The Nursing Foundation of Rhode Island today announced its 2003 Student Nurse Scholarship Program. The scholarships range from $500 to $1,000 and are awarded on a competitive basis to students enrolled in Rhode Island schools of nursing including degree, diploma and practical nursing programs. In addition to being enrolled in a nursing program in the state, students must also demonstrate financial need, have maintained a 3.0 GPA (2.0 for practical nursing) in their formative years within the nursing program, and have demonstrated clinical proficiency, enthusiasm, and motivation in their studies of nursing. Preference is given to students who are residents of Rhode Island and who are in the latter half of their nursing program.

Memorial scholarships are endowed by the families of Ethel R. Ferrara and Francis H. Sherman. Additional scholarships are funded annually by the Zanella family (for CCRI nursing students), Gerald and Trudy Mulvey, Helen Capocci Enright and from the Foundation's general fundraising activities.

" It is crucial for us to provide financial aid to students who choose nursing as a career and these scholarships often provide the extra funds needed for students to successfully complete their courses," said Betsy Nield, President of the Nursing Foundation, in announcing the scholarship program. In 2002, the Nursing Foundation of Rhode Island awarded a total of sixteen student nurse scholarships. This was the highest number of scholarships awarded to date.

The Nursing Foundation of Rhode Island was founded in 1991 to promote nursing. Its mission is threefold: to increase public awareness of nursing and its role in promoting health and well-being, to foster the advancement of nursing through the awarding of research grants and scholarships; and to preserve the history of nursing in Rhode Island.