Fourteen students have been awarded the Portage Health Foundation Making a Difference Scholarship. The scholarships are part of a Michigan Tech-Portage Health Foundation partnership established in 2015 to support health education. This year’s recipients have an average GPA of 3.8 and represent the breadth of health-related research happening on Michigan Tech’s campus.
$8,000 Scholarship Recipients:
- Lana Alaraje, Houghton, biomedical engineering
- Gavin McBride, Hancock, mechanical engineering
- Leah Riutta, Calumet, biochemistry and molecular biology
- Mariah Willmer, Lake Linden, biomedical engineering
$4,000 Scholarship Recipients:
- Kaitlyn Brady, Ewen-Trout Creek, exercise science
- Meg Keranen, Dollar Bay, electrical engineering
$1,000 Scholarship Recipients:
- Cassidy Becia, Houghton, exercise science
- Andrew Eskola, Calumet, exercise science
- Kellen Klein, Lake Linden, biological sciences
- Rory LaBine, Ontonagon, computer engineering
- Kaisa Nagel, Calumet, humanities
- Madison Palosaari, Lake Linden, medical laboratory sciences
- Elisabeth Svoke, Houghton, biological sciences
- Kyle Usimaki, L’Anse, biological sciences
Bernadette Yeoman-Ouellette, chairperson of the Portage Health Foundation Board said, “I am so impressed by the caliber of our Make a Difference Scholar candidates. With the investment from the Portage Health Foundation in the form of scholarships, the seed is planted. With nurturing from Michigan Tech University, these students have every opportunity for their education to blossom into their dream careers in health care.”
“It is the synergy between the Portage Health Foundation and Michigan Tech University that allows this fruition to occur,” she added.
At the recent awards dinner, scholarship recipients and faculty members had the opportunity to hear from current students, Allie Waara and Elisha Earley, both PHF undergraduate research interns; and Alexa Destrampe, a Portage Health Foundation and Randy Owsley Memorial Athletic Trainer Scholar.
“We are especially grateful to the Portage Health Foundation for their support of our students through the Making a Difference scholarship program,” said Michigan Tech President Richard Koubek.
“Each recipient is truly deserving of the award and we are eager to see the impact these students will have on our community in the years to come.”