Recipients will use funds to further careers in healthcare
BANDON – With the idea of helping healthcare workers obtain the education they need to advance in the profession, the Southern Coos Health Foundation has awarded $2,500 scholarships each to nine individuals who are pursuing careers in healthcare.
The funds to provide these scholarships are raised from proceeds from the Hospital Gift Shop and the Golf for Health Classic annual fundraiser, as well as other donations from the community to the Southern Coos Health Foundation.
The goal of the scholarship program is to support the development of the next generation of healthcare leaders.
This year’s recipients include:
Ryan Cook
Cook works as a CNA per diem at Southern Coos Hospital. His goal is to become a Registered Nurse and he is currently enrolled at Southwestern Oregon Community College. He would like to become an ER or medical/surgical RN at SCHHC after attaining his nursing degree.
He previously worked at Avamere Rehabilitation of Coos Bay. He attended Umpqua Community College and graduated with honors. He is on the board of directors of Operation Rebuild Hope, a local veterans organization designed to assist homeless veterans. He would like to continue to volunteer at Operation Rebuild Hope in some capacity and explore assisting the local AMVETS chapter in Bandon.
“I feel I have the aptitude and drive to become a successful registered nurse at Southern Coos Hospital,” Cook said.
Joy Dschaak
Dschaak has worked at Southern Coos Hospital as a Surgical Tech since September 2023. She previously worked at Lakeview Hospital in Bountiful, Utah, as a Surgical Tech. She received her credentials from Montana State University in 2020 and has an Associate of Science degree, as well as being a registered medical assistant and is on the national registry of emergency medical technicians.
Her goal is to attain her RN in nursing and is currently enrolled at Southwestern Oregon Community College part-time, taking pre-nursing courses. Her goal is to finish her nursing degree by 2027. She plans to stay in the local community and at SCHHC
“Nursing is my true calling and what I will do for the rest of my life!” Dschaak said.
Tiffany Glines
Glines works as a CNA II/Telemetry Tech at Southern Coos Hospital. She has been with SCHHC since 2014, currently working per diem picking up shifts whenever possible. She has worked in healthcare since 2004.
Glines is attending Umpqua Community College to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing with a graduation date of 2025. She has completed one year of nursing school and will be entering her second year this fall. Part of her education involves job shadowing at Mercy Medical Center in Roseburg, which has been an invaluable experience.
She participates in community service and has volunteered with various SCHHC events, such as Women’s Health Day.
“I am confident that providing best practices and excellent care is what makes a significant difference in the lives of the patients I will serve,” Glines said.
Rebecca Meza
Meza as Medical Imaging Supervisor at Southern Coos Hospital & Health Center. She has worked for SCHHC since 2019 and previously worked at Ocean Ridge Assisted Living.
Her career goal is to earn her BSN through Oregon Health & Science University. She was accepted into the nursing program at Southwestern Oregon Community College, to begin in September 2024. She will then finish her Bachelor of Science in Nursing in the year 2026/2027 through OHSU. She plans to stay in the community and hopes to work as an ED nurse at SCHHC after graduating.
She volunteers in the community, coaching high school cheer and T-ball. She volunteers at SCHHC on the EAC committee as well as community vaccine events. She was voted Employee of the Month this past year.
“Working in the medical field and helping others runs in my blood and I will make good use of my degree by serving our community,” Meza said.
Alannah Ornbaun
Ornbaun works at Southern Coos Hospital as a CNA II in the Med-Surg Department and previously worked at Coquille Valley Hospital Clinic. She has worked as a CNA for seven years and has taken all of the pre-requisites and completed her first year of nursing school.
Ornbaun plans to enroll at Southwestern Oregon Community College for the fall 2024 term to continue her nursing degree. Her long-term goal is to be a Certified Nurse Midwife. Her short-term goal is to complete the EMT course at SOCC.
She plans to continue working as a CNA II and work as an EMT locally when the opportunity presents itself.
