Eight medical students at the University of Nebraska Medical Center
have received $5,000 scholarships from the Nebraska Medical Education Fund,
Inc. The scholarships, which cover approximately one-half of the cost of
medical school tuition, are awarded annually to outstanding medical students.
The fund was founded in 1959, by Omaha physicians Rudolph Schenken,
M.D., and Clinton Millett, M.D., as a way to loan money to UNMC medical
students. Drs. Schenken and Millett solicited contributions for the fund
from more than 200 UNMC graduates who practiced medicine in the Omaha area.
Several years later, the Alpha Kappa Kappa and Nu Sigma Nu medical fraternities
ceased operation, and proceeds from the sale of the two fraternity houses
were earmarked for the fund.
“The first loans were for $100 and were designed to help students transition
from medical school to their internships,” said Dennis Beavers, M.D., the
fund’s current president.
During the next two decades Dr. Beavers said it became apparent
that a scholarship program would be more beneficial to students than a
loan. The fund’s initial scholarships were awarded in the amount of $1,000,
and as the fund’s investment portfolio grew, the scholarship amounts increased.
Since 1984, the nonprofit organization has awarded more than $400,000 to
medical students.
Recipients of the 1998-99 scholarships are listed below by hometown,
name, year in school and scholarship received:
BELLEVUE Ellen K. Roberts, fourth year, Clinton C. Millett, M.D.,
Scholarship
KEARNEY James M. Mahalek, fourth year, Nu Sigma Nu Alumni Association
Scholarship
LINCOLN Jeffry K. Ailes, third year, Robert C. Therien, M.D., Scholarship;
LeAnn C. Beran, fourth year, Alpha Kappa Kappa Alumni Association Scholarship
OMAHA Vu T. Nguyen, fourth year, John Rudolph Schenken, M.D., Scholarship;
Philip A. Pazderka, third year, Rudolph Sievers, M.D., Scholarship; Todd
Popp, third year, Merle M. Musselman, M.D., Scholarship; Daniel L. Surdell,
third year, Alister I. Finlayson, M.D., Scholarship