Steele Memorial Foundation Awards $9,000 in Inaugural Healthcare Student Scholarships

Salmon, Idaho — The Steele Memorial Foundation is proud to announce the recipients of its first-ever Healthcare Student Scholarships, awarding a total of $9,000 to three outstanding students pursuing careers in healthcare-related fields. This new scholarship program marks the beginning of what the Foundation plans to be an ongoing effort to support local students pursuing careers in healthcare.

“This was our first year offering this scholarship, and we were inspired by the quality and heart behind each application,” said Karen Whitworth, President of the Steele Memorial Foundation. “These recipients represent the future of healthcare—compassionate, capable, and committed to making a difference.”

The Healthcare Student Scholarship will now be offered annually, continuing to support students from Lemhi and Custer counties who are pursuing a healthcare-related field—including but not limited to IT, nursing, medicine, pharmacy, radiology, behavioral health, business, or finance—so long as their educational goals support the advancement of healthcare.
2025 Scholarship Recipients:

• Jared Meyers — Awarded $4,000 ($2,000 per semester) A second-career nursing student and volunteer EMT, Jared is pursuing his BSN with plans to become a Nurse Practitioner and serve rural communities.
• Kassie Huston — Awarded $3,000 ($1,500 per semester) A full-time social work student and single mother, Kassie is working toward her Master’s in Social Work with a focus on trauma-informed care and behavioral health access in rural Idaho.
• Quincey Kirkpatrick — Awarded $2,000 ($1,000 per semester) Quincey is completing a dual PharmD/MBA program and plans to return to Idaho to operate a patient-centered pharmacy that expands access to safe, affordable medications.

Several additional applicants were recognized for their strong potential and are encouraged to reapply next year.

If you would like to help grow this scholarship program and invest in the future of rural healthcare, donations can be made to the Steele Memorial Foundation. Please include “Scholarship Fund” in the memo line.

The Steele Memorial Foundation Healthcare Student Scholarship is awarded annually based on academic performance, financial need, community involvement, and a commitment to healthcare service. The Foundation is proud to support students who will one day care for patients, strengthen systems, and improve access across rural and underserved communities.

For more information about the scholarship program or to make a contribution, please contact Jenny Tracy at (208) 756-5612 or jennifer.tracy@steelemed.org.