Thanks to proactive faculty at the University of Louisiana at Monroe, many lower-income nursing and pharmacy students will receive substantial financial aid by way of grants totaling $273,776 from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).

Florencetta Gibson, director of nursing, has been awarded $223,530 for scholarships for disadvantaged students majoring in nursing.  Judith Cramer, director of financial aid and scholarships, has received a $50,246 grant for similar students majoring in pharmacy. Both grants will pay tuition and other fees of current and incoming qualifying students.

HRSA, part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, provides the funds to simultaneously lessen Louisiana’s nursing shortage while securing more diverse students to the health sciences, especially students who might not otherwise receive the opportunity.

Faculty members are always seeking to secure grant funds, like these that resulted from the federal Disadvantaged Minority Health Improvement Act of 1990, but available funding varies from year to year, depending on the amount determined by the federal government.

All students are encouraged to apply for these and other scholarships and grants that are also available. Students can apply by using the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, available online at www.fafsa.ed.gov. Selections will be made before the fall semester begins, based on that application.

Link to related story published in The (Monroe, La) News-Star