2008 AAPA Veterans Caucus Scholarship Awards

Each year the AAPA Veteran's Caucus scholarships are awarded to selected individuals who have served the country in a branch of the Armed Services, either active duty or reserve, and who have a commitment to provide quality health care in the military or civilian system.

	Our congratulations to Anne Jo Nes,  a second year MEDEX student, who has received the 2008 Tim and Jackie Egan Scholarship from the AAPA Veteran's Caucus.

	And congratulations to Angela J Willits-Clements, a first year MEDEX student, who has received the 2008 Navy Association of PAs Scholarship from the AAPA Veteran's Caucus.

In recognition of academic achievement, outstanding service, commitment and dedication to our country and our profession.

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Students Recognized at the 2008 WAPA winter conference.

The Howard - Nalley Scholarship Award for excellence in balancing education and family.

Sarah Bigelow Yakima Class 14	Rich Hedrick Spokane Class 10

The Barb Gunter-Flynn Scholarship Awards for humor, grace and passion.

Karen Barton Spokane Class 10	Jim Drechsler Yakima Class 13

The Vader Memorial Scholarship was created in memory of a MEDEX graduate Sue Vadar, PA-C
(Seattle class 27) recognizes academic excellence and perserverance personified by virtue, grace,
and humanity.

Thomas York Seattle Class 41	Kelli Whitaker Seattle Class 41

The Richard Smith, M.D Endowed Scholarship in MEDEX Northwest for courage and commitment.

Stephen Willis Spokane Class 10	Mark Buescher Spokane Class 11
Anne Jo-Nes Seattle Class 40	Sharon Bernard Seattle Class 41

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WAPA Scholarships

	Chris Rieman, Spokane Class 11 Prior to MEDEX, Chris was a firefighter/ paramedic for the city of Moses Lake, Washington. Although he is undecided about which area of medicine he would like to practice in, he’s narrowed it down to either emergency or internal medicine. He would like to thank WAPA for their support and MEDEX for this unbelievable opportunity.
	Rebecca Johnson, Spokane Class 10 Rebecca’s background is in emergency medicine. She and her husband are very involved in Boy Scouts of America and both hold leadership positions. She loves hiking, camping and playing games with her family. Beka is happily married with 5 boys, so this scholarship is sure to come in handy!
	Anne Jo-Nes, Seattle Class 40 Anne is originally from Daytona Beach, FL and was an Aeromedical Technician and EMT with the United States Air Force. Her husband has been a strong influence and motivating force to pursue her dreams of becoming a Physician Assistant.

WAPA Barb Gunter-Flynn

Hirut Nicodimos, Seattle Class 40 Hirut was born in Ethiopia and graduated from Addis Ababa University where she received a BA in Business Education in 2000. After moving to the US she was employed as a Medical Interpreter and was a Representative for Patient Services. Upon graduation from MEDEX she intends to work in primary care along with helping underserved within the Ethiopian Community. She would also like to express her sincere appreciation for WAPA’s consideration in awarding her this scholarship.

Steve Thurgood Scholarship

Kari Duclos, Spokane Class 11 Kari is from Cottonwood, Idaho where she worked both on the family farm and as a CNA at the local rural hospital. She thinks the challenges that PA’s face as they provide healthcare in the rural Northwest are similar to those of farming. Many clinicians are doing everything they can to provide the best healthcare possible, but they are constrained by limited resources and funds. Kari is devoted to help relative healthcare shortages in the rural northwest as a PA.

The 2008 MEDEX Alumni Reception was held Saturday evening, January 26th at the WAPA conference. WAPA and the School of Medicine Alumni Association were contributing sponsors. We had a large turnout (over 150) and were able to award three alumni awards, a preceptor recognition certificate and over $10,000 in student scholarships. WAPA scholarships were also awarded at this event.

To read more about the Association of Family Practice Physician Assistant scholarship please visit their web-page at http://www.afppa.org

Read more about the AAPA's Physician Assistant Foundation Scholarship: http:// www.aapa.org

To read more about the Society of Emergency Medicine Phsician Assistans scholarship please visit their web-page at http://www.sempa.org/

Read more about the Alaska Association of Physician Assistant Scholarship: http://www.akapa.org/