Scholarships and Funding Opportunities

Allene Farris Memorial Scholarship

The late William "Bill" W. Farris, a prominent Memphis attorney and member of the State Board of Regents, established the Allene Farris Memorial Scholarship fund in memory of his sister. Miss Farris was a Nursing student in the Methodist Hospital School of Nursing when she contracted meningitis from a patient and passed away in 1941. Recipients of the Allene Farris Memorial Scholarship must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5, with preference for applicants who are permanent residents of Dyer County, Tennessee.

Colonel James K. and Mary McCurdy Scholarship

This award was established for deserving students who are pursuing a career in nursing.

David Santucci Scholarship

Nelson Glenn and friends of David Santucci established the Operation Tucci Fund in recognition of his short and exemplary nursing career. David Santucci graduated from the LCON BSN program in 2013 and was employed as a Registered Nurse at Methodist Hospital in Memphis. On August 13, 2013 David was tragically murdered during an attempted robbery. The fund provides students selected by the LCON Student Nurses' Association with money to pay for the NCLEX licensing exam.

Eunice ElDoris Jordan Scholarship

Mr. W. C. "Buddy" Jordan, son of Mrs. Eunice ElDoris Jordan, established the Eunice ElDoris Jordan Scholarship to honor is mother, who raised six children before returning to the classroom to pursue her Nursing degree. After becoming an RN, Mrs. Jordan's Nursing career lasted only two years before she passed away unexpectedly. Recipients of the Eunice ElDoris Jordan Scholarship must be enrolled in the Loewenberg College of Nursing, with preference for applicants who are either first-time students or returning adult students.

Fredrika and Joel Felt Endowed Scholarship in Nursing

This award is used at the Dean's discretion to provide support for students in good academic standing who – due to unforeseen, unique or extenuating circumstances – require additional financial support to continue their studies, and who may or may not qualify for other types of financial aid. Open to MSN students.

Glazer Family Foundation Scholarship in Nursing

Dr. Louis and Melanie Glazer, parents of 1996 alumnus Robert Glazer, established the Glazer Family Foundation Scholarship in 2004 to recognize and support deserving and qualified students pursuing a degree in Nursing at the University of Memphis. The recipient of the Glazer Family Foundation Scholarship must have a B/3.0 grade average and be enrolled as a full-time Nursing student.

Goddard Foundation Scholarship

Mr. Stewart Goddard, father of 2010 alumna Courtney Goddard, established the Goddard Foundation Scholarship in 2010 to recognize and support students enrolled in the Loewenberg College of Nursing at the University of Memphis. Recipients must be in good academic standing, and show evidence of community involvement and financial need.

Hal and Teresa Freeman Nursing Scholarship for Veterans (Lambuth Campus)

Hal and Teresa Freeman established this endowed scholarship that truly spoke to their hearts and combined both of their careers and passions. Hal spent seven years in the US Navy aboard the USS Woodrow Wilson nuclear submarine and deployed on twenty-two patrols. He currently serves as the Veteran Liaison for the Univeristy of Memphis Lambuth where he talks with veterans daily and knows the struggles they have continuing their education and starting a new life after their military service is done. Teresa has been a registered nurse for thirty years and is currently the Assistant Chief Nursing Officer at West Tennessee Healthcare. She is keenly aware of the critical need for more qualified nurses to enter the workforce. This scholarship supports veterans of the United States Armed Forces and/or their dependents who are enrolled in the Loewenberg College of Nursing program at the University of Memphis Lambuth Campus. Recipients of the award must demonstrate financial need after a review of the student’s Free Application for Federal Students Aid (FAFSA) form. The award will cover not only tuition and fees, but also any other education expenses (i.e. books, supplies, etc.).

Jackson-Madison County General Hospital Nursing Scholarship

This award is in consideration of the desire of West Tennessee Healthcare Foundation to support deserving students at the University of Memphis Lambuth. Recipients of the scholarship must be admitted into the LCON and pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) or RN-BSN degree at the University of Memphis Lambuth. Primary consideration shall be given for residents of Jackson or Madison County, TN. Secondary consideration shall be given to residents of the TN counties of Gibson, Henderson, Carroll, Chester, Hardeman, Haywood, and Crockett. Additionally, preference shall be given to (1) dependents of current West Tennessee Healthcare ("WTH") employees; (2) dependents of retired WTH employees; (3) WTH volunteers or dependents of WTH volunteers; then (4) applicants without a current WTH affiliation who meet all other criteria.

Jean McIvor Memorial Scholarship

Mr. Robert McIvor, husband of former Professor Jean McIvor, has established a memorial scholarship to support deserving students at the University of Memphis. Recipients of the Jean McIvor Memorial Scholarship must have a GPA of at least 3.25, be pursuing a BSN degree, and plan to pursue a career in pediatric nursing.

Kelly Leanna Smith Pediatric Nursing Scholarship

Travis E. Smith and his granddaughter, Kaci Billings, established this scholarship in memory of his daughter, Kelly. This fund supports deserving students in the Loewenberg College of Nursing at the University of Memphis who have expressed an interest in pediatric nursing.

Lettie Pate Whitehead Foundation Scholarship

The Lettie Pate Whitehead Foundation devotes most of its resources to the Lettie Pate Whitehead scholarship program. Annual grants are made to accredited educational institutions in nine specific states, of which Tennessee is one. While most of the Lettie Pate Whitehead scholarships go toward undergraduate higher education, the Foundation maintains a special interest in health education. A significant number of its scholarships support education in the medical, nursing, and allied health fields. (Information taken directly from the Lettie Pate Whitehead Foundation: History, Program, and Administration brochure). Open to MSN students.

Lourene P. Fleming BSN Scholarship

In consideration of the desire of Dr. Julian G. Fleming to support deserving students at the University of Memphis, this award shall be used to provide need-based tuition assistance for one or more students enrolled at the University Of Memphis College Of Nursing. Recipients must demonstrate financial need as determined by the University of Memphis after reviewing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at the time of their selection. Students must remain in good standing with the University and LCON in order to maintain the scholarship for the following year.

Master Medical Equipment Scholarship

Mark and Jill Taylor, owners of Master Medical Equipment, were taught to love others and show compassion to those in need. Those principles have been the guiding force in life and what they credit for their thriving medical equipment business. Mark and Jill Taylor established the Master Medical Equipment Nursing Scholarship for students admitted into the RN to BSN program because they want to support the men and women in the nursing profession because they are bred to be of the same mindset.

“We at MME work hard to grow compassionate people and we hope that this contribution will enable someone the opportunity to thrive within this noble profession.” ~ Jill Taylor

Nancy J. Koch and Minda Y. Agustin Memorial Scholarship in Nursing

The Nancy J. Koch and Minda Y. Agustin Memorial Scholarship in Nursing was established by Robert W. Yates in memory of his sister Nancy J. Koch and to express gratitude and appreciation for Minda Y. Austin, who provided care to his family. Minda came to the U.S. from the Philippines during the national nursing shortage of the early 1970s and served as an ER nurse in Osceola, Arkansas. The scholarship is awarded to undergraduate student(s) in the junior or senior year with no less than a 3.25 GPA. The student must maintain the GPA to continue eligibility for the award, which has to be reapplied for yearly. Preference is given to those interested in intensive care or cardiac care nursing. Financial need may be considered but is not necessarily a determining factor.

Ralph Levy Jr. Endowed Scholarship

Dr. Janet A. Levy, along with her brother Ralph Levy III and his wife Dede Coughlin, established this scholarship in honor of their father, Ralph Levy Jr. Their generous endowment was also made to express their deep appreciation for the outstanding relationships between the Levy family and members of the African American community in Memphis who provided nurturing and compassionate long-term care to the Levy family in their times of greatest need. This scholarship supports underrepresented students in the Loewenberg College of Nursing who attended a public high school within the Memphis, Tennessee city limits. Recipients must remain in good academic standing with the University of Memphis and with the Loewenberg College of Nursing, and must demonstrate financial need at the time of their selection.

Raymond A. Bratcher and Maxine E. Ritchey Bratcher Scholarship

The late Raymond A. Bratcher and Maxine E. Ritchey Bratcher provided scholarships for deserving nursing students through their estate plans.

Regina Montesi Memorial Scholarship

This award was established as a tribute to Regina M. Montesi for her dedication and unselfishness to her friends and to her patients. This scholarship is to assist a student who is trying to accomplish the completion of a baccalaureate in nursing. Registered Nurses (from either a diploma school or associate degree program) who are attending the University of Memphis Loewenberg College of Nursing's RN to BSN program are eligible. A minimum overall GPA of 2.5 is required. Two letters of recommendation must be submitted by each applicant - one letter from the school at which the student received RN training, and one letter from the student's current supervisor.

