Nursing Scholarships Awarded by Freeman

JOPLIN, Mo. – Freeman Health System awarded $6,000 in scholarships to help area students to obtain degrees in nursing. As part of its 90th anniversary celebration, Freeman launched a scholarship competition in January, and the announcement of the winners brings the year-long celebration full-circle.

“These scholarship funds will help increase the number of nurses in the area,” said Paula F. Baker, Freeman President and Chief Executive Officer. “Nurses are an integral part of our health system. They impact the quality of the patient experience and make a real difference in the lives of those we serve.”

Recipients of the scholarships and the degrees they’re pursuing are:

• $2,500 – Elisabeth Anderson – Bachelor of Science in nursing at Missouri Southern State University
• $2,000 – Amelia Kramer – registered nurse to Bachelor of Science in nursing at Pittsburg State University
• $1,500 – Dmitry S. Romanov – Bachelor of Science in nursing at Pittsburg State University

To qualify, applicants completed an application and wrote a 1,000-word essay describing “What Being a Nurse Means to Me” and how they plan to make a difference in healthcare. Scholarship recipients were chosen based upon the essay, academic record, financial need and current competency.

Currently, Freeman has nearly 180 employment opportunities posted online. Of those, approximately one-third are positions in nursing. Jobs for registered nurses will grow 19 percent between 2012 and 2022, making nursing one of the fastest-growing occupations in the country.1

Funds for the scholarships were made available through Freeman and Healthcare Services Group Charitable Foundation, which funds healthcare programs that advance the quality of patient care, patient safety and community wellness.

¹ Employment Statistics Program, U.S. Department of Labor, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics