Dr. Carl Birchard Memorial Scholarship

Dr. Carl Birchard, a surgeon from Chehalis, was born June 10, 1940 in Grand Rapids, Mich., to Russell W. and Margaret A. Birchard.  He received his early education in a one-room mission school, and the first two years of his high school by correspondence.  At 15 he left Guatemala to complete high school, graduating from Columbus High School in Columbus, Wisconsin in 1958.  He graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry, and minors in theology and biology from Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais, Illinois.  Carl attended the University of Illinois’ College of Medicine on the Chicago campus, where he earned his medical degree.

Carl was active in the Centralia Nazarene Church as a leader, Sunday school teacher, and participant in work and witness missions to Africa, Papua New Guinea, India, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Panama, Costa Rica, El Salvador, and Mexico.

For 7½ years, he served as scoutmaster of Boy Scout Troop 373 in Chehalis, growing it from 3 boys to more than 50. During his tenure, many of the boys, including his two sons, achieved the rank of Eagle Scout.

The Carl Birchard Memorial Scholarship is a one-year scholarship, given to a graduating senior. Preference is given to students with an interest in the medical profession and has experience as a Boy or Girl Scout.