Kendrick Foundation Announces 2024 Scholars and Recognizes Community Leadership Awardees

For the 21st consecutive year, the Kendrick Foundation is proud to award academic scholarships to Morgan County residents pursuing careers in health and healthcare. The Kendrick Foundation awarded each of the 24 most accomplished applicants with $17,500 scholarships for the 2024-25 academic year.

“We were so pleased to celebrate and recognize our 2024 scholars and community leaders on June 12 at the South Central Indiana REMC Community Room in Martinsville,” said Amanda Walter, MD, Kendrick Foundation Board President. “The Kendrick Foundation is committed to supporting the next generation of health and healthcare professionals and community leaders. Each student gives back to our community by volunteering their time and talent, fostering habits which will actively build and connect our future health and healthcare community and contribute to a better quality of life for Morgan County residents."

The 2024 Kendrick Foundation scholars are:

• Ava Ash, Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Purdue University
• Lindsay Atwell, Doctor of Dental Surgery at Indiana University Indianapolis
• Anna Bowlen, Doctor of Chiropractic at Logan University
• Makenna Brady, Master of Arts in Mental Health Counseling at the University of Indianapolis
• Amy Burchett, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Postgraduate Certificate Program at Purdue University Global
• Chloe Cowgur, Doctor of Occupational Therapy at Indiana University Indianapolis
• Lexi Curry, Doctor of Occupational Therapy at the University of Indianapolis
• Carson Dougherty, Doctor of Medicine at Indiana University
• Laura England, Master of Science in Nursing at Indiana Wesleyan University
• Mattison Fields, Doctor of Physical Therapy at Indiana University Indianapolis
• Ian Green, Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science at the University of Evansville
• Jessica Harris, Master of Science in Nursing at Indiana University Indianapolis
• Jailyn Jones, Doctor of Pharmacy at Purdue University
• Kariden Jones, Doctor of Occupational Therapy at the University of Indianapolis
• Emmah Keller, Master of Physician Assistant Studies at Indiana University Indianapolis
• Emily Key, Master of Social Work at Indiana Wesleyan University
• Lauren Lenk, Doctor of Occupational Therapy at Indiana University Indianapolis
• Kaytlin Mendenhall, Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Indiana University
• Savannah Phipps, Doctor of Medicine at Indiana University
• Rachel Pitcock, Bachelor of Science in Nursing at the University of Indianapolis
• Chelsea Stephey, Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy at Capella University
• Alli Taylor, Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Marian University
• Elise Turner, Doctor of Pharmacy at Purdue University
• Morgan Yount, Doctor of Medicine at Indiana University

Kendrick Foundation scholars are selected through a competitive process based on academic achievement, extra-curricular involvement, and community service. To be eligible for a Kendrick Foundation scholarship, students must be Morgan County residents pursuing an undergraduate or graduate health-related degree at an accredited public or private non-profit institution of higher education, with an intention to return to Morgan County to work in a health-related field. Scholars are required to complete 20 hours of volunteer service during the academic year. To date, the Kendrick Foundation has awarded over 600 scholarships to students pursuing careers in health and healthcare – a significant investment to support Morgan County’s next generation of health and healthcare leaders.

Additionally, for just the third year, the Kendrick Foundation recognized community leaders for their efforts to improve the health and wellbeing of Morgan County residents. Community leadership awardees are not those traditionally thought of as leaders in health but they’re using their influence across the five domains of the social determinants of health – social and community context, economic stability, neighborhood and built environment, healthcare access and quality, and education access and quality – to make Morgan County and Indiana a healthier place to live, learn, work, play, worship, and age.

The 2024 community leadership awardees are:

• Joe Mills, Executive Director of the Habitat for Humanity of Morgan County and chair of the long-term affordable housing task force of the Better Communities Coalition
• Indiana General Assembly (award accepted by Rep. Peggy Mayfield, serving District 60 which includes portions of Morgan, Johnson, and Monroe counties)

“Joe Mills has roughly 70 years of professional employment and volunteer experience serving Hoosiers and Morgan County residents in the areas of education, behavioral health, and housing, and is an inspiration to us all,” said Keylee Wright, MA, Kendrick Foundation Executive Director. “We’re also truly grateful to the Indiana General Assembly for historic investments in behavioral health and public health during the 2023 legislative session and hope for continued support in these areas, as well as other social determinants of health, in the next state biennium budget.”

In 2023, Senate Enrolled Act 1 provided the Division of Mental Health and Addiction $100 million through the state biennium budget to establish the next step for improving the state’s mental health care system. House Enrolled Act 1001 also appropriated $10 million for regional mental health facility grants to support a regional approach to mental health services for incarcerated individuals, and an additional $1 million each year for child behavioral health services. Additionally, Health First Indiana is the state initiative created by Senate Enrolled Act 4 passed by the 2023 Indiana General Assembly that transforms public health in Indiana. The legislature provided $225 million in funding through the budget bill for local communities to prioritize public health and safety.

Formed from the proceeds of the sale of the Kendrick Memorial Hospital in 2001, the Kendrick Foundation invests in conditions that support the physical and mental health of all Morgan County residents. Learn more at kendrickfoundation.org.