The West Virginia Center for Nursing announced today that 76 students will receive funds totaling $225,000 as part of the Nursing Scholarship Program. The program, which is administered by the West Virginia Center for Nursing in conjunction with the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission, helps licensed practical, registered, masters and doctoral nursing students pursue their degrees.
April Shapiro, who received a $10,000 award for the fall and spring semesters, plans to use her scholarship in order to finish her Ph.D. in nursing at West Virginia University. She will continue to teach nursing in West Virginia in order to fulfill the scholarship’s service obligation to remain in state after graduation.
“I was so worried about being able to pay for everything,” she said. “What a relief. I can relax now and focus on finishing my dissertation and graduating in May.”
A record number of candidates applied for the scholarship this application cycle. In order to qualify for a scholarship, nursing students must be West Virginia residents and agree to fulfill a service obligation to work in West Virginia for each year they receive an award. To apply for a scholarship, students should visit wvcenterfornursing.org. The online application will reopen on April 15, 2017, and the deadline to apply for an award for the 2017-18 academic year will be June 1.
The West Virginia Legislature created the West Virginia Center for Nursing in 2004. In addition to supporting the Nursing Scholarship Program, the Center focuses on nursing workforce planning and development to help alleviate an ongoing shortage of nurses. The program is funded by a $10 fee paid during the yearly license renewal process completed by every licensed practical and registered nurse in the state.
For more information, visit www.wvcenterfornursing.org.
