A6
COMMUNITY
East Oregonian
Tuesday, May 25, 2021
Nursing scholarship established in Mary Wallan’s memory
Applications
must be turned
in on June 15
By TAMMY
MALGESINI
East Oregonian
PENDLETON — Umatilla
and Morrow county residents
who are studying nursing are
eligible to apply for a scholar-
ship in the memory of Mary
Boley Wallan, a longtime
nurse who practiced most of
her career in Pendleton.
The family of Dr. Keith
Harcourt, who built a success-
ful surgery career in Pend-
leton from 1969 until his
retirement in 1995, recently
established the Mary Wallan
Nursing Scholarship. The
endowment fund will provide
scholarships for current or
enrolled students in an asso-
ciate’s degree in nursing or a
bachelor’s of science in nurs-
ing program.
Matt Harcourt, one of the
late doctor’s sons, along with
his siblings, Brian and Joyce,
and mother, Pat, discussed
the possibility of creating a
scholarship fund. Matt said
his mother, who had been
married to Harcourt for 62
years at the time of his death
in June 2019, suggested
honoring Wallan, who died
Dec. 21, 2020.
“My mother said that
from her perspective that as a
nurse Mary was very import-
ant to my father. And being a retired, they stayed in touch
nurse was very important to and they maintained a friend-
Mary,” Matt Harcourt said. ship.”
“They would both be pleased
According to a Dec. 14,
to know that a scholarship 1984, East Oregonian arti-
in Mary’s memory
cle, Wallan, who
would help someone
practiced as a nurse
who wants to be a
for 45 years, grad-
nurse.”
uated in 1942 from
Wallan was work-
St. Anthony Hospi-
ing as a nurse for
tal’s School of Nurs-
ing. She volunteered
Dr. Edward Morgan
for the Army Nurse
at the Pendleton
Surgery Center when
Wallan
Corps, serving in
Harcourt joined the
England and France
practice. Over time, Matt until her discharge in 1946.
Harcourt said, Wallan became She then worked at the Walla
more than just a colleague of Walla VA hospital until 1947
his father’s.
when she returned to Pendle-
“She was just very import- ton.
ant to his practice,” he said.
While in training to be a
“Mary was the proverbial nurse, Betty Byer fi rst met
‘right-hand man.’ After she Wallan in 1950 at St. Anthony
Hospital. The two, Byer said,
then worked together over the
years.
Byer described Wallan as a
“fantastic nurse” who enjoyed
taking care of people. In addi-
tion, Byer said her former
colleague was easy to work
with and was dependable.
“Mary was compassion-
ate with everyone,” Byer
said. “She liked everyone and
everyone liked her.”
Matt Harcourt said she
hopes others will make dona-
tions to the endowment fund
to help students who are
pursuing a career in nurs-
ing. He said while there’s a
personal connection with
the scholarship fund, there’s
a bigger purpose. The global
pandemic, Harcourt said, has
highlighted the importance of
having qualifi ed nurses.
“It’s a nice thing to remem-
ber Mary but there’s also a
shortage of caregivers,” he
said about the scholarship
endowment fund. “We also
encourage people to consider
giving to the cause.”
The scholarship applica-
tion is available via the St.
Anthony Hospital Foundation
at www.sahpendleton.org/en/
about-us/community-benefi t/
scholarships.html. The dead-
line to apply is Tuesday, June
15.
For questions about the
scholarship or to make a
donation to the endow-
ment fund, contact Emily
Smith at 541-278-2627 or
emilysmith@chiwest.com.
nity during fall and spring
Adopt-A-Highway cleanup
eff orts. The upcoming proj-
ect is Saturday, May 29, from
9 a.m. to noon. Those who
would like to help should be
16 or older.
For more information, call
541-922-3054, visit www.
irrigonfwc.org/our-minis-
tries or search Facebook for
“Family Worship Center.”
business and entrepreneur-
ship experience by creating a
realistic and sustainable busi-
ness plan. The UEC Busi-
ness Resource Center team
is available for one-on-one
advising appointments with
applicants to assist with their
business plans.
More information and the
application is available via a
link at www.uecbrc.com or
by emailing uecbrc@gmail.
com. For questions, call the
UEC Business Resource
Center at 541-289-3000.
COMMUNITY BRIEFING
RHS plans Decision
Day assembly
BOARDMAN — River-
side Jr./Sr. High School will
hold a Decision Day assem-
bly for its 65 graduating
seniors.
The event, Principal
David Norton said, celebrates
the choices the students have
made for plans after gradu-
ating from Riverside High
School. They began the
special recognition three
years ago — the 2020 event
was held virtually — as a way
to celebrate each student,
rather than just highlighting
those that are continuing to
pursue athletics. Norton said
they will celebrate student
plans in regards to colleges
or trade schools they plan to
attend as well as those who
are immediately entering the
workforce.
“It’s nice to recognize
their choices for after high
school and celebrate them,”
Norton said.
The parents of senior
students can attend Decision
Day, which is Tuesday, May
25, at noon. Each student will
be called up to the stage and
sign a letter of intent to the
college, technical school or
career they have selected.
