Founding a Nursing Legacy Through Donor-Supported Scholarships

When a young mom decided to apply for scholarships and reshape her life by starting her nursing education at Columbia Gorge Community College, little did she know she was shaping not just her future but her son’s.

After taking a study break following high school graduation, Shayla Stankwitz moved from being a student to being a mom. But as she watched her two young kids, she realized she would need more education to get the kind of job that would provide for them the way she wanted. That led her to seek financial aid to help her get started on her nursing degree.

Enter Adventist Health Columbia Gorge Foundation and the generous donors who support it.

Shayla applied for and was awarded a Nontraditional Nursing Student Scholarship from the foundation thanks to the generosity of donors who understood that funding the next generation of nurses was vital to the health of the entire community. And, sure enough, Shayla has brought her knowledge, skill, and care to The Dalles, where today she is not just a nurse but a leader and mentor to an entire team of nurses.

But her most important role continues to be “mom” to her kids, a crew that includes Josh Ward. Inspired by his mom and now a CGCC student himself, Josh is following in her footsteps and studying to become a nurse.

“I was super-interested in science and health-related subjects throughout high school,” Josh explains. “I’m big into fitness, health, and learning about the body. I figured if Mom could do it, so can I,” Josh explains. Throughout high school, he was interested in science, health, and learning about the body. Nursing seemed like a natural fit.

To help fund his dream, Josh began pursuing scholarships. One of his applications went to the Adventist Health Columbia Gorge Foundation. Josh was awarded a scholarship — only this time; one of the donors was actually his own mom.

“I wouldn’t be here without that scholarship,” Shayla says. So, she gives a portion of each year’s 26 paychecks to the scholarship fund through the employee giving program, Club 26.

“I think it’s generous and a great way to invest back into the community, the future, and nurses,” Josh says. “And it’s a great way to motivate people to continue schooling.”

And what would Josh tell other kids as they think about funding their college education?

“From what I learned, you’ve got to start early and work hard,” he shares. “It’s not easy. You have to put yourself out there, take rejection, and not let that discourage you.”

Learn more about the Adventist Health Columbia Gorge Foundation or donate to support other students in the Columbia Gorge region.