For the City Times

WISCONSIN RAPIDS – Anthony Arias, Maria Hartley and Kylie Kronstedt, all seniors at Assumption High School, were recently awarded the Dr. Minerva “Mimi” Ponce Memorial Scholarship.

The scholarship fund was established in the Aspirus Riverview Foundation by Dr. Mario Ponce, Mimi’s husband, and family.

“Mimi was a vibrant physician who practiced internal medicine at the Doctor’s Clinic in Wisconsin Rapids for more than 25 years. She passed away unexpectedly in 2002 and will always be remembered for her compassionate service and generosity to our community,” an Aspirus release stated.

“To honor Mimi’s memory and the importance of health care professionals, $1,000 scholarship has been awarded to each of the three recipients to help them pursue a medical education. Dr. Mario Ponce and family chose these students based on their promise and achievements toward becoming health care professionals.”

This year’s scholarship recipients shared that their aspirations stem from “longing to give back to the community that helped support them, wanting to inspire others to do the work needed to take control of their lives and be happy and healthy, and being able to use their love of medicine to help people feel better and improve their lives.”