TCMH Healthcare Foundation awards scholarships to area students

The Texas County Memorial Hospital Healthcare Foundation has awarded $10,000 in scholarships to local students to support their educational goals for the 2026 academic year and help grow the future of rural healthcare.

 

Eight students each received a $1,000 scholarship through the Foundation’s annual scholarship program.

 

Carrie Lewis of Cabool is pursuing a career as a medical laboratory technician at Ozarks Technical Community College in Springfield and currently works as a phlebotomist in the TCMH laboratory.

 

Sierra Keller of Houston works as an occupational therapy assistant in the TCMH rehabilitation department and is pursuing a Master of Occupational Therapy through Missouri State University in Springfield.

 

Noah Gulick of Houston currently works in the TCMH emergency department and is pursuing a licensed practical nursing degree through Southern Missouri Technical Institute in West Plains.

 

Gracyn McNiell of Houston is studying pre-physical therapy at Evangel University in Springfield and plans to continue to earn a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree.

 

Jadyn Barnes of Licking is pursuing a career as a radiologic technologist at East Central College in Rolla.

 

Kadyn Hall of Licking is also studying radiologic technology at East Central College and currently works as a student radiologic technologist in the TCMH radiology department.

 

Reagan Hoerning of Mountain Grove is studying biochemistry with a pre-med focus at Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar. She hopes to attend medical school and eventually practice rural medicine in Missouri as either a pediatrician or family practice physician.

 

Nicki Lawson of Mountain Grove is pursuing a degree as a registered health information technician through Ozarks Technical Community College in Lebanon and plans to continue her education to become a registered health information administrator. She currently works in the administration department at TCMH.

 

The Dr. Eugene Charles Honeywell Memorial Scholarship awarded a $1,000 scholarship to Austin Stephens of Licking.  Stephens is studying radiologic technology at East Central College in Rolla and plans to pursue advanced certification in computed tomography.

 

The endowed Dr. Joe L. and Judith T. Spears Memorial Scholarship Fund also awarded a $1,000 scholarship to Benjamin Steelman of Houston. Steelman is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry through Drury University in Springfield as he works toward becoming an emergency medicine physician. He currently serves as an emergency room technician in the TCMH emergency department.

 

Since the scholarship program began in 2007, the Foundation has awarded nearly $176,000 in scholarships to area students pursuing healthcare careers. The scholarship program is funded in part through the Foundation’s annual golf tournament and matching support from the Healthcare Services Group Foundation, which helps nonprofit hospitals across Missouri invest in the future healthcare workforce.

 

The Foundation’s board of directors recognizes the growing need for healthcare professionals in rural communities and hopes these scholarships will help attract and retain qualified healthcare workers close to home.

 

Applications for spring 2027 scholarships will open in January. Complete scholarship information and applications are available at www.tcmhfoundation.org.

 

For sponsorship opportunities for the annual golf tournament scheduled for Friday, June 12, and Saturday, June 13, contact the Foundation at 417-967-1377 or Jeff.Gettys@tcmh.org. The tournament helps fund scholarships for future healthcare professionals throughout the region.