Idaho Nursing Scholarships and Grants

All students are struggling to cope financially in these troubled economic times, and nursing students are no exception.

Fortunately, there is an entire network of scholarships and grants that are available to assist cash-strapped nursing students and all students are encouraged to do their research to find out exactly what is available for them.

Idaho Nursing Grants and Scholarships

Neither a grant nor a scholarship has to be repaid and, as such, they are more ‘gift awards’ than loans.

They can range from as little as $500 to upwards of several thousand dollars, so it would definitely be worth a student’s while to apply for one or more scholarships or grants.

Although some of these programs apply to the whole USA, there are some that are specific to certain states and Idaho is no exception.

The application processes relevant to the majority of the available scholarships are administered through the Idaho State University, although there are several that are run separately. Among the latter is the scholarship awarded by the Idaho Department of the American Legion Auxiliary.

Most, if not all, of the Idaho-specific grants and scholarships require a student to be resident in Idaho and each will also have their own extremely specific eligibility requirements. Examples of factors that determine eligibility would include a student’s age, grade point average and whether he or she graduated from a specific high school.

This list of Idaho scholarships and grants is not meant to be exhaustive and students are encouraged to seek out further similar programs available for Idaho residents.

Specific Scholarships and Grants in Idaho

Idaho Legion Auxiliary Nurses Scholarship

This scholarship pays $750 per year, is awarded once every year and has the overall objective of providing financial aid to Idaho veterans and their children who wish to pursue nursing studies. The deadline for the submission of the scholarship applications is during March of any given year and eligibility requirements include:

• Students must themselves be veterans or must be the children of veterans who have lived in Idaho for at least five years before applying for the scholarship; and
• Students must be between 17 and 35 years of age.

Further factors that determine eligibility include deportment, financial need and academic achievement. More information concerning this scholarship program can be obtained directly from the Idaho American Legion Auxiliary at 901 Warren Street, Boise, ID 83706 (tel: 208-342-7061 and website: idlegion.home.mindspring.com).

Iwo Jima Scholarship

This scholarship program is run through Idaho State University and the deadline for the submission of applications is March of any given school year. The amount of this scholarship varies and, although it is not aimed only at nursing majors, those students who are nursing majors at any level will be given preference after engineering majors.

There are several specific requirements for eligibility for this program and these include:

• The applicant must be a descendent of either a participant in the Battle of Iwo Jima or, if no Iwo Jima participants’ descendents apply, a participant in any World War II theater of war, and this must be proved by the production of such papers as birth certificates, newspaper clippings and military documentation;
• The applicant must have a grade point average of at least 3.00 and must be enrolled for full-time study;
• The applicant must be a US citizen; and
• The applicant must submit a written statement setting out details of his or her chosen career path, educational objectives and plan to accomplish those educational objectives.

Financial need is not an issue for this particular scholarship program and applicants therefore do not need to prove that they are unable to pay their tuition fees.

Further information concerning this scholarship can be obtained from the university at the ISU Scholarship Office, 921 South 8th Avenue, Pocatello, ID 83209 (tel: 208-282-3315 and website: www.isu.edu/scholar/).

Lazy K-Five Ranch Scholarship

This scholarship program is also administered through the Idaho State University and the annual amount awarded will differ depending on how much money is in the fund during any given year. This award is also potentially renewable and is specifically available for nursing and engineering majors at any level.

Eligibility requirements include:

• A student has to be enrolled for full-time study and have a grade point average of 2.50 or more for undergraduates and 3.00 or more for graduates;
• A student has to submit an essay detailing their career goals, educational path and plans for accomplishing his or her educational and occupational goals; and
• A student has to be a resident of Idaho.

Like the Iwo Jima scholarship, this program does not take financial need into account and the deadline for the submission of the application is March. Further information concerning this scholarship can also be obtained directly from ISU.

The Kay Stone Memorial Scholarship

This is yet another scholarship program that is run through the Idaho State University and here, the number and amounts of the awards may vary and they will be awarded to students who are majoring in either nursing or education. This scholarship also has fairly specific eligibility requirements, which include:

• The applicant must be at sophomore level or above and enrolled as a full-time student;
• The applicant must maintain a grade point average of at least 2.00 at undergraduate level and 3.00 at graduate level;
• The applicant must file a letter of recommendation from an instructor in his or her major field of study along with a statement discussing his or her future educational and career plans; and
• The applicant must be a graduate of Salmon High School in Salmon, Idaho.

Further factors that will be taken into account include financial need and academic merit, and further details regarding this scholarship can, again, be obtained from ISU.