Internal Scholarship Opportunities

MSN Student Scholarships Awarded by Vanderbilt School of Nursing

The School of Nursing offers one partial scholarship to all full time students along with six full tuition scholarships.  For new full time MSN students, consideration for a scholarship (partial tuition or full tuition) is based upon a holistic evaluation of the application including entering GPA, statement of purpose, responses to application essays and references.  Of the six full tuition scholarships, three are awarded to new entering students and the other three are awarded to second year PreSpecialty entry/returning students. 

The three full tuition scholarships offered to second year PreSpecialty entry/returning students are based on a student’s GPA for their first two semesters in the nursing program. We offer three full tuition scholarships for students who will be entering their specialty year and to be considered for one of the three full tuition scholarships, the student must have earned a 4.0 in their first semester and a 4.0 in their second semester. The student must have entered the program as a PreSpecialty student.  Our School of Nursing Scholarship Task Force will determine the recipients of the three full tuition scholarships by written essays and/or by conducting private interviews.  All other scholarships for second year/returning students are partial scholarships and are typically awarded at the same partial amount they received for their first year as long as they remain enrolled full time.

In order for a student to maintain a scholarship each semester, they must continue to make satisfactory academic progress and their overall cumulative GPA cannot fall below a 3.0. If a student’s GPA falls below a 3.0, they will lose their scholarship and may have to petition to have their scholarship re-instated for another semester once their GPA returns to at least a 3.0. All awards are made through the Student Financial Services Office and the School of Nursing Scholarship Task Force according to the requirements of the funding source. The scholarship amounts are awarded for the year and divided by each semester of enrollment. If a student is not enrolled each semester, they will receive the semester amount only. For example, if a student receives a $6,000 a year scholarship, and is not enrolled in the spring semester, they would receive a $2,000 scholarship in the fall semester and a $2,000 scholarship in the summer semester. 

Scholarships

A full time enrolled student only receives ONE scholarship from the School of Nursing per academic year. The following is a list of different named scholarships (full and partial scholarships) that we award.

FULL SCHOLARSHIPS:

  • THE JULIA HEREFORD ALUMNI SCHOLARSHIP for a second-year student is awarded annually through the generosity of the Julia Hereford Society and the Julia Hereford Endowed Alumni Scholarship Fund. Preference is given to students who are chosen by the VUSN Academic Excellence Committee and the Scholarship Task Force.
  • THE C. W. KEMPKAU SCHOLARSHIP is awarded annually to an outstanding PreSpecialty student in the incoming class. This scholarship may also be awarded as a partial scholarship depending on the amount of funding each year.
  • THE LAURA CATHERINE RANKIN MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP for a second year student was established in Laura’s memory by her parents, Dr. and Mrs. Allan Rankin, family, and classmates. Preference is given to students who are chosen by the VUSN Academic Excellence Committee and the Scholarship Task Force.
  • THE FRANCES SCOTT MORRISON SCHOLARSHIP for a second year student was established in 2002. Preference is given to students who met the academic requirement from year one, who are chosen by the VUSN Academic Excellence Committee along with the Scholarship Task Force and those who had relatives who served during World War II, specifically at Iwo Jima.
  • THE SCHOOL OF NURSING DEAN’S HONOR SCHOLARSHIP is awarded annually to an outstanding direct-entry student in the incoming class.

PARTIAL SCHOLARSHIPS:

  • THE HELEN TANLEY ALFORD SCHOLARSHIP was established with a gift in 2005 in memory of Helen Alford, BSN 1958, MSN 2002 and will be awarded annually to a student demonstrating merit and financial need.
  • THE SARA K. ARCHER MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP FUND FOR GERONTOLOGY
    NURSE PRACTITIONERS was established in 2007 and named in honor of former School of Nursing Dean Dr. Sara K. Archer.
  • THE BASS MILITARY SCHOLARS PROGRAM was established in 2018 by a gift from the Lee and Ramona Bass Foundation to honor the leadership traits and commitment to service embodied by members of the U.S. military.

