Aspiring nurses awarded scholarships through Parkview Health Foundation

KENDALLVILLE and LAGRANGE, Ind. - July 15, 2026 - Two rising college freshmen have received a boost to their educational plans as they pursue their nursing education this fall.

Lakeland Junior/Senior High School graduate Haylee Hicks has been selected to receive the Parkview LaGrange Hospital Scholarship, and East Noble High School grad Johanna Carpenter has been awarded Parkview Noble Hospital's Karen Denney Nursing Scholarship.

"These scholarships are an investment in the future of healthcare across our region," said Denise Andorfer, director, Parkview Health Foundation. "Through the generosity of donors and community supporters, we are able to help students and healthcare professionals continue their education and strengthen care for the communities we serve."

Parkview LaGrange Hospital (PLH) Scholarship -- $1,000
Haylee Hicks was a driven student at Lakeland, where she participated in soccer and softball all four years. She received academic all-state honors twice and all-conference honorable mention. Hicks earned dual credit by completing the Primary Healthcare program through the IMPACT Institute in Kendallville, where she acquired hands-on experience as a certified nursing assistant (CNA)/medical assistant (MA) in a hospital setting.

Hicks plans to attend Hanover College, Hanover, Ind., this fall to study nursing and psychology. Her dream is to work in pediatrics or an intensive care unit (ICU).

Karen Denney Nursing Scholarship winner -- $1,000
Johanna Carpenter was also a highly motivated student at East Noble, and her achievements were particularly notable in light of challenges she has faced. She pushed herself hard and obtained her CNA and MA certifications through the IMPACT Institute's Primary Healthcare program. She was able to complete training rotations in family medicine, emergency medicine, EMS, registration and physical therapy, giving her varied experiences to develop strong patient skills and learn to adapt quickly to diverse clinical environments.

Carpenter will pursue a degree in nursing through Ivy Tech Community College this fall.

Karen Denney, for whom the scholarship is named, was a caring nurse who dedicated her 35-year career to patients at McCray Memorial Hospital and Parkview Noble Hospital. During her career, she was the manager of the OB department - now the Family Birthing Center - for more than 25 years. Her last wish in the hospital was to have a scholarship that would help high school students pursue a nursing degree.

The PLH and Karen Denney scholarships are part of a program to promote excellence in healthcare made possible through the generosity of donors and administered by Parkview Health Foundation.

In 2026, the foundation awarded 34 scholarships totaling $104,000 to students and healthcare professionals across Parkview Health's service area. Scholarship winners are selected annually. Each scholarship is carefully managed by its own committee comprising Parkview leaders and foundation representatives, family members and colleagues of scholarship namesakes.

Learn more about supporting healthcare education assistance through Parkview Health Foundation. Visit donate.parkview.com.

About Parkview Health Foundation

Since 1878, charitable giving has helped make exceptional care possible at Parkview Health. The Parkview Health Foundation stewards philanthropic support to benefit patients and the broader community by enhancing the patient experience through comfort, access and healing.

Gifts to the Foundation make a direct, meaningful impact - from helping patients overcome barriers to lifesaving care, to supporting scholarships that educate the next generation of Parkview caregivers, to advancing research that improves health care across the region and beyond.

The Parkview Health Foundation plays a critical role in strengthening Parkview Health's ability to deliver expert, specialized care to patients in Indiana and northwest Ohio, ensuring a healthier future for the communities it serves. For more information, visit parkview.com/parkview-health-foundation.