On August 15, 2024, the University of Colorado College of Nursing at Anschutz Medical Campus honored scholarship recipients at an annual reception. The college awarded upwards of $1 million to more than 100 undergraduate and graduate students during the 2023-24 fiscal year, according to the CU Anschutz Office of Advancement.
These scholarships can change a student’s future.
MS in Nursing student Flossie Richmond |
Edita Michelle Dyer, a first-generation college student, received the Harry K. Albert Scholarship while in the Accelerated BS in Nursing (UCAN) program. Dyer graduated from CU Nursing this month and accepted a position at SkyRidge Medical Center.
“I feel like CU Nursing does a great job supporting their students and helping them graduate. It’s so meaningful for people like me who are the first in their family to graduate from college, and it’s so exciting.” — Edita Michelle Dyer, BS in Nursing graduate
“It meant so much to me to receive this scholarship,” she says. “I cried when I found out I was getting it. If I hadn’t received it, I don’t know how I would have been able to go through the UCAN program and finish it. It was such a big deal for me and my family because I’m paying my way through CU Nursing.”
Flossie Richmond, an MS in Nursing Family Nurse Practitioner student and scholarship recipient, says scholarships have practical and emotional impacts.
“Receiving a scholarship makes a huge difference, it takes away stress, especially financial stress. It allows me to focus more on school because I’m working full-time,” she says. “I don’t have to worry about certain things and receiving a scholarship takes a big thing off my plate.”
Erin Newton also acknowledged how receiving a scholarship helped her when her family’s financial situation changed. Her family of four dropped to one income while she was in the UCAN program.
CU Nursing students with Assistant Dean of Undergraduate Program Tammy Spencer (center) |
“(Receiving a scholarship) offers huge relief to receive any amount of financial sponsorship when your family’s income is limited,” she says. “I especially credit our success in completing this program, when nearly 20% of nursing students nationwide drop out of nursing school, to our benefactors who have helped sponsor this educational journey.”
Scholarship funds came from 230 gifts from more than 120 unique donors. Scholarships can range from $1,000 to $10,000. With the help of generous gifts, CU Nursing continues to invest in its students’ futures year after year.
“Not only are these scholarships investments in the potential of our students but also their dreams for the future,” CU Nursing Dean Elias Provencio-Vasquez, PhD, RN, FAAN, FAANP, says. “Our students are preparing to launch their careers and change the lives of countless patients and communicates. Our donors’ philanthropic gifts are truly making a difference for aspiring nurses who will deliver care and hope to patients, and we’re deeply grateful for their generous support.”
Visit CU Nursing’s scholarship and financial aid page to learn more about available scholarships, application deadlines, and additional resources.