    In order to be eligible to apply for the scholars program, applicant must be a full time student in the MSN degree program who served in the US military as an officer or non-commissioned officer and received an honorable discharge.  See https://vanderbilt.edu/bass-military-scholars 

  • THE BOTTORFF FAMILY SCHOLARSHIP was established in 2003 through a generous donation of Denny and Jean Bottorff to be awarded to a student demonstrating exceptional merit.
  • THE IMOGENE "GENE" WHITE BOTTORFF SCHOLARSHIP was established with a gift in 2008. Top priority shall be given to persons graduating from any high school in Boyle or Oldham County, Kentucky, or any qualified students who may have graduated elsewhere, but who are residents of such counties, or whose parent or grandparent is a resident (or was a resident at the time of his or her death).
  • THE EVA W., BARBARA T., SARA M. BOVENDER SCHOLARSHIP FUND was established in 2010 to provide financial support to a deserving student.
  • THE BURRUS MEDICAL SCHOLARSHIP FOR NURSES was established in 1987 by George R. Burrus, M.D., in honor of his daughters, Lisa, Kate, and Nan, who are Vanderbilt School of Nursing graduates.
  • THE JAMES AND JANET CARELL/TINA MARIE McINTOSH, MSN CPNP SCHOLARSHIP was established with a gift in 2005 and will be awarded annually to a student demonstrating merit and financial need.
  • THE LILLIAN CARY SCHOLARSHIP is awarded to an MSN student in the Family Nurse Practitioner specialty. Selection is based on academic merit and financial need.
  • THE THOMAS CONE SCHOLARSHIP was endowed through a gift from Thomas and Charlotte Cone to be awarded annually to a worthy and needy student who is a single parent.
  • THE KATHLEEN FOWLER COOPER SCHOLARSHIP was established in 2012 by Mr. Richard L. Cooper in memory of his late wife, Kathleen Fowler Cooper, B.S. 1966, M.S.N. 1997, to provide financial support based on need or merit for deserving students at the School of Nursing.
  • THE DR. ROBERT H. ELROD SCHOLARSHIP was endowed in 2010 to provide assistance to nursing students in memory of his daughter and in honor of his granddaughter.
  • THE ALICE THOMPSON FISCHER SCHOLARSHIP FUND was established with a gift in 2006 and will be awarded annually to a student demonstrating merit and financial need.
  • THE CHARLES B. FUNK AND CAROL S. FUNK SCHOLARSHIP was established with a gift in 2006 and will be awarded annually to a student who is a U.S. citizen demonstrating merit and financial need.
  • THE LA JUAN FURGASON SCHOLARSHIP was established by Mr. and Mrs. G. A. Furgason in memory of their daughter who was a 1967 BSN graduate.
  • THE VIRGINIA M. GEORGE SCHOLARSHIP IN NURSING was established in 2005 to provide financial support for students enrolled in the family nurse practitioner program.
  • THE BOBBIE LEE GILMER SCHOLARSHIP FUND FOR NURSES was endowed in 2000 from a bequest of Bobbie Gilmer to be awarded annually to a worthy student.
  • THE GODCHAUX SCHOLARSHIP was established in 2013 by the Godchaux Brothers Charitable Foundation to provide financial support to deserving students at the School of Nursing.
  • THE HALEY AWARD was endowed through a bequest from James H. Haley, Jr., to help support a worthy student of the School of Nursing.
  • THE LULU K. WOLF HASSENPLUG SCHOLARSHIP was generated by the memorial initiated by the Class of ’42 in memory of their creative teacher/mentor, Lulu K. Wolf Hassenplug. After ten dynamic and productive years at Vanderbilt, Hassenplug was the national leader who propelled nursing education to achieve true university stature. Endowment of the fund was reached in 2003 in honor of Hassenplug’s 100th birthday. This award goes to an outstanding student whose career goal is directed toward academic nursing education.
  • THE FRANCES M. HOUSTON SCHOLARSHIP FUND is endowed for the benefit of the School of Nursing. Preference shall be given to students from Cannon County, Tennessee, and then to the surrounding counties of Coffee, Dekalb, Rutherford, Wilson, and Warren.
  • THE LIZZIE MINOR HOUSTON SCHOLARSHIP was endowed through the bequest of George Houston in honor of his wife. Preference is given to students from Cannon County, Tennessee, first; then, after two years, students from the surrounding counties of Coffee, Dekalb, Rutherford, Warren, and Wilson are considered.
  • THE SAMMIE S. SHAPIRO–RACHEL S. KELLY SCHOLARSHIP was established by bequests from the estates of these two sisters, both Vanderbilt alumnae, and is supported by contributions from members of their family. It is awarded annually to a worthy and needy student.
