NEWS RELEASE

The GCH LaVerne Allen Memorial Scholarship committee is pleased to announce Ryan Coffman and Madisyn Riffel as the recipients of the 2017 LaVerne Allen Memorial Nursing Scholarship.

Madisyn Riffel, a 2017 graduate of Abilene High School, plans to attend Fort Hays State University in the fall to pursue a nursing degree. Madisyn currently works as a Certified Nurse Aide and a Dietary Aide for Memorial Hospital in Abilene. “For as long as I can remember, I have always had a concern for others and tend to put their needs before my own,” said Madisyn. “I really took an interest into nursing a few years ago when I began taking biology courses. I researched the pathway and discussed my options with several family-friends who are nurses. I continue to fall in love with the rewarding task of being a caretaker, an assistant and a friend to patients.”

Ryan Coffman, a 2017 graduate of Junction City High School, plans to attend Washburn University in the fall to attain her nursing degree and eventually become a Certified Nurse Midwife. Ryan currently works for Geary Community Hospital as a Certified Nurse Aide in the Women’s Center. Ryan stated “I was born with the desire to become a nurse. I believe it is in my genes since both of my parents have served and protected the public for over 25 years each. Perhaps nursing is my way to feel the joy of public service in my heart. I looked up to LaVerne Allen, being her neighbor throughout my childhood was a learning experience. Mrs. Allen showed me compassion, love and responsibility while she was frequently looking after me. When she passed, I knew I wanted to put as much love and compassion into everything just like her.”

LaVerne Allen was a dedicated Registered Nurse who worked at Geary Community Hospital for 61 years. The LaVerne Allen Memorial Nursing Scholarship was established by LaVerne’s granddaughter, Amy, to honor her grandmother’s contribution to the nursing profession with the thought of helping individuals achieve their goal of becoming a Registered Nurse and giving back to their community.

Each recipient will receive $500 for the 2017-18 school year. Donations to the LaVerne Allen Memorial Nursing Scholarship can be made to the Geary Community Healthcare Foundation, P.O. Box 3015, Junction City, Kansas 66441.

Over 7000 people attended the Symphony in the Flint Hills on the Deer Horn Ranch in Geary County earlier this month.

Christy Davis, Symphony in the Flint Hills Executive Director, said that 60 percent of those in attendance were from the Kansas City area, a figure that is relatively common.

“There’s a greater economic impact from the community itself when we bring people from the outside, it’s people who spend money that aren’t local folks; but it’s important that we continue to work to share our message within the Flint Hills itself, because the people who live in the Flint Hills are the ones who are here to protect it,” said Davis.

While the event sells out of tickets each year, Davis noted there are still perceptions to overcome.

“People hear our name, and they have an idea of what a symphony is, and I think it’s very important for people to understand that at Symphony in the Flint Hills at our signature event – it’s the landscape that’s the star of the show,” said Davis. “It’s really about enhancing appreciation for the landscape; and we do that with all different kinds of music.”

With the focus on the landscape, Davis said that the event gives people access to areas of the tall grass prairie they normally wouldn’t be able to see.

“People see some of it when they’re driving on the turnpike, they think of that rolling natural landscape; but there are a lot of places that are very remote that people don’t see,” said Davis. “[You’re] never going to get out into the middle of the open prairie like we provide access to through our event, and we create infrastructure for that.”

Symphony staff build paths and roads giving people access to areas that is “generally on private land.”

The economic impact to the Flint Hills region has been in excess of $100 million over the past twelve years. Davis noted that each year the event is held, it is about a $10 million economic impact.

Approximately 900 visitors stayed in hotels in Junction City or surrounding areas, with over 1150 visiting or spending time in Junction City.

Recipients of the Pathways to a Healthy Kansas grant will be announced on Friday, June 30th.

Live Well Geary County applied for the $500,000 grant on behalf of the entire community; if awarded, the money will be given over a three year period.

Susie Bilderback, Live Well Geary County, said that the first $100,000 will go directly to the Live Well group.

“There is seven pathways involving different areas – education/the school district, the hospital, food retail, healthcare, restaurants, worksite wellness, community policy and community well-being – so we’re going to be hitting all of those different areas with funding,” said Bilderback. “It’s pretty prescribed, it’s not like whatever you want to do you get to use this money for by any means; you have to do what [they] would like you to do and then you have an opportunity to get the rest of the funds.”

Sixteen communities across Kansas were awarded site visits. Junction City/Geary County hosted the grant committee for a site visit last month where various community members spoke in support of Live Well Geary County.

“Everyone showed up that day to really give the support of Live Well Geary County and show that we’re all here for one reason and that’s to make this community a healthier place,” said Nikki Davis, Geary Community Hospital Marketing Director. “The three pillars that are going to be addressed in this grant are smoking cessation, nutrition, and exercise; Geary County is ranked one of the most obese and food insecurity in the state with the highest smoking rate.”

Live Well Geary County previously applied for the Pathways to a Healthy Kansas Grant and received a site visit but was not awarded.

The grant is funded by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas in order “to provide community coalitions with the tools and resources needed to remove barriers and engage their communities in ways that enable healthy eating and tobacco-free, active living to become a way of life.”