15 Area Students Awarded 2025 Mary Lou Johnson Health Career Scholarships from OhioHealth Hardin Memorial Hospital – 95.3 WKTN
Featured
OhioHealth Hardin Memorial Hospital recently announced the recipients of the 2025 Mary Lou Johnson Scholarship. This annual scholarship supports students from Hardin County and surrounding areas who are pursuing degrees in healthcare and related fields.
This year, 15 students have been awarded scholarships — 10 graduating high school seniors and 5 current college students — as they take their next steps in education and service.
The scholarship honors the legacy of Mary Lou Johnson, a longtime advocate for healthcare access and education in Hardin County. This year’s recipients are listed below:
High School Recipients
• Taylor Barlow, Kenton High School graduate, will attend Rhodes State College to study Nursing.
• Leah Harder, Kenton High School graduate, will attend Ohio Northern University to study Nursing.
• Chloe Hattery, Kenton High School graduate, will attend Ohio Northern University to study Biology Pre-Physician Assistant.
• Mackenzie Kugel, Kenton High School graduate, will attend Rhodes State College to study Radiographic Imaging.
• Morgan Lyons, Kenton High School graduate, will attend Bowling Green State University to study Communication Sciences and Disorders.
• Olivia Nolting, Kenton High School graduate, will attend Heidelberg University to study Nursing.
• Kennedy Phelps, Riverdale High School graduate, will attend Bluffton University to study Pre-Physical Therapy and Exercise Science.
• Heidi Trachsel, Hardin Northern High School graduate, will attend Ohio University to study Nursing.
• Ramzie Whitaker, Hardin Northern High School graduate, will attend Ohio Northern University to study Pharmacy.
• Allison Woodruff, Riverdale High School graduate, will attend Ohio Northern University.
College Recipients
• Kylie Allmon, currently attending Ohio Northern University, majoring in Nursing.
• Caitlin Defibaugh, currently attending Rhodes State College, majoring in Nursing.
• Angelica Forester, currently attending Otterbein University, majoring in Nursing.
• Brinley Hites, currently attending Daytona State College, majoring in Nursing.
• Brailyn Thacker, currently attending Rhodes State College, majoring in Nursing.
“We are honored to support these incredible students as they pursue careers that will make a real difference in our communities,” said Jim Whitaker, senior advisor of operations at Hardin Memorial Hospital. “Each of these scholars embodies the compassion, dedication, and excellence that Mary Lou Johnson believed in.”
“It’s important that we do everything we can to support students interested in pursuing vital careers in health care. We are working to restore the pipeline, and this is one way we can do that,” said Jim Parobek, president of Hardin Memorial Hospital.
Successful candidates for Foundation scholarships must be accepted or currently enrolled in health career programs such as nursing, pharmacy, respiratory therapy, radiologic technology, laboratory technology, or other hospital-based undergraduate degree programs. Qualified students must have been accepted as full-time students, have high aptitude for health service and demonstrate scholastic ability, character, good citizenship, and financial need. Applicants must reside within the service area of Hardin Memorial Hospital.
Hardin Memorial Hospital Foundation established the scholarship in 1988 to help provide incentives for students to choose hospital-based health careers and to support local students who may be interested in seeking employment within Hardin Memorial Hospital’s scope of services after graduation.
Inquiries about future scholarships can be directed to the Administration Office at Hardin Memorial Hospital (419) 675-8151.
Written by: bclark
News
todayJuly 30, 2025 34
News
todayJuly 30, 2025 112
WKTN is a locally owned and operated radio station broadcasting from Kenton, Ohio since 1963.
Our broadcast covers Hardin County and into Allen, Auglaize, Hancock, Logan, Marion, Union, and Wyandot Counties including a majority of communities within.
Copyright WKTN.com – | Public File| FCC Applications| ADMIN | 112 N. Detroit Street, Kenton, OH 43326 | 419-675-2355
