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GREAT FALLS – Surgery on Josh Pepos' knee during his high school wrestling career changed the course of his life with a new perspective on what his path forward would be.

Pepos is working toward his goal and his nursing degree at the Great Falls campus of Montana State University College of Nursing and plans to graduate in August with help from Benefis Foundation scholarship donors. Pepos received the Cecil and Dorothy Goodbrand Nursing Scholarship.

The Benefis Foundation's Healthcare Scholarship Program is designed to help students from Great Falls and the surrounding region pursue a degree, certification, or advancement in a medical field.

The application is now open. The deadline to apply for both fall 2024 and spring 2025 is Saturday, June 1, 2024. Students pursuing a career in healthcare are invited to learn more and to apply at Benefis.org/Scholarships.

Pepos, who grew up in Cascade, said the scholarship allows him to spend more time studying and learning and less time worrying about finances.

"Thank you to the donors who make these scholarships possible. It's because of you that people like me are able to further our education and give back to the medical community," he said. "Without your generosity and caring, I would not be able to pursue my dream of becoming a nurse."

Nursing is a great union of Pepos' interest in biology, his sense of duty, and his passion for helping others. He's interested in flight nursing and orthopedics.

"I hope to make a difference in healthcare and provide patients with knowledge and a positive experience in healthcare," he said.

In 2023, Benefis Foundation donors awarded 38 students a total of $75,750 in healthcare scholarships for the 2023-2024 school year. More than 800 students with dreams of working in healthcare have received Benefis Foundation scholarships tallying more than $1.6 million since 1998.