Foundation Awards Grants to Support Nursing Students

Pennsylvania College of Technology received grants totaling more than $70,000 to award need-based scholarships to students enrolled in its nursing majors.

The Pennsylvania Higher Education Foundation awarded two Nursing Education Grants for 2010-11.

A $59,455 grant was awarded to aid students pursuing degrees in nursing on the college's main campus in Williamsport. The main campus offers four nursing majors: a practical nursing certificate, a registered nurse preparation associate degree, a bachelor of science in nursing and a bachelor of science in nursing completion major for already-licensed registered nurses.

A $10,849 grant was awarded to aid students enrolled in the noncredit practical nursing program at the college's North Campus near Wellsboro. The next course begins in January.

From these funds, the main campus and North Campus programs will award grants to eligible students whose other financial aid does not cover all schooling costs. Scholarship recipients are chosen based on financial need, and they may use the funds for any required college expense.

"These generous grant funds are instrumental in assisting some of our brightest and most deserving students to realize their life dream of becoming excellent nurses," said Sharon G. Auker, director of nursing at the college. "Many of them will go on to serve our community's health-care needs for years to come."

This is the eighth year that the college has received the money.

Nursing Education Grants offered by the Pennsylvania Higher Education Foundation help alleviate the state's nursing shortage and prevent further decline in the workforce. Health-care organizations, health systems and other health-care-related organizations across Pennsylvania support the creation and proliferation of the Nursing Education Grants program and have worked with the foundation to ensure their effectiveness.

"Since the initiation of this valuable grant program, attrition rates have declined, and more nurses are well-prepared to enter the local workforce," said Brenda G. Abplanalp, director of North Campus outreach services. "Continuing to find ways to fund nursing education is imperative if we hope to alleviate the critical nursing shortage in Pennsylvania and to continue the level of health care available to all of us."

To learn more about the practical nursing program at Penn College's North Campus, visit online or call 570-724-7703.

To learn more about nursing and other academic programs offered by the School of Health Sciences at Penn College, visit on the Web or call 570-327-4519.

For general information about the college, visit online , e-mail or call toll-free 800-367-9222.

For more information about grant-funding opportunities, faculty and staff may contact the Grants and Contracts Office at ext. 7562 or through its Web portal.