Following the creation of two scholarships by the Eau Claire Student Nurses Association, receiving a degree in nursing will soon become a bit more affordable.

Students who intend to pursue a degree in nursing and are members of ECSNA will soon be eligible to receive one of two $600 scholarships, made possible by funds raised by the association over the past several decades.

“We want to create a scholarship to encourage people to be involved in their community and in the Student Nurses Association,” said senior Sarah Vold, head of fundraising for ECSNA.

Vold said ECSNA will donate $15,000 to help create the scholarship. The money, she said, is the result of several decades of fundraising.

“The money we’re using is an accumulation over many years,” she said. “The money has been accumulated since the inception of the Student Nurses Association.”

Elaine Wendt, dean of the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, said the $15,000 donation will be matched by a donation made by the Casper Foundation in Chippewa Falls.

Senior Deb Chopper, president of the association, said the two scholarships will be awarded each April, with one scholarship going to a student studying at Eau Claire or UW-Marshfield and the other to a student studying abroad.

“It’s really interesting to talk to nursing students who have gone abroad. I think there’s so much to be said about studying abroad in health care,” Chopper said, adding she hopes the foreign exchange scholarship will help offset the cost of studying in other countries.

Chopper said the first set of scholarships will be awarded in April and will benefit students during the 2007-2008 academic year. The application deadline is March 1.

Wendt said she believes the study abroad scholarship may be used by students studying in any location offered by the university.

“It’s my understanding that it’s not a specific study abroad program, but it would allow students to participate in any of the study abroad programs offered through our International Education office,” she said.

A ceremony will be held at 1:15 p.m., Tuesday in Nursing 104. At the ceremony, Wendt said, ECSNA will present the chancellor with their $15,000 contribution.

Vold said the scholarships will help the nursing program develop a more diverse and culturally sound set of graduates.

“We want to create well-rounded and culturally competent nurses,” she said.
Chopper echoed Vold’s statement.

“We want to promote growth and cultural diversity,” Chopper said. “We’re proud of our organization, and we’re proud of the College of Nursing.”