Four Local Students Awarded Regional Healthcare Scholarships

In February, the Grimshaw Regional Healthcare Attraction and Retention Committee (GRHARC) announced the four recipients of the 2026 GRHARC Healthcare Scholarship Program.

This annual scholarship, valued at $3,000 per recipient, provides financial support to four students pursuing healthcare or medical-related studies. The goal is to encourage recipients to live and work in the region.

“This marks our fourth year of awarding scholarships to local residents, and each year we continue to see a strong and highly qualified pool of applicants,” said Stacey Messner, GRHARC Chairperson. “It’s incredibly encouraging to see so many people in our community pursuing post secondary education in medical and health related fields, even as the selection process becomes more challenging with such deserving candidates.”

The 2026 Recipients are:

• Kayla Stalker, MD of Peace

  Counselling Psychology at Athabasca University

  
  

• Evangeline Schaffert, MD of Peace

  Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Northwestern Polytechnic

  
  

• Mya Petkus, County of Northern Lights

  Bachelor of Therapeutic Recreation at University of Lethbridge

  
  

• Talia Yasinski, County of Northern Lights

  Lab & X-Ray Technology at Northern Alberta Institute of Technology

This year, 13 applications were received from students in various healthcare fields.

To be eligible, applicants had to demonstrate residency in the Town of Grimshaw, MD of Peace No. 135, Village of Berwyn or County of Northern Lights; provide proof of acceptance into a healthcare or medical program; and submit a 500-700 word essay outlining their commitment to serving in rural northern communities.

Funding for this scholarship initiative is generously provided by the Town of Grimshaw, Municipal District of Peace No. 135, Village of Berwyn and County of Northern Lights.