January 6, 2025

Recent graduates of the Associate Degree Nursing program on East Mississippi Community College’s Golden Triangle campus and the Practical Nursing program on the college’s Scooba campus were previously awarded scholarships from The Bower Foundation, Baptist Memorial Hospital, the Office of Nursing Workforce, and the Mississippi Nurses Foundation.

“Our goal is to not only accept the nursing and health science students into our programs, but to assist them in being successful, by providing methods to meet their financial needs and thus motivating them to continue on to graduation,” said Student Success Navigator – Nursing Leslie Strickland, RN MSN. “We are elated and grateful that we have the opportunity to provide them with the scholarships and grants that these agencies provide. We couldn’t be more pleased that we get to play a vital role in preparing nurses to work in the communities that we serve as well as our state”

Associate Degree Nursing students on EMCC’s Golden Triangle campus awarded Bower Foundation Grants include Karen Brown, Taylor Krajewski Estes, Barbara Hudgins, Jenecia Lockett, Samara Martin, Claire Patterson, Kaitlyn Bock Raines, Terrica Randle, Alexis Sanders, Diesha Verdell and Nicole Verdell.

Practical Nursing students on EMCC’s Scooba campus awarded Bower Foundation Grant funds include Conswella Brantley, Jaiden Clemons, Ariel Coburn, AnqUnesha Cox, Treasure Davis, Dyrekia Dooley, Tyrechia Ivory, Brandy May, Brittany Miller and Carmen Scarbrough.

Associate Degree Nursing students who received Baptist Health Services Scholarships include Jordan Brady, Karen Brown, Lauren Hagler, Briana Johnson and Coarie Stephens.

Heather Brashears, Luke McKee and Kaitlyn Raines were also awarded scholarships by the Mississippi Nurses Foundation.

Associate Degree Nursing students on EMCC’s Golden Triangle campus who received Office of Nursing Workforce Scholarships are Dennisia Batts. Lauren Hagler. Barbara Hudgins, Briana Johnson, Taylor Krajewski, Jenecia Lockett, Kaitlyn Bock Raines, Terrica Randle, Kandice Richardson, Deborah Singleton, Megan Sullivan, Diesha Verdell, Nicole Verdell and Donmetria Wright.

The students, who graduated in December, were awarded the scholarships last year. More information about the organizations that provided the scholarships is listed below.

The Bower Foundation Grant

Named after Dr. John D. Bower for his contributions to the academic health sciences center. Dr. Bower joined the University of Mississippi Medical Center in 1965 as an instructor of medicine, becoming the chief of the Division of Nephrology in 1990.

The Bower Grant funds are intended to keep motivated Mississippi students enrolled in a healthcare curriculum by supporting the economic needs that help motivated students complete their healthcare degrees or certificate programs. Students enrolled in Surgical Technology, Associate Degree Nursing and Practical nursing programs at Mayhew (GT) as well as Practical Nursing students at the Scooba campus qualify for the award.

Since the current semester began in August 2024, twenty- seven students have received the grant and the semester prior, thirty-three students were awarded the funds. These students received just over thirty-two thousand dollars from the Bower Foundation.

The Bower Foundation awards up to $1,000 per semester and can be used for items such as tuition, books, utility bills, vehicle and residential insurance, internet service, cellular telephone bills; Mississippi Board of Nursing fees and fees associated with licensure-those items that help to relieve the student of financial stress allowing them to stay the course. Students must complete an application each semester to receive assistance.

The Baptist Health Services Scholarship

Candidates must be enrolled in a Registered Nurse or Practical Nursing program and maintain a grade point average of 3.0. They will receive $3,000 and are required to work 72 hours(full-time) for a minimum of 12 months after licensure at Baptist Memorial Hospital-Golden Triangle in Columbus. 

Office of Nursing Workforce Scholarship

This scholarship assists and promotes Associate Degree and Practical Nursing students, who are in the pre-licensure stage, to complete their nursing programs, graduate and become a part of Mississippi’s nursing workforce. The nursing school is responsible for awarding the scholarships to the student applicants, by applying the funds directly to the student’s accounts. The amount of the award is based upon the number of students that apply.

Mississippi Nurses Foundation

The Mississippi Nurses Foundation (MNF) is a 501(c) 3 charitable organization established by the Mississippi Nurses Association (MNA) in 1982. Headquartered at the Center for Nursing in Madison, Mississippi, MNF is governed by a Board of Trustees, appointed by the MNA Board of Directors. The primary programs administered by the MNF include scholarship, educational support, continuing education (CE), nursing research, health promotion, and professional development.