Ronnie Price Nursing Fund

Mr. Bill Koeneman, family member and friend of Mr. Ronnie Price, established the Ronnie Price Nursing Fund to support deserving Nursing students accepted to or enrolled in the Loewenberg College of Nursing at the University of Memphis. Recipients must be graduates of Bartlett High School or Bolton High School in Shelby County, Tennessee, and must meet the University's minimum grade point average for scholarships. Recipients may renew this scholarship for up to two years, subject to funding availability and the discretion of the Dean of the Loewenberg College of Nursing.

Saint Francis Hospital Auxiliary Scholarship in Nursing

The Saint Francis Hospital Auxiliary established the Saint Francis Hospital Auxiliary Scholarship in Nursing in 1999 to support deserving students in the Loewenberg College of Nursing. Recipients of the scholarship must be accepted into the LCON and enrolled as full-time students in the University of Memphis. Additionally, recipients must have Junior year standing and maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0. Recipients may receive this award for a maximum of two years if all eligibility requirements continue to be met.

Sharon Leslie Hansard Memorial Scholarship

Mr. and Mrs. A. L. Hansard established the Sharon Leslie Hansard Memorial Scholarship in 1975 in memory of their daughter, Sharon Leslie Hansard. Recipients of the Sharon Leslie Hansard Memorial Scholarship must be in-state or out-of-state students enrolled in the University of Memphis Loewenberg College of Nursing. Recipients may continue to receive this scholarship in subsequent years as long as the requirements are met and the award is used for meeting fees, tuition expenses, books, and uniforms.

William and Ruth Loewenberg Scholarship

This award is used at the Dean's discretion to provide support for students in good academic standing who – due to unforeseen, unique or extenuating circumstances – require additional financial support to continue their studies, and who may or may not qualify for other types of financial aid. Open to MSN students.

A Step Ahead Scholarship Program

The Step Ahead Scholarship program is dedicated to recognizing and providing financial support for promising young women from the greater Memphis community who are committed to public service in the areas of academic success and effective, responsible life planning. Awards are based on strength of application and estimated financial need. Each award is a one-time, annual scholarship—but recipients are encouraged to maintain good academic status and apply a second year if needed. Scholarship awards are limited to two years total.

AfterCollege/American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) Scholarship Fund
Nursing Scholarship Amount: $2,500
Deadlines: March 31, June 30, September 30, December 31
Applicants must be pursuing a degree in nursing at the baccalaureate, master’s, or doctoral level to be eligible for this $2,500 scholarship. Special consideration is given to students in a graduate program with the goal of becoming a nurse educator, students completing an RN to BSN or RN to MSN program, and those enrolled in an accelerated program.

American Association of Critical Care Nursing

AACN Continuing Professional Development Scholarships - AACN

American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) Scholarship Program
Nursing Scholarship Amount: $2,500–$5,000
Deadline: March 24
Scholarships are available to AANP members who are currently enrolled in an accredited school in pursuit of a master’s or doctoral degree in nursing. Applicants must be licensed as a registered nurse. Awardees can receive scholarship amounts between $2,500 and $5,000.

American Cancer Society

Research Grant | American Cancer Society

American Heart Association

Professional Heart Daily | American Heart Association

American Heart Association/American Stroke Association

Student Scholarships in Cardiovascular Disease and Stroke - Professional Heart Daily | American Heart Association

American Diabetes Association

Research & Grants | American Diabetes Association

American Nephrology Nurses Association

Educational Scholarships & Grants | American Nephrology Nurses Association

American Nurses Foundation

Nursing Research Grants

Geraldine “Polly” Bednash Scholarship
Nursing Scholarship Amount: $5,000
Deadlines: January 31, April 30, July 31, October 31
This scholarship is awarded to support outstanding nursing students in baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs. Two $5,000 scholarships are distributed to the top applicants four times each year. Applicants must have at least a 3.2 GPA in their current program or last school attended. They must be admitted or enrolled in a program at an American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) member institution affiliated with CertifiedBackground.com.

Bold.org | Scholarships for Future Nurses

The Top Scholarships Ecxlusively for Nursing Students

Health Resources & Services Administration

Hurst Reviews/AACN Nursing Scholarship
Nursing Scholarship Amount: $2,500
Deadlines: January 15, July 15
Hurst Review Services and AACN have partnered to offer scholarships to students pursuing professional nursing degrees. Two $2,500 scholarships are awarded twice yearly.

Johnson & Johnson Nursing Scholarships
There are about 343 financial assistance options available to help students on their path to a nursing career.

