2011 Merit Scholarship Recipients
Overall in 2011, $91,500 was awarded to 58 students.
We encourage students who are enrolled in CAHIIM-approved degree programs and graduate students who are working in areas related to HIM to apply. More information can be found on the Merit Scholarships page.
The AHIMA Foundation is pleased to congratulate the 2011 Merit Scholarship Recipients:
Undergraduate Recipients
AHIMA Foundation Undergraduate Merit Scholarship
Supported by donations to the Foundation’s Annual Fund and the Not-So-Silent Auction
Bethany Bossard, RHIT (NE) – University of Cincinnati
Kyla Caffarel (CO) – Regis University
David Caulder, RHIT (NE) - University of Cincinnati
Nancy Chambers (MO) – Ozark Technical Community College
Juliet Chan (CA) – Santa Barbara City College
Phillip Cooper (SC) - Midlands Technical College
Kathleen Forsman (IL) – DeVry University
Christine K. Froemling RHIT, CCS (IL) – Illinois State University
Robin Kittrell (NC) – Pitt Community College
Deborah Meier (WI) - Chippewa Valley Technical College
Frederick Nissen (WI) - Western Technical College
Amy Outhier (OK) - Southwestern Oklahoma State University
Peggy Paddock RN, MSH, CPC (IL) – Stephen College
Michelle Payne Schwarzel (MO) – Metropolitan Community College – Penn Valley
Judith Robles, RHIT (IL) – DeVry University
Clay Schleker (IL) – DeVry University
Lindsey Tynan, RHIT (IL) – Illinois State University
Tesha R. Wallace (TN) - Tennessee State University
AHIMA Foundation Diversity Scholarship
Awarded to students who gave strong and compelling answers to the Diversity essay in the scholarship application and supported by AHIMA Members, Precise Coding Services, Inc., and Robert G. Nelson, MBA
Beverly Foote (AL) - DeVry University
Vinita Tyagi CPC, CPC-H (CO) – Arapahoe Community College
Claudia Stanciu (IL) - Northwestern Business College
Marisol Levante, CNMT (MI) - University of Toledo
LaCoya Jones (MN) - Midlands Technical College
Roman Minyaylyuk (IL) - University of Illinois at Chicago
CSA Leadership Honorary Undergraduate Scholarship in Memory of David E. Westlake
Supported by donations from Summer Team Talks and Leadership Conference and in memory of David Westlake, RHIA, CHC, CHP former President for Wyoming Health Information Management Association
Jennifer Cotter (AR) - Arkansas Tech University
Roman Minyaylyuk (IL) - University of Illinois at Chicago
Rose T. Dunn Honorary Scholarship
Supported by donations in honor of volunteer and 2011 interim Chief Executive Officer of AHIMA, Rose T. Dunn, MBA, CPA, RHIA, FAHIMA, FACHE
Lora Snodgrass, RHIT (IA) - University of Cincinnati
Carol Lamoureux (MN) - Rochester Community and Technical College
Martha Emerson Memorial Scholarship
Memorializing the mother of Catherine Porto, RHIA, CHP, CPEHP
Phronda Buckley (TN) - Tennessee State University
Rita Finnegan Memorial Scholarship
Established by gifts from MC Strategies, Inc., AHIMA, and friends and family of Rita Finnegan, RHIA, CCS
Deborah Boro, RHIT (IL) - University of Cincinnati
Jimmy Gamble Memorial Scholarship
Established by gifts from 3M Health Information Systems and friends of Jimmy Gamble, in his memory
Becky Robertson (TN) - Volunteer State Community College
Kforce Healthcare Core Values Scholarship
Supported by Kforce Health
Amber Mack (IL) - College of DuPage
Dancia and Pierson Kirk Memorial Scholarship
Memorializing the Parents of Carolyn Valo, MS, RHIT, FAHIMA
Debra Martyn (PA) - Broome Community College
Margaret Lloyd Memorial Scholarship
An endowed scholarship established by Barbara P. Fuller, JD, RHIA, FAHIMA, in memory of her mother
Shawnda L. Meshirer RHIA, RHIT (TX) - Walden University
Oklahoma HIM Development Scholarship
