Oregon Nursing Scholarships & Grants

Times are tough and student life is no exception. Being awarded a non-refundable grant or a scholarship can, however, help to relieve the financial burden.

General Scholarship and Grant Information Relevant to Oregon Nursing Students

There are scholarship and grant programs that have been put in place to benefit nursing students resident in Oregon and the majority of them appear to be administered through the Oregon Student Assistance Commission. The Oregon Nurses Association and the American Legion Auxiliary (Department of Oregon) are two further organizations that administer such programs and there are, no doubt, further educational institutions, including the Oregon State University, which would be able to assist a student in this regard.

Most, if not all, of the Oregon scholarship and grant programs would require the recipients to be resident in Oregon during the period of the program and there are also further restrictions placed upon eligibility. What these restrictions will be depends on the terms and conditions of each specific program, and includes such factors as what nursing fields a student is majoring in and, if employed, who the student works for.

Specific Scholarships and Grants in Oregon

ONA Smith Education Scholarship

This scholarship is awarded annually and, here, the one of more successful applicants will each receive $1,000. The deadline for the submission of applications for this program is March of every year and the program’s ultimate aim is to provide financial assistance for Oregon nurses’ continuing studies. The eligibility requirements for this program include:

1. Students must be resident in Oregon;
2. Students must be enrolled in either an undergraduate bachelor’s or a graduate degree in nursing.

Other factors that would influence the selection process include academic achievement, leadership capabilities and career plans. Financial need is, however, not considered. This scholarship program is administered by the Oregon Nurses Association and, should students require any further information, the Association can be contacted directly at 18765 SW Boones Ferry Road, Suite 200, Tualatin, OR 97062 (tel: 503-293-0011 and website: http://www.oregonrn.org/).

Bertha P. Singer Scholarship

This scholarship’s overall objective is to benefit nursing students resident in Oregon and makes several awards every year. Submission applications are due in February and specific eligibility requirements include:

1. Applicants must be Oregon residents who are studying nursing;
2. Applicants must have a GPA (grade point average) of at least 3.00; and
3. Applicants must file documentary proof of their being enrolled in either:
   • the third year of a four year nursing degree program; or
   • the second year of a two year associate degree in nursing.

The program is administered by the Oregon Student Assistance Commission and, should students wish to obtain further information, they can contact the Commission directly at Attn: Private Awards Grant Department, 1500 Valley River Drive, Suite 100, Eugene, OR 97401 (tel: 541-687-7395 and website: http://www.osac.state.or.us/).

Franks Foundation Scholarship

This program’s aim is to benefit nurses living in certain counties in Oregon and the number of grants awarded each year depends on the total number of applications. Applications must be filed by February of any given year and those specific eligibility requirements that apply here include:

1. Students must live in one of the following Oregon counties: Crook, Jefferson and Deschutes (first preference counties) and Grant, Lake, Harney and Klamath (second preference counties);
2. Students must be graduating high school seniors who maintain a GPA of at least 2.50 or current college students who maintain a GPA of at least 2.00; and
3. Students must be majoring in nursing on either the undergraduate or graduate level.

This scholarship is also administered by the Oregon Student Assistance Commission, who can be contacted for further information (see above contact details).

Lawrence R. Foster Memorial Scholarship

This is another of the group of scholarship programs that are administered through the Oregon Student Assistance Commission and here several awards are made each year, with a submission deadline in February for any given year. Students have to comply with the following requirements in order to be eligible for this program:

1. They must live in Oregon and must want to pursue a career in public health; and
2. They must file an essay stating their career goals, reason for their interest in the public health system and their experience, if any, in working at community clinics and migrant clinics.

Preference will be given to those students who are (1) currently working in public health and (2) majoring in public health on a graduate level. The Commission can be contacted at the above address should any student require further information regarding this program.

Marion A. Lindeman Scholarship

Another scholarship that is administered through the OSAC, this program has extremely strict eligibility requirements, which include:

• Applicants must be Oregon residents and must need financial assistance;
• Applicants must be employees of Willamette View Convalescent Center;
• Applicants must be full-time students in a degree or certificate program that will lead to a qualification in nursing, occupational therapy or one of several other health care related fields; and
• Applicants must have completed at least 2,000 hours of working as a Certified Nurses’ Aid.

The deadline for submitting applications for this program is March of every year and further information can be obtained from the Commission at the above address.

American Legion Auxiliary Nurse Training Scholarship

In terms of this scholarship, $1,500 is awarded every year to the successful applicant. Applications have to be made by June of any given year and this program’s rather specific eligibility requirements include:

1. Students must be either the wife of a disabled veteran or the child or widow of a deceased veteran; and
2. Students must have already been accepted into an accredited school of nursing at either a hospital or a university.

Further factors that will be taken into account when determining eligibility include financial need, seriousness of purpose and determination. Further information can be obtained from The American Legion Auxiliary, Department of Oregon, P O Box 1730, Wilsonville, OR 97070 (tel: 503-682-362 and website: http://www.alaoregon.org/).