National Down Syndrome Society

Biomedical Innovation & Research - NDSS

National Institutes of Health

National Institute of Nursing Research
Non-NIH Funding Opportunities for Predoctoral & Graduate Researchers (Fogarty International Center)
Office of Intramural Training and Education (OITE) Graduate Partnerships Program

National Student Nurses’ Association (NSNA) Scholarship
Nursing Scholarship Amount: Varies
Deadline: January 15
The NSNA Foundation was organized “exclusively for charitable and educational purposes,” providing annual awards for graduate and undergraduate students. To qualify, applicants must be enrolled in state-approved schools of nursing for their first degree in nursing.

Nurse Corps Scholarship Program
Nursing Scholarship Amount: Tuition, fees, and other educational costs
Deadline: TBD; individuals can sign up for alerts when a new application cycle begins
Open to students enrolled in a diploma, associate, baccalaureate, or graduate nursing program, the Nurse Corps Scholarship Program helps alleviate the critical shortage of nurses. Recipients of this scholarship are required to work in a health care facility located in a Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA).

Nurses Educational Funds Scholarships
Nursing Scholarship Amount: Varies
Deadline: February 1
The Nurses Educational Funds scholarship program includes 24 scholarships available to students enrolled full or part time in an Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)- or Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)-accredited nursing program who have maintained a minimum GPA of 3.6 over at least 12 credits. Scholarship amounts vary.

Rehabilitation Nursing Society

Scholarship Opportunities | ARN

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

Funding Opportunities

Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society

Nursing Scholarship Opportunities
Beta Theta At-Large Chapter( Research Grant and Education Scholarship awarded each year)

Southern Nursing Research Society

Research Grants Funding
SNRS Research Grant (deadline October 1 each year)
Sigma Theta Tau International/Southern Nursing Research Society (STTI/SNRS) Grant (deadline April 1)
SNRS Dissertation Research Grant (deadline March 1 each year)
Council for the Advancement of Nursing Science/Southern Nursing Research Society (CANS/SNRS) Dissertation Research Grant (deadline September 1 each year)

Tennessee Higher Education Commission

Tennessee Nurses Association

Tennessee Nurses Foundation Scholarships and Grants
TNA District Educational Scholarships
Maureen Nalle Memorial Graduate Nursing Scholarship
Nursing Research Grants

About the STRONG RNs Program

Supporting the Retention of Next Generation Registered Nurses (STRONG-RNs) is a program to help support and retain nursing students from economically and/or disadvantaged backgrounds. It is made possible thanks to a $3.24 million, five-year grant awarded by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). This program aligns with Loewenberg College of Nursing's (LCON's), the University of Memphis' (UofM) and the American Association of Colleges of Nursing's (AACN's) core values of advancing diversity and inclusion to improve the quality of nursing education, prepare the primary care workforce and reduce health disparities locally and globally.

The project provides financial support up to $18,000 an academic year to eligible students. Those who participate must be involved in social supports to help insure success in the nursing program.

STRONG RNs is designed to

increase recruitment of nursing students from disadvantaged backgrounds, including underrepresented racial/ethnic minorities;
improve retention rates of economically and environmentally disadvantaged nursing students to expand distribution, diversity, and supply of the nursing workforce; and
empower nursing graduates to seek practices in primary care and work in medically underserved communities (MUCs).

The program provides funds to cover tuition and fees and a living stipend that is awarded on a monthly basis. The financial awards are available for Fall and Spring semesters only.

Participation Requirements

Must be a full-time nursing student from an economically and/or educationally disadvantaged background
Must have taken the university's TRIO or ACAD and participated in the Academic Success Program
Must maintain LCON academic standards to maintain award eligibility

Apply Now >

STRONG RNs Program Model

Pre-entrance prep

In order to enter the STRONG RNs program, students must have participated in TRIO/Upward Bound or ACAD courses and the Loewenberg College of Nursing's Academic Success Program. These programs are designed to give students a foundation of support to prepare them for study in the nursing program.

Financial, Academic and Social Supports

As a student in the program, students are provided with a solid system of supports to promote success in the nursing program.

Academic supports include Tutoring, TLC and NCLEX preparation help.

Social supports include peer mentoring and involvement in the Student Nurses' Association.

Financial supports include scholarships and financial aid. While part of STRONG RNs, students are provided $9,000/semester to cover tuition, books and living stipend.

Professional Development

LCON provides professional development through clinical practice opportunities, career counseling and career fairs.

