HERMISTON, Ore.- The Good Shepherd Health Care System (GSHCS) Auxiliary has awarded $24,000 in scholarships to eight local students pursuing careers in health care or a medical field.
“Receiving this GSHCS Auxiliary scholarship is such an honor and will help ease the financial burden of earning my Bachelor of Science in Nursing, allowing me to focus on my next goal of entering a nurse practitioner program,” said 2026 scholarship recipient Taylor Crossthwaite. “This scholarship is a huge blessing for me and my family.”
Auxiliary scholarships are awarded annually to students from Umatilla or Morrow Counties who have completed at least one year of study in a healthcare or medical field at a college or university.
“The Good Shepherd Auxiliary is very proud of all of our 2026 scholarship recipients and thankful to be able to offer eight students help with furthering their education in the medical and dental field,” said Gerriann Sause, Auxiliary President.
2026 GSHCS Auxiliary Scholarship recipients
- Allison Serna, Hermiston: Studying Nursing at Blue Mountain Community College (BMCC)
- Breanna Miller, Stanfield: Studying nursing at BMCC
- Katelynn Peterson, Hermiston: Studying nursing at BMCC
- Taylor Crossthwaite, Stanfield: Pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Western Governor’s University online
- Ian Murray, Heppner: Student in the Family Nurse Practitioner program at Maryville University
- Jackson Bradshaw, Hermiston: Nursing student at NW Nazarene University
- Brisa Salas, Irrigon: Studying dental therapy at Skagit Valley College
- Kendall Muniz, Hermiston: Pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU)
“Balancing school, volunteering, and working is a challenge in life, but the support from the auxiliary members allows for weight to be taken off my shoulders when worrying about funding school,” said scholarship recipient Allison Serna. “This scholarship not only helps with funding, but the auxiliary’s confidence in my future as I pursue my degree in nursing is also motivating. I am sincerely thankful for the Good Shepherd Auxiliary for investing in mine and others education and allowing me to take the next step in life with my education and future.”
Applications for a GSHCS Auxiliary Scholarship are due by the last Friday in April each year and are available online.
The GSHCS Auxiliary
The GSHCS Auxiliary currently has 34 active members who volunteer all over the hospital and raise funds throughout the year with bake sales, proceeds from the GSHCS Gift Shop, and through a partnership with Collette Tours and Hermiston Travel, that enables the auxiliary to receive a percentage of some booked trips.
One hundred percent of the money raised by the GSHCS Auxiliary goes toward student medical and dental scholarships, and occasionally for medical equipment.
According to Sause, the auxiliary and its volunteers follow all hospital policy and adhere to GSHCS’s ICARE values of Integrity, Compassion, Accountability, Respect, and Excellence.
Volunteers make it happen
Volunteers help create a welcoming, compassionate experience for patients, families and visitors at GSHCS.
Several volunteer opportunities are available at GSHCS, including customer service and outreach, hospice, the auxiliary, and community programs, with training and support provided for those who want to make a difference in the community.
Those interested in volunteering at GSHCS can apply online: https://www.gshealth.org/volunteer.
