Santa Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital (SYVCH) Volunteer Services has awarded nine $3,000 scholarships to local students who live or work in the Santa Ynez Valley and plan to pursue college studies in health-related careers.
The scholarship awards totaling $27,000 are made possible through proceeds from the New to You Thrift Store in Solvang. The store is staffed entirely by Santa Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital volunteers who donate more than 16,000 hours of their time and talents each year to support the hospital.
Scholarship recipients were selected by SYVCH scholarship committee members Jacky Green, Martha Nedegaard, Brenda Loskamp and Susan Snekvik.
The 2022 Santa Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital Volunteer Services Scholarship recipients are:
Murphy Brewer — Brewer is a graduate of Santa Ynez High School and is studying biology at the University of San Diego. She plans to earn a paramedic license and continue studies in medical school.
Victoria Gutierrez — Gutierrez is in the nursing program at Santa Barbara City College. She is also earning a bachelor’s degree in nursing through Grand Canyon University.
Brigitt Hernandez — Hernandez is a graduate of Dunn School in Los Olivos. She is attending Cal Poly State University in San Luis Obispo, with plans to major in biology, and then go to medical school.
Daniel Kozlov — Kozlov is a graduate of Santa Ynez High School. He is attending UCLA with plans to major in neuroscience to become a neurosurgeon.
Jessica Perez — Perez is an emergency department technician at Santa Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital. She is currently in the radiology technician program at Santa Barbara City College.
Gabriel Prendergast — Prendergast is a graduate of Santa Ynez Valley High School and is attending the University of San Diego to pursue a master’s degree in nursing.
Arisa Waters — Waters is from Los Olivos and is a psychology student at UCLA with plans to enter the field of clinical psychology. She is also a certified emergency medical technician.
Aidan Waters — Waters is a graduate of Dunn School and is a student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He plans to major in kinesiology to pursue a career in sports medicine.
Leslie Salinas — Salinas is a graduate of Santa Ynez High School and is attending Alan Hancock College. She is pursuing a career in nursing.