Disclaimer

The STRONG RNs project is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of an award totaling $648,000 with 0% percentage financed with nongovernmental sources. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government.

FNP-Health Education & Access for Rural Tennessean

The Family Nurse Practitioner-Health Education & Access for Rural Tennesseans (FNP-HEART) program was created thanks to a grant from the Department of Health and Human Services (HRSA) Advanced Nursing Education Workforce (ANEW). FNP-HEART provides traineeship funds for family nurse practitioner (FNP) students receiving clinical training in rural and/or medically underserved primary care practice sites in West Tennessee. The program's goal is to increase the number of advanced practice nurses interested in providing healthcare services to this population.

Requirements:

Enrolled full-time in the FNP program; or
Enrolled part-time in the FNP program in the last 3 clinical practicum courses
Must be willing to travel to assigned clinical sites in West Tennessee (rural counties—Carroll, Gibson, Hardeman, Hardin, Haywood, Henderson, Lauderdale, and McNairy)
Primary consideration will be given to students who reside in one of the 8 rural counties located in West Tennessee.
Current recipients may continue to receive the scholarship each semester until the grant ends and trainee continues to meet criteria and have no professional dispositional issues

Applicants must be currently enrolled or admitted to the University of Memphis MSN-FNP program.

Program Purpose

Since its inception in 2003, the LCON Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) program has prepared advanced practice nurses in the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree and post-graduate certificate program to deliver primary healthcare to individuals and families across the lifespan and health continuums. Students are provided with extensive knowledge and state-of-the-art clinical skills necessary for health promotion, disease prevention, assessment, and management of common acute and chronic illnesses.

Through our FNP students and graduates, faculty and preceptors at our Lambuth Campus that is in small/semi-rural Jackson, Tennessee, LCON has learned that the challenges in achieving equitable access to health services is greatly dependent upon health practitioners’ willingness to practice in remote, rural, and poverty-stricken underserved areas. Clearly, healthcare professionals are needed in rural and underserved communities and a multi-pronged strategy is required to help meet the needs of underserved communities.

In alignment with the training needs of LCON’s FNP degree program and recommendations from national nursing organizations and the Health Resources and Services Administration’s (HRSA) Advanced Nursing Education Workforce Program (ANEW) funding Opportunity HRSA-19-003, the University of Memphis’ LCON Family Nurse Practitioner – Health Education & Access for Rural Tennesseans (FNP-HEART) program is designed to decrease primary care and mental health professional shortages and improve health disparities for medically underserved populations/areas in HRSA-designated rural areas in West Tennessee.

The specific purpose of FNP-HEART program is to:

Establish and sustain five new formalized Academic Practice Partnerships with Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC) and Rural Health Clinics (RHC) to provide FNP students with comprehensive longitudinal, community-based clinical immersion experiences in rural primary care settings in eight rural counties—Carroll, Gibson, Hardeman, Hardin, Haywood, Henderson, Lauderdale, and McNairy.
Increase the number, diversity and culturally-inclusive readiness of FNPs in TN by providing traineeships funds for up to 80 FNP students living in and/or intending to practice in rural underserved areas of West Tennessee.
Enhance preceptor quality and satisfaction through the development of an electronic management system for recruiting, training, mentoring and evaluating primary care preceptors in rural and underserved areas in eight West TN counties.
Design didactic education and clinical training for FNP students to include diabetes management, telehealth, simulated rural health modules, value-based delivery and quality improvement initiatives, and the assessment, management and referral for treatment for mental health across the life spectrum and substance use disorders including opioid abuse in West Tennessee’s HRSA designated HPSAs for Primary Care and Mental Health.
Provide critical workforce development training for FNP students and link program graduates to satisfying professional career employment opportunities for FNPs in rural West Tennessee’s HRSA designated HPSAs for Primary Care and Mental Health.

Additionally, the FNP-HEART program supports HRSA’s Bureau of Health Workforce focuses on:

Preparing a quality, skilled based workforce through community-based training;
Improving workforce distribution in rural and underserved areas; and
Advancing modern healthcare through telehealth.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Service (CMS) recognizes that rural Americans face a myriad of obstacles when accessing healthcare services, including a stretched and diminishing rural health workforce. Throughout the United States and Tennessee, the supply of primary healthcare providers cannot meet the demand for services. The FNP-HEART program will strengthen the regional primary care workforce by developing FNPs through APP and by retaining FNP students transitioning to Tennessee rural practices after graduating from a holistic, high-quality FNP degree program offered by LCON.