Santa Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital Foundation Awards Healthcare Scholarships to 19 Local Residents

Advancing Our Local Healthcare Workforce of Tomorrow

The Santa Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital Foundation (SYVCHF) awarded 19 healthcare scholarships, totaling $78,000, to Santa Ynez Valley residents entering or enrolled in a medical health-related field of study and who are committed to pursuing careers in our community.

This year's recipients include recent high school graduates, continuing college students and Cottage employees. These scholarships help offset the increasing costs of college education and can be used to pay for tuition, books and other educational expenditures.

"This scholarship program is an investment in the future of healthcare for our community — helping to support, grow and inspire the next generation of dedicated caregivers," said Katie Gorndt, Vice President and Director of Nursing at Santa Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital.

The SYVCHF scholarship program was established in 2018. Thanks to generous community support, there are now seven named scholarship funds within the program, including two new named funds this year: the Lorraine Brem Scholarship Fund and the Shepherd Family Endowed Scholarship Fund.

"Fostering opportunities for students to further their education in healthcare is an important element in sustaining excellent healthcare services," said Rich Nagler, President of the SYVCHF. "Our Foundation is proud to be supporting these students."

This year's scholarship recipients are:

Ann Bertero Scholarship Fund (est. 2018)

The Ann Bertero Scholarship Fund was created to honor Ann's memory as a longtime hospital volunteer and for her work to create the hospital's youth volunteer program. Her daughter Lisa Bertero Palmer and son-in-law Steve Palmer established the fund and continue to grow their commitment with the support of family and friends.

Alexa Berryman. Alexa has been working as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) for the last 8 years and has worked in the SYVCH Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Program. She is currently working in SYVCH's Medical/Surgical unit and is enrolled in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program at California State University (CSU) Channel Islands to become an RN.

Julia Pritchard. Julia is enrolled at CSU Channel Islands in the BSN program. She has an interest in becoming a labor and delivery nurse and then returning to school to become a Nurse Practitioner.

Abby Snow. Abby is enrolled at Chico State University as a nursing major with a focus on Women's Heart Health. She plans to continue on to achieve a BSN and become a labor and delivery nurse. She has also volunteered at SYVCH and is supporting the hospital again this summer.

Luz Zepeda. Luz, a mother of three children, has been working as a medical assistant while in school. She graduated from the Allan Hancock College Nursing School Program in December 2024. She is currently enrolled in a BSN program at CSU Channel Islands. After graduation, Luz plans to work as a nurse in the Santa Ynez Valley.

Gainey Foundation Scholarship Fund (est. 2024)

The Gainey Foundation established the fund to support Santa Ynez Valley residents who are pursuing a higher education in a healthcare field and to make a positive difference in the local healthcare workforce.

Rachel Marmolejo. Rachel is a Santa Ynez Valley Union High School graduate. She completed the Medical Assisting Program at Allan Hancock College and is enrolled at the Southern California University of Health Sciences in a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Health Sciences degree. After graduation this year, Rachel plans to apply to a Physician Assistant or BSN program.

Tanner Padfield. Tanner is a Santa Ynez Valley Union High School graduate. He is in his senior year at the University of Oregon, where he is pursuing a degree in Human Physiology. After graduation, he plans to go onto graduate school to earn a Doctorate of Physical Therapy.

Mandy Pimentel. Mandy received a BS in Communicative Sciences and Disorders with a Minor in Deaf Education from San Jose State University in 2022. She is continuing her education at the same university and is in her third year pursuing a Doctorate in Audiology. Mandy has already been accepted into an audiology practice in the Santa Ynez Valley to begin her career after she completes her education.

Arisa Waters. Arisa is a graduate of Dunn School. She completed the EMT program and graduated in 2024 from UCLA with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. Arisa has been accepted to the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing for the fall. She will be studying toward a Master of Science in Nursing to become an advanced practice nurse.

Ken and Lloyd Mills Family Endowed Scholarship Fund (est. 2022)

This scholarship honors the memory and legacy of Ken and Lloyd's community support and generosity. Established by their family, Ken and Lloyd loved living in the Santa Ynez Valley and volunteered wherever they could to enhance the community.

Allie Linane. Allie is attending the University of San Diego with the goal of becoming a Nurse Practitioner and has been on the Dean's Honor Roll each semester. She has volunteered more than 100 hours in the SYVCH's Emergency Department. In addition to school, she is also volunteering at Scripps Memorial Hospital in the Oncology Department.

Lorraine Brem Scholarship Fund (est. 2024)

This fund was established by Barbara Brem to support nursing students in loving memory of her mother, Lorraine Brem, who had a lifelong passion to become a nurse, but the opportunity was never available to her.

Kiana Paulson. Kiana is attending Brigham Young University (BYU) as a nursing student with the long-term goal of becoming a Nurse Practitioner and returning to the area to practice. She was voted in as the Service Director for the Student Nursing Association Board at BYU. She took a gap year and volunteered for 18 months in Italy at the Mission President of the Italy Rome Mission and also did an internship with Dr. Scott Saunders.

Nagler Family Scholarship Fund (est. 2024)

Richard and Janice Nagler established the Nagler Family Scholarship to support local residents who have completed two or more years of health education from an accredited college or university.

Daniel Kozlov. Daniel is a third-year Neuroscience major at UCLA on a pre-med track who plans to become a neurosurgeon. He is also part of the UCLA Department of Neurology Research Lab studying Parkinson's, a neurodegenerative disease. Daniel has provided more than 600 hours of volunteering in the Emergency Department at SYVCH.

Katie Lozano. Katie is enrolled in a Master of Healthcare Administration program at Western Governors University. She joined SYVCH in 2021 as the Clinical Manger of the Surgical Services Department.

Santa Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital Foundation Auxiliary Honorary Scholarship Fund (est. 2021)

The Auxiliary Honorary Scholarship Fund was established to honor the legacy of the SYVCH Auxiliary (1962-2018), which is now a part of Cottage Health's Volunteer Services.

Addison Bunke. Addison is a 2025 graduate of Santa Ynez Valley Union High School. She will be attending Scripps College in the fall studying psychology with the goal of becoming a Clinical Psychologist and supporting community mental health.

Lizbeth Jimenez. Lizbeth graduated from Santa Ynez Valley Union High School with honors in 2024. She attends San Diego State University as a pre-med student with plans to continue onto medical school to become a physician.

Kimberly Medina. Kimberly is a 2025 graduate of Santa Ynez Valley Union High School. She will be attending Fresno State in the fall studying to become a radiology technician with plans to work at a local hospital.

Ryann Melville. Ryann graduated from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in 2024 with a BS in Kinesiology. He is currently enrolled at Duke University in the Accelerated BSN program. He plans to continue on and become a Nurse Practitioner.

Beck Mortensen. Beck is a 2025 graduate of Dunn School. He has completed an internship with Dr. Sandra Wilson. Beck has been accepted to Baylor University in the fall and will be studying as a pre-med student.

Kiely West. Kiely graduated from Santa Ynez Valley Union High School. She did her undergraduate studies at Santa Barbra City College and completed a BS in Kinesiology Exercise from Chico State University. Kiely is currently enrolled in the Radiologic Technology program at Santa Barbara City College.

Shepherd Family Endowed Scholarship Fund (est. 2024)

Gerry B. Shepherd established the fund to support local residents who have completed two or more years of health education from an accredited college or university.

Sarah Savedra. Sarah graduated from Westmont College with a BS in Kinesiology in 2024. She is a second-year student at Westmont College and in the Downtown Grotenhuis Nursing Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing program. She has developed a particular interest in wound care, hospice and psychiatric nursing.