CHRISTUS Health awards $10k in scholarships for ‘Women with Heart’ video contest

Five area high school seniors were honored with scholarships totaling $10,000, as part of the 2025 “Women with Heart” scholarship contest during a ceremony Wednesday at CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Louis and Peaches Owen Heart Hospital.

Students were tasked with creating and submitting a video that focused on American Heart Month to build awareness of heart disease, specifically for women.

Kalyn Ellison, a Hawkins High School senior and valedictorian, was named the winner, earning the $5,000 grand prize.

Ellison’s video focused on her own heart care journey as well as her grandmother’s. At just 1 year old, Ellison underwent surgery for a congenital heart defect known as “vascular rings,” a condition where part of the body's main artery or its branches form a ring around the windpipe, the food swallowing tube or both.

Ellison’s grandmother has had multiple procedures and surgeries to address heart-related conditions.

“As soon as I learned about the contest, I knew immediately that I wanted to share my story,” Ellison said. “To learn as much as I have about heart health, especially in women, and to be able to share both my story and my grandmother’s story has been very rewarding.”

More than 40 videos were submitted by students across the area with more than 3,000 votes cast.

Alexa Remigio from Bishop Gorman Catholic School finished second and JJ Idrogo from Whitehouse High School took third place. They will receive $2,500 and $1,500, respectively, for their efforts.

The remaining finalists, Tyler Legacy’s Abigail Gray and UT-Tyler University Academy’s Vinch Mendoza, each received $500.

“We wanted them to learn about heart health and specifically the impact heart disease has on women,” said Jamie Moore, clinical director for the CHRISTUS Cardiovascular Center for Excellence. “They all had such great submissions that showed they took the time to learn about heart disease and hopefully gained some valuable knowledge.”

As for Ellison, she plans to use the scholarship to pursue a degree in biochemistry, with the goal of becoming dentist.

“I am so grateful to be able to participate,” she said. “Women’s heart health is a real issue, and to be able to tell my story and hopefully educate some people on the issue, it was all worth it.”