By Amanda Briggs
Staff Sergeant Kendall Ranges, Jr., understands what it is like to struggle with adverse health outcomes that are out of his control. It is one of the factors that led him to pursue his Master of Health Administration.
“I wanted to pursue an MHA degree to challenge my existing knowledge of healthcare,” said Ranges. “I saw what nonexistent healthcare coverage can do to impoverished families. This is really what I want to address in my career, but also set myself apart as a visionary of change and advocate for all that is just.”
Ranges has certainly set himself apart in his graduate career. He serves as the president of the MHA Student Association, is a member of the Indiana Chapter of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) Early Careerist Group and volunteers with the National Association of Health Services Executive’s (NAHSE) programming committee and Community Network’s Patient Family Advisory Council. Also, he was recently awarded three national scholarships for his accomplishments.
“What inspired me to apply to a lot of these scholarships was when I think about, as a man of color, what I have gone through and, even now, dealing with adversity, it has built who I am as a person,” said Ranges. “Over the years, some amazing mentors have praised me for the values I hold and the work I pour into my studies and my professional life. I knew it would be an honor to compete with some of the country’s brightest people. And I feel like I am seen as one of those individuals.”
Ranges was most recently awarded the Ellis Bonner scholarship, which recognizes distinguished leadership and academic achievement among non-traditional graduate students who are striving to become future leaders in healthcare management and NAHSE. He was chosen as one of seven recipients of the ACHE Albert Dent Scholarship, out of 110 applicants. And he also received the Association of University Programs in Health Administration scholarship.
“This has been a memorable year for me, as I prepare to leave college and hit the ground running in my career,” said Ranges. Even for this article, he continues to find ways to give back. “For those reading this, feel free to reach out to me, even if it is through LinkedIn. We can chat or grab coffee.”
Ranges is the oldest of his six siblings and works as a quality engineer for Grissom Air Reserve Base in Peru, Indiana. He currently serves in the United States Air Force.
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