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Cass Regional Medical Center Foundation recently awarded five scholarships to area students who are pursuing health care careers.

Jodi Rhodes, of Cleveland, Missouri, was awarded the Jan Perry Scholarship. Rhodes is a 2014 graduate of Midway High School and is studying nursing at Missouri Western State University. She received a $1,500 scholarship, which was made possible by the generosity of Jan and Wirt Perry. Jan Perry was a member of the Cass Regional Medical Center Auxiliary from 2000 until her passing in 2007. She established her scholarship in 2002, motivated by the gratitude she felt for the nurses who cared for her throughout her battle with cancer. Jan initially funded the scholarship by putting back a little of her grocery money each week until she had saved $1,000. After her death, her husband, Wirt, made a donation to expand Jan’s scholarship program to two $1,500 annual scholarships.

Joshua Coots, of Belton, Missouri, was selected to receive the Alma Brown Scholarship. Coots is a 2017 graduate of Belton High School and plans to major in nursing at Missouri Southern State University beginning this fall. He received a $1,000 scholarship, which was made possible by the generosity of Alma Brown, who passed away in 1998. Brown was a Cass County native who worked in the dietary department at a local nursing home prior to her retirement. In her will, she directed a donation to Cass Regional Medical Center Foundation to be used for “scholarships or other worthy projects,” and the Foundation board established the scholarship program with her gift.

Carrie Keyser, of Raymore, Missouri, was awarded the Wanda Brown Scholarship. Keyser is a student in the Practical Nursing program at Cass Career Center. She received a $1,000 scholarship, which was donated by the late Wanda Brown, who lived in Harrisonville for over 50 years and was very involved in civic affairs. Brown was a member of the Cass Regional Medical Center Auxiliary for more than 60 years, and a strong supporter of the nursing profession. She established her scholarship program with a gift to Cass Regional Medical Center Foundation in 1999.

Gracie Ring, of Pleasant Hill, Missouri, was selected to receive the Dr. Harold E. Kirsch Memorial Scholarship. Ring is a 2017 graduate of Pleasant Hill High School and plans to major in nursing at Nebraska Wesleyan University beginning this fall. She received a $1,000 scholarship, which was made possible by the late Evelyn Kirsch, who left a gift to Cass Regional Medical Center Foundation in her will. She directed that her donation be used to establish a scholarship program in memory of her husband, Dr. Harold E. Kirsch, who cared for generations of Cass Countians prior to his untimely death in 1977.

Hayley Wells, of Belton, Missouri, was awarded the Elvin S. Douglas, Jr., Scholarship. Wells is a 2017 graduate of Belton High School and plans to major in pharmacy at the University of Missouri-Kansas City beginning this fall. She received a $500 scholarship, which was given by friends and family of the late Elvin S. Douglas, Jr., a Harrisonville attorney who served on the Cass Regional Medical Center Board of Trustees for more than 25 years. The scholarship was established in Mr. Douglas’ honor and in recognition of his many years of service, which helped ensure access to health care for generations of Cass County residents.

Since its start in 1989, Cass Regional Medical Center Foundation has awarded over $125,000 in scholarships to more than 85 students. The scholarship programs are made possible by donors to the Foundation. For more information, contact Melissa Lattin at mlattin@cassregional.org or call 816.380.5888, ext. 4810.