Jess Parrish Medical Foundation Awards 22 Scholarships to Aspiring Healthcare Professionals

TITUSVILLE, FLA. (May 19, 2026)—Jess Parrish Medical Foundation (JPMF) awarded $31,650 in scholarships to 22 exceptional college students and graduating high school seniors who have demonstrated a strong commitment to their communities and a passion for pursuing careers in medicine and healthcare.

Dedicated to advancing the next generation of healthcare professionals, Spirit of Brevard made a $1,000 donation to the JPMF scholarship fund in memory of Roxy Snyder, a devoted nurse and cherished member of the organization, to honor her legacy and help further the educational goals of a future healthcare provider.

The Brevard Indo-American Medical and Dental Association (BIMDA) Scholarship, established in 2023 in honor of Ashok C. Shah and Glad Kurian, provided two additional $1,250 scholarships, with awards to be made through 2034.

“BIMDA is proud to partner with the Jess Parrish Medical Foundation in advancing the education of future healthcare professionals,” said Glad Kurian, Honorary Executive Director of the Brevard Indo-American Medical and Dental Association (BIMDA). “We are pleased to see that our support of the scholarship program is helping recipients move forward in achieving their academic and professional aspirations.”

In 2023, the Parrish Medical Center Auxiliary, LLC made a generous $100,000 gift to establish an endowment for the Foundation’s scholarship program. In the years ahead, the fund will provide scholarships for students pursuing careers in healthcare and medicine, helping future generations access educational opportunities while continuing the Auxiliary’s enduring legacy of service and community impact.

This year’s scholarship recipients include Gabriella Hall of Astronaut High School; Collin Kohlscheen, Srihamsini Telekepalli, and Ashlynn Wimmer of Edgewood Jr./Sr. High School; Victoria Bump, Drayton Gamradt, and Kylah Justice of Space Coast Jr./Sr. High School; and Samantha Bullock, Karelyn Fuentes Santes, Theodor Labib, Sarah Pringle, Jamaria Stephens, and Kendall Thornton of Titusville High School.

Nine college students were awarded scholarships in recognition of their academic achievements. These students include Abigail Vass from Daytona State College; Aarna Patel and Alyssa Schneerer from Eastern Florida State College; Anshi Patel from Emory University; Reece Allender, Violet Dobbs, Addison Flaks and Katlyn Taylor from the University of Central Florida; and Samantha Fisher from the University of Florida.

“This year’s scholarship recipients were impressive, and we look to them to drive the next wave of innovation in healthcare,” said Melissa Lugo, Chairman of Jess Parrish Medical Foundation Board of Directors. “The Foundation is proud to support the educational endeavors of these talented and deserving students.”

Scholarship committee co-chairs Philip Simpson, PhD and Barbara Terhune led the committee through the process of evaluating applicants in the areas of academic performance, awards and honors, extracurricular activities, leadership, community service and work experience, recommendation letters, application essay, and Parrish Healthcare/JPMF affiliation.

Members of the scholarship committee include Santi Bulnes, Herman Cole, Deborah Cox, Britt Diaz, Kevat B. Patel, MD, Howard Rinker, DDS, Barbara Terhune, Natalie Sellers, Philip Simpson, PhD, and Jennifer Trastelis.

Jess Parrish Medical Foundation proudly invests in the future by offering medical scholarships to residents of North Brevard County who are pursuing careers in healthcare, with the goal of nurturing the next generation of professionals who will one day contribute to the healing of our community. Since 1990, more than $600,000 in scholarship funds have been awarded by the Jess Parrish Medical Foundation to support the educational pursuits of deserving students.

For more information about educational scholarships offered from the Jess Parrish Medical Foundation, call (321) 269-4066 or visit, parrishmedfoundation.com/scholarships.