>> GEORGIA COLLEGE
The Georgia College & State University (GCSU) College of Health Science School of Nursing (SON) recently kicked off its Lettie Page Whitehead Nursing Scholars Program.
Funded by the Lettie Page Whitehead Foundation, the scholarship helps “deserving female students with financial need.”
The four-year, cohort-based program provides full scholarship to qualified incoming nursing students. Funding pays for tuition, fees, housing, meals, textbooks, nursing program fees and one healthcare-related study abroad.
“The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated the shortage of nurses in our state and nationwide,” explained Dr. Sheri Noviello, dean of COHS and coordinator for the program.
“We’re targeting students from middle and central Georgia for our region’s healthcare needs.
We want to train the next generation of nurses, and we don’t want financial need to be a barrier to excellent students.”
Five new GCSU nursing students, the first five to declare nursing as their major this year while meeting the standard for “financially needy” based on their federal applications for financial aid, were selected to receive the inaugural Lettie Page Whitehead scholarships.
About 20 more are expected within the next four years.
Among the first group of scholarship recipients is Hannah Pelt of Macon, who said she took it as a sign she’s truly destined to become a nurse.
“It wasn’t easy growing up. I never thought I’d be able to go to college and pay for it. This scholarship has pushed me to put in my all,” Pelt said. “When I get that degree in my hand, and I’m able to help people, it’ll all be worth it.”
As pre-nursing majors, scholarship recipients will be housed together as a cohort and groomed to enter the university’s competitive Bachelor of Science in Nursing program. They are guaranteed entrance, so long as they remain qualified.
The financial support also includes a tailor-made certificate in leadership and public affairs through the university’s Office of Leadership Programs.
“We want Georgia College nurses to provide leadership in the communities they serve,” Director of Leadership Programs Harold Mock said. “In good times and in bad, we look to nurses to provide leadership in our institutions, in community life, and in making decisions.”
According to the Lettie Page Whitehead Foundation, students receiving aid must be female, self-identified as Christian, financially needy and a resident of Georgia. All eligibility requirements, applications and other information can be found at the Lettie Page Whitehead Nursing Scholars Program website at gcsu.edu/health/ nursing/nursing-scholars.