2025 Hall of Fame Honorees

The Reach for the Stars Nursing Scholarship Program started in 2016, initially partnering with Texas hospital systems and spending the first few years adjusting and adapting the program to better meet the partners' needs.

The University of Kansas Health System, their first partnership outside the state of Texas, joined as the program started growing in the aftermath of COVID-19. Since then, they have continued to expand and have awarded more than 850 scholarships nationally to educate nurses across the United States. Their emphasis is on creating new nurses by assisting those wanting a career in nursing who already work in healthcare. The scholarship covers all approved nursing education-related expenses, including tuition, books, class required software and parking. In addition, it provides a stipend to assist with other school-related expenses.

Within The University of Kansas Health System, the Reach for the Stars Nursing Scholarship Program has funded 54 full ride scholarships with more to come. Some current recipients are graciously joining the Hall of Fame awards to celebrate them. The program applauds their passion to the field of nursing and dedication to The University of Kansas Health System and wishes them the very best in their educational journey.

VanTrust Real Estate is a full-service real estate development company formed in 2010 with a regional focus and national scope, acquiring and developing real estate assets for the Van Tuyl family portfolio and offering a broad range of real estate services. VanTrust works in office, industrial, multifamily, science and technology and mixed-use real estate. It has offices in Columbus, Ohio, Dallas, Phoenix, Salt Lake City and Jacksonville, Florida, with its headquarters in Kansas City, Missouri.

VanTrust Real Estate has assisted The University of Kansas Health System in projects large and small, most recently as owner’s representative for the new cancer research and care building on the 39th and Rainbow campus. The new facility will bring research and clinical care together, supporting the goal of becoming a global destination for groundbreaking new therapies, leading-edge collaborative research and lifesaving treatments.

Kelly and Bob Specht are cofounders of Carl’s Cause, a nonprofit created in 2017 after the devastating loss of their son, Carl, to suicide at age 27. Carl was an all-American son: smart, athletic, handsome and kind, who began experiencing mental illness in his early 20s.

The mission of Carl’s Cause is to promote mental health by creating awareness, with the desire to create and engage in forums where people of all ages and demographics can talk openly about mental health and know there is help.

Carl’s Cause began working with The University of Kansas Health System in 2019, donating exercise equipment to the Strawberry Hill inpatient facility. From there, Kelly and Bob partnered with the behavioral health team to develop the first navigation program of its kind in the country and provided funding to launch the program. Navigators play a vital role ensuring ongoing resources are in place after an inpatient psychiatric hospitalization.

Heartland Coca-Cola Bottling Company was founded in 2017 by the late NBA professional and business leader Junior Bridgeman. Headquartered in Lenexa, Heartland proudly serves more 25,000 business customers across Kansas, Missouri, Illinois and parts of Iowa and Nebraska. With more than 2,400 employees across 20 locations, Heartland remains committed to delivering high-quality products and service. The company recently completed a state-of-the-art, 700,000-square-foot production facility in Olathe, enhancing its ability to meet growing customer demand and drive innovation.

As a longtime supporter of The University of Kansas Health System, Heartland is dedicated to making a lasting impact. The company proudly sponsors the annual Treads & Threads fundraising event to support cancer patients. Beyond financial contributions, Heartland actively partners with the health system to offer fully funded GED classes to support services staff, providing employees with educational opportunities and pathways for career advancement.

Dave Dillon is the retired chairman and CEO of The Kroger Co., based in Cincinnati, Ohio. The company employs more than 400,000 associates who serve customers in more than 2,700 retail food stores.

Dee Dillon is the mother of 3 and grandmother of 8, all of whom live in the Kansas City area. Since 2012, she has been the owner of The Little House, a store dedicated to "dressing children like children for 50 years.”

Dave earned a bachelor’s degree in business at the University of Kansas and a law degree from Southern Methodist University. Dee graduated from the University of Kansas with an education degree.

Dave recently completed his term on the University of Kansas Hospital Authority Board. He has served in board positions with 3M, the Union Pacific Corporation and Hallmark. He has also served on the Board of Trustees for the University of Kansas Endowment and The Kansas Nature Conservancy.