FAIRFIELD—Thirty Sacred Heart University nursing students will have help completing their degrees thanks to a $150,000 William Randolph Hearst Foundation grant.
The Dr. Susan L. Davis, R.N., & Richard J. Henley College of Nursing will apply the funds to the new Sustaining Hearts Scholarship for juniors and seniors pursuing their bachelor’s degrees in nursing.
The foundation states that its mission is to “identify and fund outstanding nonprofits to ensure that people of all backgrounds in the United States can build healthy, productive and satisfying lives.” It does this by supporting well-established, nonprofit organizations that focus on culture, education, health and social service endeavors that help people who are in need, underserved or underrepresented in society.
The grant will provide academically and financially eligible students with $5,000 scholarships to complete their nursing studies. There is a critical shortage of baccalaureate prepared nurses in Connecticut, as well as across the country, said Cynthia O’Sullivan, associate dean for academic affairs and global nursing. However, according to O’Sullivan, “One of the biggest hurdles for nursing students is the cost of a college education. Their debts hamper their ability to progress without working long hours while in college or forgoing the purchase of vital classroom materials, such as textbooks.”
A committee will oversee the Sustaining Hearts Scholarship, create the selection process and disseminate funds, starting this summer. The financial aid office will ensure that selected students, who must have at least a 3.0 GPA, meet the program’s income criteria.
University officials anticipate the grant will enable students to continue making significant impacts on health care throughout Connecticut and beyond.
