Scholarships for Nursing Students in Missouri
Nursing scholarships in Missouri help qualified candidates stay in school. They also help Missouri stave off a shortage of highly educated nurses. In addition to the standard governmental grants for undergraduate students, there are a number of scholarship competitions designed specifically for nursing students. There are some generous donors within the Show Me State.
Which scholarships you apply for will be determined in part by the level of degree or licensure that you are currently seeking. In Missouri, there are separate competitions for vocational, professional, and graduate level nurses. Some are even geared to nurses who are bridging, or moving to positions that require higher levels of training.
Nursing Scholarship Requirements in Missouri
LPN candidates may apply for the Missouri State Association of Licensed Practical Nurses Scholarship and the Missouri Council of Practical Nursing Educators Scholarship. The MoSALPN asks for separate 50 word responses to questions about why you feel you should get the scholarship and what you expect your contribution to the field will be. It is due March 3. The MCPE requires an essay about the scope of practice of a LPN and is due April 1.
LPN, RN, and MSN candidates are all eligible to apply for the Missouri League for Nursing Scholarship Award and for memorial scholarships administered through the League. An important thing to remember about this particular competition is that scholarship forms must be submitted by the nursing school and not directly by the student. The dean or director must verify financial need and interest in the nursing profession, as well as academic standing. The minimum GPA is 3.0. Awards vary; the maximum amount listed for the MLN award is $2,000.
Don’t think that just because you’re already working as a nurse you have to pay your own way through college. Highly educated nurses are particularly important to Missouri’s future. Nursing students who are bridging from LPN to RN status are eligible to apply for the Erby Young Scholarship, also administered by the Missouri League for Nursing.
Some scholarships are especially suited for health professionals who are seeking even higher degrees. MPHA (Missouri Public Health Association) members may be eligible for the Missouri Public Health Official Scholarship. Students pursuing degrees at the RN level or higher should also consider the Jackie Liesemeyer Nursing Scholarship. Both are worth $500.
Missouri Nursing students who are children of veterans can apply for the Missouri Legion Auxiliary Past Presidents’ Parley Scholarship. Recipients may be awarded up to up to $350.
Nursing Scholarship Expert Advice – MO
You may aspire to be a clinician, not a professor, but your academic skills do matter to scholarship foundations. The MoSALP is judged partly on the basis of not only proper grammar but also proper use of APA style. This isn’t a skill that most people who are out of school spend a lot of time practicing, but there are sites on the web that can teach you to format your APA citations; indeed, they can guide you through the process. Other scholarship foundations also note that conventions carry some weight. There are a lot of factors, though, so strengths in one can compensate for weaknesses in another.
Some scholarship competitions also publish bios or essays of scholarship winners. If you want to take a look at a very high level national competition, you might look at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Remember that scholarship teams see a lot of essays! Do address all aspects of the question and keep in mind the purpose of the award, but feel free to add a little flair. Some competitions have suggested, for instance, that if a personal experience relates to your nursing aspirations, you might weave it in.
Contact Information for Nursing Scholarships in Missouri
MoSALPN
PO Box 105542, Jefferson City, MO 65110
Website: http://www.mosalpn.org/scholarshipapplication.shtml
Missouri League for Nursing
PO Box 104476, 604 Dix Road, Jefferson City, MO 65110-4476
Website: http://www.mlnmonursing.org/scholarships
Missouri Public Health Association
Website: mopha.org/scholarships.htm
Missouri League for Nursing
P.O. Box 179, 3341 American Ave, Jefferson City, MO 65101
Website: missourilegion.org/index.html