Onvida Health Foundation awards 26 scholarships to future caregivers

A scholarship night in Yuma carried a workforce message as much as a celebration: Onvida Health Foundation selected 26 recipients from 100 applicants, aiming to grow the nursing, radiology and surgical tech pipeline that keeps care staffed in Yuma County.

The awards went to current and future healthcare workers at a time when local hospitals and clinics continue to compete for skilled staff. Onvida Health says its scholarship programs are built to help students move through education and training while creating local pathways into jobs that serve the community. In a county anchored by a major healthcare employer, that matters well beyond tuition assistance. Every graduate who finishes a program and stays in Yuma can help reduce pressure on shifts, vacancies and the long waits that come when staffing runs thin.

For recipients, the recognition was personal. Lisa Green White said she felt “really honored and happy and privileged” to receive the scholarship and “really appreciative” of the Onvida Foundation. Her reaction reflected the practical reality behind the ceremony: healthcare training is expensive, and local aid can make the difference between stopping short and finishing a credential.

Onvida Health says the General Healthcare Scholarship is supported by local donors who want to create opportunities for Yuma County students. The foundation also says its education efforts include expanding local nursing and radiology programs and offering a surgical tech program, part of a broader push to increase the number of healthcare professionals available here. Its annual golf tournament at Desert Hills Golf Course helps fund scholarships and other initiatives, including neonatal intensive care support.

The strategy extends beyond one night’s awards. Onvida Health recently announced a $32.9 million commitment over eight years to support the University of Arizona College of Medicine - Phoenix’s Yuma regional branch, including full-tuition scholarships and program development. Arizona Western College and Onvida Health also broke ground on the Health Careers Center in October 2024, adding another local entry point for students who want to train close to home.

Taken together, those investments show a deliberate attempt to build Yuma’s medical workforce from the ground up. For Yuma County, the payoff could be more than a feel-good ceremony. It could mean a steadier supply of nurses, techs and other caregivers, and a stronger chance that the people trained here will keep practicing here.