August 1, 2020
By Robin Blakely
Lee’s Summit families were surprised to hear from comedy legend Carol Burnett who sent a written note of encouragement to Lee’s Summit scholarship awardees who are entering the healthcare field. Greater Lee’s Summit Healthcare Foundation board members and support team tugged their ears Carol-Burnett-style to show their love and support for this year’s students in the celebration that was held online instead of in-person due to COVID.
Because of COVID, the 2020 GLSHF Scholarship Celebration was held on Facebook instead of at the Royals Stadium. Visit www.facebook.com/lshealthcare/ or https://www.healthyleessummit.org/celebrate
“The Foundation is proud to award a total of $65,000 this year to thirteen students pursuing health-focused degrees,” said Lynette Wheeler, 2020 Scholarship Chairman for GLSHF. “Our scholarships are awarded to area students seeking healthcare and allied healthcare degrees. Assisting our local residents in the pursuit of academic studies in healthcare careers is an important way for GLSHF to make a healthy difference in Lee’s Summit and in the world. We are proud to support the commitment to wellness and good health.”
This year the total of $65,000 was awarded to 13 health-focused college students. Each awardee received $5,000.
The scholarship recipients of the GLSHF 2020 Scholarships are: Addison Besermin, Truman State University; Katelyn Colon, University of Central Missouri; Jason Egberuare, UMKC Medical School; Megan Finneseth, University of Central Arkansas; Mary Garcia, Research College of Nursing; Maria Gentry, University of Missouri School of Medicine; Lydia Hunter, University of Illinois Chicago; Molly Melton, University of Missouri at Columbia; Kyle Rampetsreiter, University of Kansas School of Medicine; Stephanie Rieger, University of Missouri Kansas City; Laura Spaw, Webster University; Tori Theiss, University of Central Missouri; and Jordan Thomas, University of Central Missouri.
GLSHF received a kind note of encouragement from the comedy legend, offering her applause to local students entering the healthcare field:
Carol Burnett said: “We need you now more than ever.”
Jeanné Willerth, board member at Greater Lee’s Summit Healthcare Foundation, reminds us how important it is to celebrate our students’ achievements because a little good news can inspire and motivate everyone: “We are so proud of our scholarship awardees. It is amazing how a little good news can find its way to some of the most incredible people.”
Fans of the iconic Carol Burnett Show will fondly remember the program’s recurring comedy sketches about Eunice Higgins, her cantankerous Mama, her goofy husband and his quirky handyman, which had geographic ties to the Missouri region…and were played by Carol Burnett, Vicki Lawrence, Harvey Korman, and Tim Conway. Fans will also recall that Carol always ended each of her shows by tugging on her left ear, which was a special message to her grandmother to let her grandparent know that she was doing well and that Carol loved her.
It seemed only fitting to include the loving gesture in the tribute to the students.