Established by the Oklahoma HIMA, this scholarship gives preference to a student from Oklahoma
Ruth Anne Darr, CMT, AHDI-F (OK) - Dakota State University
Lucretia Spears Memorial Scholarship
Established through the Lucretia Spears Trust, in memory of Lucretia Spears
Lekshmi Kalathil (MO) – St. Charles Community College
Texas Health Information Management Association Development Scholarship
Established by the Texas HIMA, this scholarship gives preference to a student from Texas
Tiffany Rose Mince (TX) - Texas State University
YES HIM Consulting, Inc Student Scholarship
Established by YES HIM Consulting, Inc to support a HIM student pursuing a RHIA
Pamela Barton (GA) - Macon State College
Graduate Recipients
AHIMA Foundation Graduate Merit Scholarship
Supported by donations to the Foundation’s Annual Fund and the Not-So-Silent Auction
Christina Gray CCS, CCS-P (IA) - Des Moines University
Erin Blume, RHIA (MD) - The University of Baltimore
Svetlana Zorin RHIA, RHIT (NJ) – University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey
Pricilla Keeton (TX) - University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
Elizabeth Rockendorf (WI) - College of St. Scholastica
AHIMA Foundation Chair’s Graduate Scholarship in Honor of Past Chair Terry Cameron
Established by the AHIMA Foundation Board of Directors
Elisa Majeroni, RHIT (KS) - Friends University
AHIMA Foundation Diversity Scholarship
Awarded to students who gave strong and compelling answers to the Diversity essay in the scholarship application and supported by AHIMA Members, Precise Coding Services, Inc., and Robert G. Nelson, MBA
Shanna Snell, RHIA (FL) - University of Central Florida
Elizabeth Durand (MN) - College of St. Scholastica
Tasha Butler (TN) - The University of Tennessee Health Science Center
AOE/FDI Leadership Honorary Undergraduate Scholarship
Supported by donations from Assembly of Education and Faculty Development Institute Conference
Reginald Grady, RHIA, RHIT (IN) - Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis
CSA Leadership Honorary Graduate Scholarship in memory of David E. Westlake
Supported by donations from Summer Team Talks and Leadership Conference and in memory of David Westlake, RHIA, CHC, CHP former President for Wyoming Health Information Management Association
Thomas J. Hunt, RHIA (MI) - Indiana Institute of Technology
Theresa Rihanek, RHIA, CCS (NE) - Clarkson College
Rose T. Dunn Honorary Scholarship
Supported by donations in honor of volunteer and 2011 interim Chief Executive Officer of AHIMA, Rose T. Dunn, MBA, CPA, RHIA, FAHIMA, FACHE
Raeanna Bonetti RHIT, CPC (FL) - College of St. Scholastica
Joanne Stutesman, RHIA (MI) - University of Illinois - Chicago
Margaret Blechinger, RHIA (MN) - College of St. Scholastica
Rita M. Finnegan Memorial Scholarship
This PhD Scholarship Award was supported though an endowed scholarship established by gifts from MC Strategies, Inc., AHIMA, and friends and family of Rita M. Finnegan, RHIA, CCS
Bonnie Wilkins (MI) - The College of St Scholastica
Ryan Sandefer, CPHIT (MN) - University of Minnesota
Lucretia Spears Memorial Scholarship
Established through the Lucretia Spears Trust, in memory of Lucretia Spears
Tijuana Humphreys (TN) - University of Tennessee Health Science Center
T. Mowe Simpson, RHIA (TX) - Dakota State University
Dot Wagg Memorial JD Scholarship
This memorial award was established by the Massachusetts HIMA and friends of Dot Wagg; the scholarship is intended for a graduate student with or working toward a JD degree
Richelle Beckman RHIA, MHSA, CPC, CEMC, CPMA, CPC-1 (MO) - University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law