Nursing Students Receive Scholarhips

left, Bela Sebastian Hohn, Karla Clem and Leslie Melo Lira.

Two Lincoln County nursing students are this year’s recipients of the Gribler Loving Trust Nursing Education Scholarship from the Pacific Communities Health District Foundation.

Leslie Melo Lira and Bela Sebastian-Hohn each received $5,000 for tuition and books for their

studies in the nursing program at Oregon Coast Community College. They were recognized during a reception at Samaritan Pacific Communities Hospital to celebrate their accomplishment.

“It was a unanimous decision for the Scholarship Committee of the hospital’s nurse managers to award both Leslie and Bela this year’s scholarships,” said Karla Clem, PCHD Foundation executive director, who announced the scholarship. “Their commitment to Lincoln County and service to help meet the community’s medical needs is something worth celebrating.” Clem said.

“This is an especially exciting year because $5,000 is the largest single scholarship our volunteer board of trustees has authorized in one year. That decision was made due to strong investment earnings in the scholarship fund before applications were even received.”

Including this year’s recipients, over $109,500 has been awarded to 36 individuals since the

inception of the Gribler scholarship, she added.

As part of the application process, each student submitted short autobiographies addressing their commitment, background, work ethic and desire to become a nurse. Leslie Melo Lira: Now in her second year of nursing school, Melo Lira received a $2,000 Gribler Loving Trust scholarship last year. She wrote: “My desire to become a nurse comes from a genuine passion for helping others during vulnerable moments in their lives. I experienced this vulnerability firsthand when I was hospitalized and truly understood how frightening it can feel to be a patient.

My nursing education has pushed me to grow academically and emotionally, requiring discipline, time management and perseverance. I approach every learning opportunity with determination and willingness to improve.” Isabella(Bela) Sebastian-Hohn: A first-year nursing student with more than 12 years of experience as a clinical nursing assistant, she wrote: “I have developed a strong foundation in patient-centered care.

I have learned that every patient is unique, and that quality care requires compassion,

attentiveness and adaptability. I grew up in Lincoln County. My goal is to serve my community as a compassionate and skilled nurse and work toward making a lasting difference in the lives of others.”

About the scholarship:

The scholarship is named for Olga and Bill Gribler, who were active in the Newport community beginning in 1947. The Griblers established this generous scholarship with

the Pacific Communities Health District Foundation to address the ongoing need for quality nurses in this rural area.

“We believe Leslie and Bela are they kind of people the Griblers had in mind when they established the scholarship with us all those years ago,” Clem said. “We’re all so grateful to the Griblers for their legacy and happy for our scholarship recipients.” For information about this scholarship or the Pacific Communities Health District Foundation, visit

samhealth.org/giving or call 541-574-4745.