WESTON — Nine area students are the 2019 recipients of the Sister Sharee Hurtgen Scholarship through the Foundation of Ascension St. Clare’s Hospital.

Awarded annually, the Sister Sharee Hurtgen Scholarship program aids children of associates of Ascension St. Clare’s Hospital and its campus Ascension affiliates or associates who are not eligible for tuition reimbursement and have plans to attend an educational program, apprentice program or classes in pursuit of a technical, associate or bachelor’s degree.

Sister Sharee served as the first patient advocate at Ascension St. Clare’s until her retirement in 2014.

The 2019 Sister Sharee Scholarship recipients were recently presented with a combined $6,000 from the program, they include:

• Natalie Antonson of Weston. A D.C. Everest Senior High School graduate, Antonson plans to attend the University of Wisconsin-Madison, majoring in neurobiology.
• Shannah Ellenbecker of Merrill attends Rasmussen College and is seeking her associate degree in nursing.
• Brennan Harsh of Wausau. A Wausau East High School graduate, Harsh will attend Fox Valley Technical College, majoring in aviation.
• Zackary Madden of Wausau graduated from Wausau East High School and will attend Marian University, majoring in criminal justice.
• Adam Moucha of Kronenwetter is a recent graduate of Mosinee High School. He will attend Michigan Technological University, majoring in mechanical engineering.
• Ian Raddatz from Wausau East High School plans to study mechanical engineering at either Northcentral Technical College or Lake Superior State University.
• Lily Lee of Weston is a graduate of D.C. Everest Senior High School and will attend the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point to major in accounting.
• Ka Lia Xiong of Weston is a D.C. Everest graduate who will attend the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh.
• Pang Yang of Kronenwetter will attend the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point at Wausau, majoring in elementary education.

“We are grateful to the many people who have supported the Sister Sharee Scholarship program,” said Patti Shafto-Carlson, Ascension St. Clare’s Foundation director. “Its focus on students who may have been overlooked in the traditional scholarship selection process is a fitting tribute to Sister Sharee who impacted the lives of many patients and associates at Ascension St. Clare’s.”

To donate or for more information on the Sister Sharee Hurtgen Scholarship, contact Shafto-Carlson at 715-393-2604 or [email protected].

Photo courtesy Ascension. Pictured are Adam Moucha, back row from left, Shannah Ellenbecker, Ian Raddatz, Sister Sharee Hurtgen and Brennan Harsh; Natalie Antonson, front row from left, Ka Lia Xiong and Pang Yang. Zackary Madden and Lily Lee are not pictured.