Health Care Education Scholarships are awarded to 10 recipients

Cassine Cantave of the Haitian Church of the Brethren is from North Miami Beach, Fla., and is attending St. Thomas University. “My desire to continue my medical education was born in the emergency room, a place where humanity is laid bare and every moment carries weight,” Cantave wrote in the scholarship application. “As an ER nurse, I have stood at the intersection of fear and hope, caring for patients and families on what is often the worst day of their lives. The emergency department has shaped me into a clinician who is resilient, attentive, and deeply committed to serving others with excellence. It has also revealed to me that my calling in healthcare extends beyond the limits of my current role.” About the Church of the Brethren influence, Cantave wrote, “The Church of the Brethren has been the spiritual soil in which both my faith and my calling to medicine have grown. I began attending the Church of the Brethren at the age of eight, and now, at twenty-four, it is not simply a place of worship. It is my family. It is where I found my closest friends, my partner, and a community that allowed me to be fully seen and fully known. In a world that often demands performance or perfection, the Church of the Brethren was the one place where I learned that who I am is enough, and that love is best expressed through service.”

Kourtney Cole of Chicago First Church of the Brethren is from Chicago, Ill., and is attending Southern University Nursing School. “As an adolescent I was fortunate enough to have African American Healthcare providers, who both influenced me as it relates to my desire to pursue a similar field,” Cole wrote in the application. “However, I could not help but notice how their counterparts within the facilities were often from other ethnicities. I knew then that I wanted to be part of changing the narrative and painting a new picture of how future generations would see Healthcare depicted…. Black doctors and therapists are not only important to our communities, but they are essential in our hope to see our communities grow, prosper and thrive for generations to come. I desire to become a clinical psychologist as I feel it will prove beneficial in my quest to pursue a promising career path. I personally feel that the field of nursing & psychology specifically within healthcare are some of the most rewarding fields because it will allow me to truly contribute to my community to help make a difference in the world.”

Shannon Coughlin of the Church in Drive congregation is from Frankenmuth, Mich., and is attending Michigan State University College of Human Medicine. “I have a passion for leveling the barriers in the healthcare system for patients,” Coughlin wrote in the application. “I have seen some of the best patient advocates as doctors, who know their patients beyond their problem lists. They inspire me in taking countless hours to get their patients the best care possible. No matter how overworked, their number one goal is doing everything they can for their patient. I want to prevent, comfort, and advocate to give my patients the best care possible, as I have seen demonstrated by excellent healthcare providers.” About the influence of the church, Coughlin wrote, “The skills of being a leader at church, listening to people, supporting, encouraging and helping people make me a better member of the healthcare team. As well as the immense amount of knowledge, motivational interviewing skills, decision making and more softer social skills of medical school make me a better relational evangelist and friend. All of my experiences, growth, lessons learned from my faith journey have shaped my desire to serve in the medical field and they complement each other beautifully.”

Jesse Funkhouser of Round Hill Church of the Brethren is from Strasburg, Va., and is attending Shenandoah University. “Growing up, I knew I wanted to enter a profession where I could serve others and make a positive impact on society and the people I come into contact with,” Funkhouser wrote in the application. “I wasn’t sure exactly what this would look like until my junior year of high school when I broke my leg playing football. To a teenager who had played sports year round since he was in elementary school, this event was devastating not only physically, but also mentally. I had never had an ankle sprain before, let alone an injury that would sit me out for several months. Despite my faith and hope in the Lord, I couldn’t help but feel crushed, depressed, and alone. It was then that I discovered what physical therapy was. My physical therapist was not only very knowledgeable in rehabilitation and healthcare, but she was also an amazing encourager and motivator. Physical therapy allowed me to heal physically, but my physical therapist made the greatest impact on my life through her compassion, encouragement, and assurance throughout the ups and downs of the rehab process. It was after this experience that I decided I wanted to pursue physical therapy…. I see many patients in severe pain, seemingly hopeless situations, and at the lowest point of their lives. Oftentimes it takes deliberate effort and energy on my part to build that rapport, and to build that relationship. While it isn’t the easiest way to practice medicine, I believe it’s the way that disciples of Christ should serve their patients.”

Paige Gerlach of the Church in Drive is from Baroda, Mich., and is attending Saginaw Valley State University. “Throughout my life, I have always looked for ways to help people, and I continue to do so. Because of this characteristic, my love of learning how things work, and my interest in subjects like biology and anatomy, I chose to pursue a career in nursing, and I can’t wait to continue that journey at SVSU. I am especially excited to start getting more clinical experience with pediatrics. I currently work with geriatrics and have worked at a variety of facilities. I love taking care of all the people there, and some of them really melt my heart…. I have always had a passion for helping people, but being part of the Church of the Brethren has grown that passion even more. The Church of the Brethren has helped grow and nourish my faith, so I now see experiences and opportunities in a different light. I feel so blessed to have the knowledge and the skills that God has given me, and I can’t wait to use my talents to serve Him as a nurse. What a blessing it will be to nourish people’s bodies and minds!”

