Lebanon Foundation Awards Record $60,000 in Healthcare Scholarships September 2, 2026 Fifteen local students who are pursuing careers in healthcare have been awarded scholarships through the Lebanon Community Hospital Foundation. “The foundation awarded over $60,000 in scholarships this year, which sets a new record,” said Brandy O’Bannon, regional Foundation director for Linn County. “We are grateful to all the donors of our scholarship funds and to the volunteers who help us decide the winners each year. There is a remarkable amount of talent and passion for healthcare among the applicants, and it is a joyful process to meet and support our future healthcare workforce.” Frank Girod, MD, Medical Scholarship The late Frank Girod, MD, was one of the founding members of the Lebanon Community Hospital. His family awards this scholarship every year in his memory to students from East Linn County who are enrolled in medical school. The Girod Scholarship Committee awarded two scholarships this year for a total of $20,000. This brings the total dollar amount of Girod Medical Scholarships awarded since 1998 to $367,000. This year’s scholarships were awarded to two students at Western University, COMP-Northwest: Abigail Leff Noah Ritschard Julietta A. Pape Scholarship The Julietta A. Pape Scholarship was funded in 2021 by a generous grant made possible by The Julietta A. Pape Fund of the Lutheran Funds of InFaith Community Foundation. The purpose of the scholarship is to honor Pape’s lifetime contribution to education and to assist new students of medicine to also be able to make contributions. The Pape Scholarship Committee awarded four scholarships for a total of $6,000 this year. Scholarships were awarded to students at Western University, COMP-Northwest: Abigail Leff Hannah Neuschwander Crystal Phay Noah Ritschard John & Carol Dinges Medical Scholarship John and Carol Dinges of Lebanon award the Dinges Medical Scholarship every year to a graduate of a high school in East Linn County who is currently enrolled in an entry-level health career program at Linn-Benton Community College. This year, the Dinges Committee awarded two $7,500 scholarships, with generous support provided by InterCommunity Health Network CCO and the Lebanon Community Hospital Foundation provided funding for two additional scholars: Emma Estes, who will enter the diagnostic imaging program. Kylie Godinho, who will enter the diagnostic imaging program. Melanie Hazel, who will enter the nursing program. Sara Joyce, who will enter the diagnostic imaging program. Nursing Education Scholarship The Nurse Education Scholarship was started in 2020 for caregivers and certified nursing assistants pursuing continued education in the nursing field. The Nurse Education Scholarship Committee awarded five scholarships for a total funding of $4,446 to: Lindsey Aikin, a nursing student at Linn-Benton Community College. Brooklyn Garber, who will enter the nursing program at Linn-Benton Community College. Evelyn Kelly, who will enter the nursing program at Linn-Benton Community College. Christine Lahoda, a nursing student at University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. Samantha Runnion, who will enter the nursing program at Linn-Benton Community College. For more information or to donate to these scholarships, call the Lebanon Community Hospital Foundation office at 541-451-6303 or visit samhealth.org/GiveLCHF. To learn more about scholarship opportunities, visit samhealth.org/Scholarships.
