West Virginia Center for Nursing Awards $469,250 in Nursing Scholarships for 2018-2019

West Virginia Center for Nursing Awards $469,250 in Nursing Scholarships for 2018-2019

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The West Virginia Center for Nursing announced that 287 West Virginia nursing students will receive funds totaling $469,250 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 (HEPC), helps licensed practical, registered, master’s and doctoral nursing students pursue their degrees.

Drema Pierson, MSN, MBA, RN, Administrator for the Center for Nursing, said that the number of students applying and receiving funds has increased significantly every year with targeted promotion of the scholarship and the introduction of an online application that streamlined the application process in 2016.

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 www.wvcenterfornursing.org  The online application will reopen on April 15, 2019, and the deadline to apply for an award for the 2019 – 2020 academic year is June 1, 2019.

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.