Jenny L. Harper of Panora Church of the Brethren/Hands of Christ Fellowship is from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and is attending Lawrence Technological University. “It took me a very long time to discover my passion career as a certified surgical technologist,” Harper wrote in the application. “I always knew it would be somewhere within healthcare; I just didn’t know what direction God wanted me to go. It wasn’t until I was home on medical leave that I discovered surgical technology and fell in love with it! … While there are many ways to serve others, for me, serving others in the operating room is a huge blessing and a passion. For many people the operating room can be very cold and scary, but I pray, with a warm smile, a gentle touch of comfort, being able to explain the process in which they are going through in simple terms and answer questions to ease anxiety that is a service not many can accomplish. With this education I will gain knowledge, but with growing up in the Church of the Brethren, I will continue to serve others as my parents, grandparents and great-grandparents have before me.”

Seth Lowey of Carson Valley Church of the Brethren is from Duncansville, Pa., and is attending Touro University California College of Osteopathic Medicine. “My aspiration to become a physician remains deeply rooted in a commitment to service, compassion, and learning from others—values instilled in me from childhood and strengthened through lived experience,” Lowey wrote in the application. “Raised in a household of healthcare professionals and a church community that emphasized love for one’s neighbor, I learned early on that medicine is more than science; it is a calling to care for others with humility and empathy…. Growing up at Carson Valley Church of the Brethren, I was formed by a faith community that consistently emphasized peace, humility, and service to others. These values were not only taught in worship but lived out in everyday actions, and my summers at Camp Blue Diamond further deepened my understanding of compassion, reflection, and community. From an early age, I learned that faith is expressed through service—through listening with patience, caring without expectation, and honoring the dignity of every person. That foundation has shaped my desire to pursue medicine not simply as a career, but as a calling rooted in love for one’s neighbor. My motivation to serve patients flows directly from these Brethren values, guiding me to approach the medical field with humility, empathy, and a commitment to caring for the whole person.”

Kara McGiness of the Church in Drive is from Fife Lake, Mich., and is attending Saginaw Valley State University. “I want to enter the healthcare profession because my grandma encountered a ton of healthcare workers during her battle with cancer and my grandpa always tells me stories about the nurses that helped them through the years,” McGiness wrote in the application. “I have always been in awe of all that these nurses and doctors have done for my grandparents that I want to be able to be that person for others. Being able to help others when they are in their time of need feels like a calling from God and I want to do my best to follow that plan…. I plan on spreading God’s word and love with my patients and their families.”

Nathan Saffer of Bethel Church of the Brethren is from Joplin, Mo., and is attending Kansas City University College of Osteopathic Medicine. “Growing up on a farm in eastern Colorado, I was taught at a young age the significance of providing a helping hand to people whenever you get the chance. It was through watching my parents and grandparents interact with the members of our community that I fully grasped the impact that a person can make if they are dedicated to serving others. Thus, my desire to become a physician began.” Of the church’s influence, Saffer wrote, “The Church of the Brethren has supported me throughout my whole life. I grew up going to the Bethel Church of the Brethren in Arriba, CO. We are a small but close church community, and I have always felt supported and encouraged in all my endeavors by every member of the church. When I left Colorado to pursue a Bachelor of Science degree at McPherson College, I wsa welcomed into the McPherson Church of the Brethren congregation with open arms. Several members of the church took me out to lunch on Sundays during the first few months of my freshman year. Looking back, the emphasis on helping others that I have witnessed from countless members of the church really made a strong impact on me as well.”

James Wood of the Church in Drive is from Vassar, Mich., and is attending Saginaw Valley State University. “I have always known that I wanted to enter into a profession where I can help people, and I feel that being a nurse will allow me to do that,” Wood wrote in the application. “I’ve seen great nurses do their jobs well and make a real impact in their patient’s lives. I want to help heal people, learn about people, and establish a real human connection with people who are undergoing medical care. I have always wanted to make an impact and show love to other people, and I know that the nursing profession will provide this opportunity to me daily.” About the church’s influence, Wood wrote, “Before the Church of the Brethren, I had a hard time trusting God with everything but now I can trust Him more and more each day. I have been encouraged to read my bible daily and have conversations with God at any time. Most importantly I have been able to connect with other Christians who hold me accountable and keep my eyes on Jesus.”