In August 2024, eighteen MHA alumni and two MHA current students along with MHA program faculty and staff and College of Public Health Dean Edith Parker, gathered with University of Iowa distinguished alumnus, Janice Reals Ellig, CEO of Ellig Group, in Bozeman, Montana, to celebrate the 25^th anniversary of her establishing a healthcare management scholarship in honor of her late sister, Adrienne Astolfi Eddins.

In 1999, Ellig wanted to honor her late sister’s legacy at the University of Iowa by establishing a scholarship for a deserving incoming Master of Health Administration student. Ellig has said that her sister, Adrienne, who was a health administrator, had a huge influence on her life and was one of the reasons she chose to attend University of Iowa. Over the course of the last 25 years, Ellig has taken the time to connect with and mentor the scholarship recipients by visiting with them in Iowa City, and providing incredible opportunities for them to know each other as well by hosting trips to visit with her in New York City and Florida, and just recently in Montana. These trips, which occurred every five years to celebrate the significant anniversaries of the scholarship, have encouraged networking and bonding and provide a supportive community for the scholars, which Janice calls “Adrienne’s Circle”.

After the weekend in August, Janice posted that “twenty of the 25 recipients were able to join me in Bozeman, Montana, for a weekend of white-water rafting, hiking, and creating more memories. We proudly wore the “A’s Circle” t-shirt in honor of my sister, Adrienne Astolfi Eddins.” Janice went on to note how the scholars were “aged 21 to 46, are all active in public health, supporting each other and advancing efforts to make our planet a better place.”

The MHA program and the College of Public Health is immensely grateful to Janice Ellig for her incredible generosity, mentorship, and creating such an impactful network of hospital leaders that will positively impact the field of health administration for generations.