Internal Scholarships - Offered through Vanderbilt
Awarded by Vanderbilt School of Nursing
The School of Nursing offers a number of full and partial internal scholarships. Full-time enrollment (12 hours per semester) is required to be considered for a scholarship award. Part-time students and post-master's students are not eligible for scholarships but may qualify for loans. Consideration for full scholarships and the amount of partial scholarship awards are based upon an individual's GPA and GRE, GMAT or other standardized test score. All awards are made through the School of Nursing Scholarship Committee according to the requirements of the funding source. Although applications are mailed to all admitted prospective students with the financial aid packets in February, individuals are considered for internal scholarships only when they have paid their matriculation fee (deposit).
Full Scholarships
The Harold Stirling Vanderbilt (HSV) Scholarship honors the memory of the great-grandson of Commodore Cornelius Vanderbilt and president of the University's Board of Trust from 1955 to 1968. The scholarship covers full tuition for three semesters. Selection is based on academic excellence and potential for contribution to the Nursing profession; financial need is not a criterion.
The Julia Hereford Alumni Scholarship is awarded annually through the generosity of the Julia Hereford Society and the Julia Hereford Endowed Alumni Scholarship Fund. Recipients are selected by a committee of faculty members and alumni. Students who meet the criteria will be sent applications by VUSN.
The C. W. Kempkau Scholarship is awarded annually to an outstanding pre-specialty student in the incoming class.
The Christy-Houston Foundation Scholarship will be awarded to five (5) Pediatric Advanced Practice Nurses for $35,000 each. To qualify for this scholarship, a student must be a BSN-prepared RN who is a graduate from Middle Tennessee State University and/or a Rutherford County Tennessee resident. After graduation the student must complete a two (2) year payback service at Vanderbilt’s Children’s Hospital.
Partial Scholarships Awarded for 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 Frances Helen Ziegler Tunnell Graduate Honor Scholarship was endowed through the will of this former dean of the School of Nursing and is awarded to a meritorious student with financial need.
The Joe C. Davis Scholarship Fund is supported by the Joe C. Davis Foundation. Preference is given to non-RN students returning to school via the Bridge program.
The La Juan Furgason Scholarship Fund was established by Mr. & Mrs. G. A. Furgason in memory of their daughter, a 1967 BSN graduate of the School of Nursing.
Edward T. Goldstein Scholarship Fund established by Dorothy S. Goldstein in memory of her husband.
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 William Randolph Hearst Endowed Scholarship Fund was established for minority students. It is awarded to minority students on the basis of merit and need.
The Frances M. Houston Scholarship Fund was established by George M. Houston to honor his wife. Preference is given to students from Cannon county, Tennessee, or surrounding counties (Coffee, DeKalb, Rutherford, Warren, Wilson).
The Sammie S. Shapiro-Rachael 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 students demonstrating both exceptional merit and financial need.
The Jennie Wamsley Long Memorial Scholarship was established in 1996 by Sallie Wamsley, the School's Registrar, along with family, friends and co-workers in memory of her daughter. The scholarship is to be awarded to a worthy and needy Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner student.
The Kathleen Suzanne Nelson Scholarship Fund was endowed through a bequest from Dr. Robert A. Nelson, Jr., in memory of his daughter, a 1975 MSN graduate of the School.
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 bridge students demonstrating exceptional merit and financial need.
The Laura Catherine Rankin Memorial Scholarship was established in Laura's memory by her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Allan Rankin, family and classmates.
The Mildred West Reed Memorial Scholarship was established in 1996 by a bequest from Mildred Reed who was a 1930 graduate of the School of Nursing.
The Hilliard Travis Scholarship Fund is supported by the generosity of Mrs. Hilliard Travis and the late Mr. Travis. Several awards are made each year to students in specialties that involve nursing care for children of any age, from neonate through adolescent.
The Frances Phillips Ward Scholarship was established in memory of the late Frances Ward by her family and friends. A scholarship award is made to a student in the adult acute care nurse practitioner specialty, with preference to a student focusing on oncology nursing.
Lettie Pate Whitehead Scholarship Fund is supported by the Lettie Pate Whitehead Foundation. The awards are given to first year female bridge students from southern states.
The Jeanette and Leon Travis Scholarship for Nursing at St. Thomas Hospital was established by Mrs. and the late Mr. Travis for nurses employed at St. Thomas Hospital to pursue the MSN degree at Vanderbilt University School of Nursing. Inquiries regarding this opportunity should be directed to Hospital Organization & Development, Mark Rumbles, (615) 222.6868, St. Thomas Hospital.
The Zelle Scholarship is supported by Mr. Robert Zelle and will be awarded annually to a student specializing in adult acute care with a focus on rehabilitation.
The Pamela Richardson Memorial Scholarship was established in 1995 by her friends and family 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.