KANSAS CITY, Mo., (Sept. 13, 2024) – The Research Foundation recently awarded $53,082 in scholarships to students accepted into the accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) programs at Research College of Nursing, Avila University, and William Jewell College. ABSN students hold a bachelor's degree in another field and can obtain their BSN after an accelerated one-year or 16-month program.
Scholarships were provided to 26 students in the three nursing programs. Research College of Nursing students were awarded $37,082, Avila University nursing students were awarded $6,000, and William Jewell College nursing students were awarded $10,000 in scholarship support. Of the 26 students awarded, 18 attend Research College of Nursing, 3 attend Avila University, and 5 attend William Jewell College.
Scholarship recipients from Research College of Nursing include Victoria Devonshire, Jasmine Dumont, Jennifer Enyeribe, Katherine Gerlach, Jesus Gonzalez Ventura, Katherine Gray, Sharel Heath, Sarah Lumley, Gabrielle Moss, Sarah Patton, Emily Peavler, Niloufar Salimi, Garrett Schick, Gertrude Schoepfer, Bester Seemani, Celeste Shumate, Roxanne Vega, and Isabel Woodruff.
Gray, Moss, and Vega were awarded the Dr. Kay Sullivan Memorial Scholarship. The Dr. Kay Sullivan Nursing Scholarship Endowment Fund was created in 1999 by Dr. Sullivan’s family to celebrate her commitment to the nursing profession and her retirement from Research College of Nursing. At the college, Sullivan served as an advisor to the students in the accelerated BSN program from 1990 to her retirement in 1999. She passed away on May 15, 2020. The fund provides multiple scholarships for accelerated BSN students annually.
Peavler was awarded the Cheri Burchett Memorial Scholarship. Burchett served as a faculty member at Research College of Nursing and was voted Teacher of the Year by the student body several times during her tenure. When she passed away in November of 2001, family, friends, students, and former students created the Cheri Burchett Memorial Scholarship Fund. The fund is used to provide an annual scholarship to an accelerated BSN student who exemplifies the qualities and compassion of the nursing profession that Burchett represented as a teacher, a nurse, and a person. In addition to clinical excellence, the recipients are selected based on a comforting presence defined by a calm, supportive influence, a positive attitude and a gentle, unhurried approach.
Scholarship recipients from Avila University include Alexandria Baker, Johana De Brauwere, and Mikayla Odell.
Scholarship recipients from the William Jewell College include Jack Alsbach, Jessica Andeson, Addison Devers, Alaina Pitts, and Mackenzie Powell.
The foundation’s commitment to nursing is also reflected in its scholarships for traditional and transfer nursing students, financial assistance for nursing students in emergency situations, and funding of white coat and commitment jackets. Visit theresearchfoundationkc.org/scholarships for more information about eligibility. To contribute to undergraduate nursing scholarships, go to theresearchfoundationkc.org/givetonursing.
