SYV Cottage Hospital Foundation awards $33K in scholarships to students in medicine | Local News

According to Katie Gorndt, vice president and nursing director at Santa Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital, rural communities especially are experiencing a shortage of nurses, technicians and other essential clinical staff at hospitals.

“These scholarships are one more valuable tool we can use to attract and retain a quality clinical staff to serve our community,” Gorndt said.

Scholarships can be used to offset the cost of college tuition, books and other educational expenditures.

Recipients receiving a $3,000 scholarship were announced during the foundation’s annual scholarship awards luncheon at the Elverhøj Museum of History and Art on Aug. 23, and include six recent high school graduates and five continuing education adults:

• Gabriela Rodriguez, a 2023 graduate of Santa Ynez Valley Union High School is attending Westmont College to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, and was awarded $3,000 through the Ann Bertero Scholarship Fund.

• Arisa Waters, a 2020 graduate of Dunn School, is a third-year psychology major at UCLA, and was awarded $3,000 through the Jean Pack Scholarship Fund. Waters already completed an Emergency Medical Technician program and plans to pursue a career in clinical psychology as a healthcare provider.

• Jose Padilla Martinez, a Buellton resident, attends Santa Barbara City College and is enrolled in the medical imaging program to become a radiology technician. He was awarded $3,000 through the Ken and Lloyd Mills Family Endowed Scholarship Fund.

Recipients of the Santa Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital Foundation Auxiliary Honorary Scholarship Fund each received $3,000 and include:

• Diana Corona, a 2023 graduate of Santa Ynez Valley Union High School, who is attending Cal Poly San Luis Obispo enrolled as a pre-med student with the goal of becoming a surgeon.

• Daniel Kozlov, a 2022 graduate of Santa Ynez Valley Union High School, a first-year neuroscience student at UCLA who plans to become a neurosurgeon. At the same time, he is enrolled in an EMT program to become an Emergency Medical Technician and is also working in a UCLA lab studying Parkinson’s disease.

• Allison Linane, a 2023 graduate of Santa Ynez Valley Union High School, is attending the University of San Diego enrolled as a biology student with the goal of either becoming a nurse or physician.

• Sofia Monsalud, a 2023 graduate of Santa Ynez Valley Union High School, is attending Cal State Long Beach as a student of psychology, and plans to pursue a career in the field.

• Jazmin Gonzalez Salinas, a 2023 graduate of Santa Ynez Valley Union High School, is attending Westmont College to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and plans to continue her education to become a nurse practitioner.

• Jessica Perez, who has worked at SYV Cottage for the past 12 years as an Emergency Technician, has also worked at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital. She is attending Santa Barbara City College and is enrolled in the medical imaging program to become a radiology technician.

• Gabe Prendergast, a 2022 graduate of Santa Ynez Valley Union High School, is attending the University of San Diego to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and plans to continue his education to become a nurse practitioner.

• Chase Sylvia, a 2023 graduate of Santa Ynez Valley Union High School, is attending California State University Long Beach and majoring in kinesiology and exercise science with a goal of becoming a physical therapist.

The local scholarship program was established in 2021 to honor the legacy of the founding hospital volunteer core created 61 years ago that make up Cottage Health Volunteer Services.

Since then, three additional philanthropic funds have been added with support from the community.