St. Claire Foundation Announces Scholarship Recipients for 2022

The St. Claire Foundation is excited to announce the scholarship recipients for 2022.

Spencer Howard of Salyersville and Madison Payne of Barbourville were each awarded the Richard J. Bausch Family Scholarship. The scholarship, valued at $1,500, is funded by an endowment that was established in memory of the father of recently retired UK St. Claire Vice President Greg Bausch, PharmD. To qualify for the scholarship, an applicant must be a pre-professional health sciences student and a resident of an Appalachian county.

Howard, a student at the University of Pikeville, dreams of going to medical school so he can combine his love of science and technology with his passion for helping others. He hopes to become a rural physician so he can provide quality healthcare in an underserved region.

A student at Western Kentucky University, Payne plans to attend medical school after completing her undergraduate education and later specialize in oncology. She hopes one day when she becomes an oncologist, she will make a great impact on the lives of her patients and increase access to available treatments.

The Sister Mary Jeannette Wess, SND, Health Education Fund was presented to Emily Elam of Morehead and Leyten Thayer of Tollesboro. Valued at $1,500, this scholarship was established in 1995 and is named in honor of UK St. Claire’s third President/CEO. Students entering their junior or senior year of college from the SCH service region may apply for this scholarship.

Elam is currently pursuing her bachelor’s degree in radiologic sciences from Morehead State University. After completing her training, she hopes to remain in Eastern Kentucky and provide imaging services in a hospital or physician’s office.

Thayer is currently pursuing her nursing degree at Morehead State University while working at St. Claire Regional Medical Center as a patient care associate. After graduation, Thayer hopes to make a difference in the lives of her patients and their families by providing quality healthcare in a rural Kentucky hospital.

The St. Claire Auxiliary Scholarship was presented to Mercy Hailu and Emily Elam. Hailu was awarded $1,250 and Elam received an additional award of $750. This fund assists students with an interest in medicine and a heart for community service with preference given to students who are actively volunteering in SCH volunteer programs with at least 100 hours of service. Applicants must be enrolled in an accredited medically-related program of study.

Hailu, originally from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in biomedical sciences at Morehead State University with plans to continue her medical education and ultimately become a neurosurgeon. She hopes to practice medicine in Kentucky or the Appalachian region where she can provide care to underserved populations.

To learn more about St. Claire Foundation scholarship opportunities, visit www.st-claire.org/scholarships.