“I have been through a lot in my adult years and have had to overcome starting from the bare minimum, to working towards being the best person I can be for my new husband, my kids, and my patients and their families,” Ornbaun said.
Maximus “Max” Sanchez
Sanchez graduated from Bandon High School and is attending Lane Community College to earn his prerequisites by June 2025, then plans to attend Portland Community College to obtain an associate degree in Radiography to work as an X-ray technician. Both of his parents work at Southern Coos Hospital & Health Center.
After he passes the ARRT exam, he would like to come work at SCHHC to ultimately be able to give back to the community in that way.
“As I see the town growing, I know the need for care from the hospital also grows, and I would like to ultimately become part of that care and be able to give back to the community in that way,” Sanchez said.
April Shaw
Shaw works at Southern Coos Hospital as a CNA II. Her primary goal is to become a Registered Nurse.
She has been in the medical field for 20 years as a CNA. During that time, she was able to work in various fields, with her favorite being emergency care. She is currently enrolled in the nursing program at Southwestern Oregon Community College. She obtained her AAOT pre-nursing degree.
She would love to work in the Emergency Department, but any acute care setting would be beneficial to gain experience. After completing her nursing degree, she hopes to continue her employment with SCHHC, expanding her scope of practice from a CNA to an RN.
“Through all the hardships in life, I learned to go after what I want and ask for help when needed. As a first-generation college graduate, I have accumulated a significant debt with student loans. (This scholarship) will help tremendously with the financial burdens and lighten the load to continue my education,” Shaw said.
Natalie Vincent
Vincent works at Bay Area Hospital as an Emergency Department secretary. She also works at Southern Coos Hospital as a CNA I in the Med-Surg Department.
Vincent previously worked at Southern Coos Hospital & Health Center from 2020 to 2022 as a COVID screener, as a Certified Medical Assistant in the SCHHC clinic, and as a CNA on the Med/Surg floor. Her mother also works at SCHHC.
Vincent attended Southwestern Oregon Community College and earned her associate transfer degree in pre-nursing in November 2022. She enrolled in SOCC’s Nursing Program in September 2023 to earn her associate degree in nursing with the goal of becoming an RN. Her eventual goal is to become a Certified Nurse Midwife.
“I have learned through working in my current position how much I care about patients and love patient care. I will continue to work hard throughout my schooling and achieve my goal of becoming an RN, and this scholarship would help me do that,” Vincent said.
Casey Young
Young works at SCHHC as an LPN and a unit secretary for the Emergency Department. She is looking to grow her responsibilities and become an RN. She formerly worked as a correctional nurse at Okaloosa Correctional Facility in Florida.
She is attending Southwestern Oregon Community College and will graduate with her Associate of Nursing in June 2026. She would like to eventually obtain her master’s in nursing and receive credentialing as a nurse educator. In the short term, she is aiming for her ADN and BSN.
She currently volunteers as a firefighter with a local department, averaging about 10-15 hours per week. Upon graduation, she intends to continue working at SCHHC.
“I have worked in this hospital and this community for only four years, but I hope this educational advancement will allow me to better serve and protect my community here in Bandon and Coos County,” Young said.
About Mary Richards
Mary Richards was a long-time member of the Southern Coos Hospital & Health Center Auxiliary. She worked for much of her career at Harbor Lights Middle School. When she passed away, she instructed her family to devote any donations to be given to the SCHHC Auxiliary. In order to memorialize the impact that Mary Richards had on the auxiliary and on the Bandon community, the Auxiliary designated the funds as the Mary Richards Memorial Scholarship fund. The Southern Coos Health Foundation administers the funds, which come from proceeds from the hospital gift shop and donations to the Foundation.
For more information, visit https://southerncoos.org/mary-richards-memorial-scholarship/ or contact Amy Moss Strong at 541-329-1038 or amossstrong@southerncoos.org.
-END-