A psychology major student has been named the second recipient of the MedEvac Foundation International Children’s Scholarship Award. Elisha Codding, 18, was honored with the $2,500 award during an event at REACH Air Medical Services in Santa Rosa, CA earlier this month. The post-secondary scholarship is awarded annually to a child who lost a parent in an air-medical accident.

Currently a freshman at the University of Portland, Codding plans to pursue a career in social work to make a living of helping people, like her mother did. Elisha’s mother, flight nurse Diane Codding, was killed in an air medical accident at REACH Air Medical Services in December 2003.

“Diane was wonderful to work with and was a flight nurse for all the right reasons.  She had the traditional ICU nurse sense of humor and loved taking care of patients.  The Codding family will always have a very special place in the REACH organization,” said REACH Air Medical Service CEO, Jim Adams.

“My mother played a large role in my interest in leadership and community involvement, as well as my ability to set goals. She was a hero to the community and my role model,” Elisha recalls as she tells the story of her first experience with volunteering. Elisha and Diane signed up to care for a breeder dog for the Canine Companions for Independence (CCI), a nationwide assistance dog program for the physically handicapped. Five days after their breeder dog had her first litter, Diane died. CCI gave Elisha the opportunity to end the five litter commitment by finding the dog and puppies another home; but Elisha decided to finish the CCI commitment she made jointly with her mother. Several years and forty-one puppies later, the goal that Elisha and Diane set together was accomplished.

“The MedEvac Foundation is very proud to support Elisha’s continued efforts to serve those in need. An air medical accident is a tragedy for everyone – but for a child who loses a parent, it is a unique loss. The Foundation welcomes the opportunity to provide Elisha the financial assistance of which she is so deserving as she follows in her mother’s footsteps to help those in need,” said MedEvac Foundation International Chair Kevin Hutton, MD, FACEP.

Children’s Scholarship Fund applicants are evaluated according to academic achievement, financial need, and community service. To be eligible, applicants must be attending or accepted into an accredited two-or four-year college, university or vocational-technical school. The 2011 Children’s Scholarship Fund application process is currently open until May 15, 2011, and is available for download by clicking HERE. To learn more about or contribute to the Children’s Scholarship Fund, contact Amber Bullington at 703-836-8732 or abullington@medevacfoundation.org.