Two seniors at Zeeland East High School are being recognized for their outstanding academic achievements in the 2027 National Merit Scholarship Program.
Sophia Reese has been named a National Merit Semifinalist, and Nadia Cuevas has been named a Commended Student.
Reese is among more than 16,000 semifinalists nationwide, representing less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors. She now has the opportunity to advance to the Finalist level and compete for approximately 6,700 National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $24 million. Finalists are expected to be announced in February 2027.
Cuevas is among approximately 34,000 Commended Students nationwide recognized for their exceptional academic promise. While Commended Students do not advance in the scholarship competition, they are honored for placing among the top 50,000 students who entered the program by taking the 2025 PSAT/NMSQT.
Sophia Reese has been named a National Merit Semifinalist, and Nadia Cuevas has been named a Commended Student.
Reese is among more than 16,000 semifinalists nationwide, representing less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors. She now has the opportunity to advance to the Finalist level and compete for approximately 6,700 National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $24 million. Finalists are expected to be announced in February 2027.
Cuevas is among approximately 34,000 Commended Students nationwide recognized for their exceptional academic promise. While Commended Students do not advance in the scholarship competition, they are honored for placing among the top 50,000 students who entered the program by taking the 2025 PSAT/NMSQT.
City on a Hill Health Clinic Fundraiser Set, Marks 20 Years Helping Residents
By Greg Chandler
Zeeland Record
For 20 years, the City on a Hill Health Clinic has cared for the needs of hundreds of area residents who might not otherwise have been able to afford the cost of going to the doctor.
But now, pending changes to Medicaid and rising insurance costs may result in more people needing to use the free clinic in the future.
To address that possibility, the clinic will hold a community celebration dubbed “Fuel for Healing” on Oct. 3 during the city’s Pumpkinfest celebration. The event will run from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the clinic at 100 S. Pine St.
Organizers have set a goal of raising $50,000 during the event, said Shari Garcia, a certified community health worker at the clinic.
“For some of our neighbors, being uninsured is something they have navigated for years. For others, the changes ahead may make this an entirely new experience,” Garcia said. “We want people to know they don't have to figure it out alone.”
The clinic provides free medical and mental health care to West Michigan residents who do not have insurance. It has seen continual increases in the number of patients it has served over the last few years and expects a “substantial” increase next year, Garcia said.
In 2025, the clinic provided more than 4,100 patient visits, including 2,045 mental health visits, welcomed 210 new patients, benefited from 3,180 volunteer hours, and helped provide more than $75,000 in outside medical services for patients. Since its founding in 2006, the clinic has provided more than 37,000 patient visits, serving more than 6,700 people, Garcia said.
Today, it costs the clinic about $51 to provide one medical patient visit, Garcia said.
The clinic’s approach to care goes beyond the basic visit to a doctor. Certified community health workers like Garcia help address underlying issues, such as lack of stable housing, access to nutritious food or adequate transportation.
“Our job as community health workers is to remove some of the barriers (patients face, and) connect people to community resources that are available, (and) help navigate the Medicaid application, all the way down to following up next week to see how that new medication is working,” she said.
The clinic has seen a significant growth in its behavioral health services division, growing from one part-time therapist to four full-time therapists and approximately five interns, providing professional mental-health care for uninsured and underinsured members of our community.
“Everybody deserves access to healthcare. In my case, mental healthcare,” said Daniel Bechtel-Unekis, behavioral health program manager and therapist at the clinic.
Fuel for Healing will feature a motorcycle benefit ride led by Crossroad Riders CMA, car show, community resource fair, live entertainment, silent auction and raffle, children's activities and clinic tours, as well as a vendor market and food trucks hosted by Lakeside Markets.
For more information, visit coahm.org/fuel-for-healing online.
Zeeland Record
For 20 years, the City on a Hill Health Clinic has cared for the needs of hundreds of area residents who might not otherwise have been able to afford the cost of going to the doctor.
But now, pending changes to Medicaid and rising insurance costs may result in more people needing to use the free clinic in the future.
To address that possibility, the clinic will hold a community celebration dubbed “Fuel for Healing” on Oct. 3 during the city’s Pumpkinfest celebration. The event will run from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the clinic at 100 S. Pine St.
Organizers have set a goal of raising $50,000 during the event, said Shari Garcia, a certified community health worker at the clinic.
“For some of our neighbors, being uninsured is something they have navigated for years. For others, the changes ahead may make this an entirely new experience,” Garcia said. “We want people to know they don't have to figure it out alone.”
The clinic provides free medical and mental health care to West Michigan residents who do not have insurance. It has seen continual increases in the number of patients it has served over the last few years and expects a “substantial” increase next year, Garcia said.
In 2025, the clinic provided more than 4,100 patient visits, including 2,045 mental health visits, welcomed 210 new patients, benefited from 3,180 volunteer hours, and helped provide more than $75,000 in outside medical services for patients. Since its founding in 2006, the clinic has provided more than 37,000 patient visits, serving more than 6,700 people, Garcia said.
Today, it costs the clinic about $51 to provide one medical patient visit, Garcia said.
The clinic’s approach to care goes beyond the basic visit to a doctor. Certified community health workers like Garcia help address underlying issues, such as lack of stable housing, access to nutritious food or adequate transportation.
“Our job as community health workers is to remove some of the barriers (patients face, and) connect people to community resources that are available, (and) help navigate the Medicaid application, all the way down to following up next week to see how that new medication is working,” she said.
The clinic has seen a significant growth in its behavioral health services division, growing from one part-time therapist to four full-time therapists and approximately five interns, providing professional mental-health care for uninsured and underinsured members of our community.
“Everybody deserves access to healthcare. In my case, mental healthcare,” said Daniel Bechtel-Unekis, behavioral health program manager and therapist at the clinic.
Fuel for Healing will feature a motorcycle benefit ride led by Crossroad Riders CMA, car show, community resource fair, live entertainment, silent auction and raffle, children's activities and clinic tours, as well as a vendor market and food trucks hosted by Lakeside Markets.
For more information, visit coahm.org/fuel-for-healing online.
