LAKEPORT, Calif. – Sutter Lakeside Hospital congratulates the five local students who received scholarships as part of the Van R. Johnson Sutter Scholars program at Sutter Health.

These scholarships comprise a portion of the 142 awards given to students heading into their 2013-2014 academic year.

All award recipients have parents or grandparents employed by Sutter Lakeside Hospital or Sutter Health.

Scholarship winners will attend a community college, four-year university, or graduate program and received awards ranging from $1,000 to $3,000.

Scholarship winners include Rylie Gabehart, Amanda Spitzer, Alyssa Estrada and Cerra Hinchcliff.

“One of the great things about Sutter is that they understand the importance of investing in their respective communities,” said Siri Nelson, chief administrative officer at Sutter Lakeside Hospital. “I’m very pleased that our employees have the opportunity to help their children and their grandchildren with college costs through this program. This is a great group of students and we are proud to support them.”

The Van R. Johnson Sutter Scholars program has awarded more than 4,000 scholarships totaling more than $6.2 million to Northern California students since 2002. Sutter Health named the program in honor of former longtime Sutter Health CEO Van Johnson.

The Sacramento Region Community Foundation administers the program. Sutter awards scholarships annually.

Amounts vary based on need and competitive review.