understanding. I’ve been in the hospital many times over the years, and I’ve always received great care, including in the Emergency Department. Every time I go in there, I get such good service.

-Vickie Rossiter, Shelton