  • THE ELIJAH NEVINS KIRKPATRICK SCHOLARSHIP is supported by the Frank Godchaux III family in memory of Mr. Kirkpatrick, a Vanderbilt alumnus and father of Mrs. Godchaux. It is awarded annually to a student demonstrating both exceptional merit and financial need.
  • THE JOYCE KEMP LABEN SCHOLARSHIP was established in 1998 and will be awarded annually to a student in the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Specialty.
  • THE MILAH P. LYNN SCHOLARSHIP FUND was established in 1996 by a gift from Milah and Stephen Lynn. This scholarship is to be awarded to worthy, needy students.
  • THE MARKS FAMILY SCHOLARSHIP FUND was established with a gift in 2011 and will provide financial support annually to deserving nursing students.
  • THE KATHLEEN SUZANNE NELSON SCHOLARSHIP FUND was endowed through a bequest from Dr. Robert A. Nelson, Jr., in memory of his daughter who graduated with an MSN in 1975.
  • THE SALLY BAUM NORDLUND AND D. CRAIG NORDLUND SCHOLARSHIP IN NURSING was established with a gift in 2005 and will be awarded annually to a student demonstrating merit and financial need.
  • THE COLEMAN D. OLDHAM HONOR SCHOLARSHIP was endowed in 1997 by Coleman and Emma Oldham to be awarded annually to a male student from Madison County, Kentucky, first, and then consideration to a male student from Kentucky demonstrating merit and financial need.
  • THE PASS IT ON SCHOLARSHIP was established in 2004. The scholarship is awarded with the recipient’s full understanding that, given the time and opportunity, the recipient will, after graduation, provide financial, emotional, and/or moral support to other nursing students seeking to further their education.
  • THE VALERE POTTER SCHOLARSHIP FUND was established originally by a gift from the late Valere Blair Potter. This scholarship is awarded annually to second year PreSpecialty students demonstrating exceptional merit and financial need.
  • THE TABITHA JOHNSON REEVES SCHOLARSHIP FUND was established in 1998 to be awarded to a worthy student with financial need.
  • THE PAMELA RICHARDSON MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP was established in 1995 by her family and friends in her memory. Pamela Richardson was a VUSN student at the time she died. The scholarship will be awarded annually to a second year student demonstrating financial need and exceptional merit.
  • THE SCHOOL OF NURSING ALUMNI SCHOLARSHIP is awarded annually to a student who can demonstrate a high level of participation in volunteer activities in the local or global community and/or the School of Nursing.
  • THE JANICE AMBREY STALCUP MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP was established in 2011 by Doreen Wise, her nursing school roommate and friend, to provide financial support to deserving students.
  • THE ANN SCHUH TAYLOR SCHOLARSHIP IN NURSING was established with a gift in 2008 to be awarded annually to a student demonstrating merit and need.
  • THE VIRGINIA SADLER TOOMAY AWARD was established with a gift in 2005 to be awarded annually to a student demonstrating merit and need.
  • THE HILLIARD AND NANCY TRAVIS SCHOLARSHIP is supported by the generosity of the late Hilliard and Nancy Travis. Several awards are made annually to students in a variety of specialties.
  • THE JEANETTE AND LEON TRAVIS SCHOLARSHIP FOR NURSING AT ST. THOMAS HOSPITAL was established by Mrs. Jeanette Travis and the late Mr. Travis for nurses employed at St. Thomas Hospital who wish to pursue the M.S.N. degree at Vanderbilt University School of Nursing. Inquiries regarding this opportunity should be directed to the St. Thomas Career Center, (615) 222-2361.
  • THE FRANCES HELEN ZEIGLER TUNNELL SCHOLARSHIP FUND was endowed through the will of this former dean of the School of Nursing and is awarded to a student demonstrating merit and need.
  • THE VANDERBILT MEDICAL CENTER AUXILIARY STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP FUND was established in 2006 to be awarded to a student or students demonstrating merit and financial need.
  • THE LETTIE PATE WHITEHEAD SCHOLARSHIP FUND is supported by the Lettie Pate Whitehead Foundation. This scholarship is awarded to first-year, female PreSpecialty students from southern states. The PreSpecialty students chosen to receive this scholarship will receive it for their first year only. Their second year scholarship is based on full time enrollment, and will be the amount they were originally offered on their admission letter. 
  • THE ZELLE SCHOLARSHIP was established in 1995. This scholarship is awarded annually to nursing students specializing in chronic care with a focus on rehabilitation nursing.
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