Some representatives from
the industry and colleges will
be on hand to make presenta-
tions to the students as well,
Norton said.
For more information,
contact Norton at david.
norton@morrow.k12.or.us
or 541-481-2525, extension
2111.
American Legion
Auxiliary to
distribute poppies
UMATILLA COUNTY
— Members of the American
Legion Auxiliary, Hermis-
ton Unit 37, are distributing
poppies leading up to Memo-
rial Day.
The bright red paper fl ow-
ers will be available at small
countertop displays through-
out Hermiston and Umatilla,
including Harvest Columbia
Foods in Umatilla and the
Hermiston Safeway store.
Auxiliary members will be
at those locations Thurs-
day through Saturday from
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The fl owers are free but
donations are accepted. All
money received will be used
to help veterans. The purpose
of the annual outreach, which
was canceled last year, is to
honor the fallen and support
the living, said Cathy Stolz,
president of Hermiston’s
American Legion Auxiliary
Unit 37.
Stolz shared that follow-
ing World War II, fi elds of red
poppies appeared throughout
France. The blood-soaked
fields provided beneficial
conditions for the bright red
fl owers to fl ourish. Thereaf-
ter, the poppy became asso-
ciated with the sacrifi ces of
veterans.
“We would love to
see people wearing them
throughout our area as we
remember the sacrifi ces of
U.S. veterans around the
world,” Stolz said. “Wearing
a poppy is the easiest way to
say thank you to veterans for
their sacrifi ces for our free-
doms.”
For more information,
text/call an auxiliary member
at 541-571-5816.
Stanfi eld seeks
teen applicants for
part-time work
STANFIELD — Teen-
agers looking for a job are
encouraged to apply with
the Stanfi eld Public Library
and/or the Stanfield Parks
and Recreation for Summer
Activities for Youth.
Both entities are looking
for motivated teens that are
interested in joining their
teams. The part-time posi-
tions are for the summer
season.
Teens working at the
library will help with plan-
ning, organizing and setting
up a variety of youth activ-
ities. They also will serve
as a mentor to youths in the
community. The starting
wage is $12 per hour. Appli-
cations must be turned in by
Thursday, June 3.
The parks and recre-
ation assistant position is a
part-time/on-call job that
includes planning, setting
up and running events in
the community. Those who
apply must be willing to work
nights and weekends. Appli-
cations must be submitted by
Friday, May 28.
Applications for both
positions are available at
the Stanfi eld Public Library,
180 W. Coe Ave. For ques-
tions, call Cecili Longhorn
at 541-449-1254.
VFW honors
PELC teacher
PENDLETON — Shellie
Wyss, a kindergarten teacher
at the Pendleton Early Learn-
ing Center, recently received
the teacher of the year honor
from Pendleton’s VFW Let
’er Buck Post 922.
The annual award is
presented to a teacher who
inspires their students in
com mu n it y awa reness
and service, good citizen-
ship and support of veter-
ans, said Judith Burger,
post commander. Burger
presented the award along
with John Cook and Rod
Theis of the Pendleton post.
Cook, who has known
Wyss for many years, said
he knows she is the kind of
teacher who always goes
above and beyond. PELC
Principal Lori Hale wrote a
letter in support of Wyss for
the award last fall and said
Wyss is one of the best teach-
ers she has worked with in 36
years in education.
“Shellie has a magical
way of building powerful
and meaningful connections
with every child. Her teach-
ing approach involves fi nding
and using children’s unique
strengths to help them over-
come their struggles and
develop a positive self-con-
cept,” Hale wrote in her
recommendation letter.
Wyss, who said she was
honored to receive the award,
also gave credit to others.
“There are so many
wonderful teachers in our
district who have made me
a better teacher over the
years!” she said.
Irrigon church
gears up for
highway cleanup
IRRIGON — People are
invited in a cleanup project
sponsored by the Family
Worship Center in Irrigion.
The congregation reaches
out to help the commu-
Business Resource
Center announces
youth contest
HERMISTON — The
Umatilla Electric Cooper-
ative Business Resource
Center recently announced
it is seeking applicants for
its UEC Youth Entrepreneur
Contest.
The contest is open to all
upcoming high school fresh-
men, sophomores, juniors
and seniors. Applications
must be submitted by Thurs-
day, June 17. The UEC Board
of Directors will judge the
contest and award the top
three applicants. The first
place prize is $1,000; second
will receive $500, and third
$200.
The UEC Youth Entre-
preneurship Contest is an
opportunity for high school
students to enhance their
Magic: The
Gathering in
Umatilla
UMATILLA — People
are invited for an evening of
casual card play, try out new
decks, trade cards and meet
new friends during Magic:
The Gathering.
The event is Saturday,
June 5, from 7-10 p.m. at
Infi nity Watch Collectibles,
1300 Sixth St., Umatilla.
There is no entry fee. The
event also will feature a
movie, free snacks and
drinks. All ages are welcome.
For more information,
contact 541-571-6693 or visit
www.facebook.com/Infi nity-
WatchCollects.
— EO Media Group
NORMAL
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SUN TERRACE
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Place a Deposit
Move in/before June 15
GET ONE MONTH FREE RENT!*
F or more information and book your tour call:
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