The cost of a college education and the stress of making the transition from high school to college are two common areas of concern among high school students as they near graduation. Chamberlain College of Nursing is looking to ease these concerns through its new Navigate to Nursing (N2N) Scholarship Program.
Chamberlain's N2N Scholarship Program allows high school seniors to jump-start their nursing education and careers. Qualified students can start earning credits towards a Bachelor of Science (BSN) degree while in high school and receive up to $8,500 in assistance for tuition, books and fees. Students accepted to the program can take two introductory nursing classes online and on-site at no cost to them while completing the second semester of their senior year of high school. If, after completing the courses successfully with a minimum 3.0 grade point average (GPA), the students decide to enroll and are accepted at Chamberlain College of Nursing to pursue their BSN degree, the scholarship will cover all costs associated with four additional courses (12 credits) during their first semester. Students will need to apply and meet Chamberlain College of Nursing's standard admission requirements to be admitted into the BSN program.
"The Navigate to Nursing Scholarship Program embodies Chamberlain's mission of providing quality and innovative nursing education programs," said Dr. Stephanie Stewart, vice president of academic affairs at Chamberlain College of Nursing. "The purpose of this scholarship program is to proactively respond to the projected nursing shortage and seek out high school students who are passionate about the profession. It's truly a win-win for all involved. Chamberlain is helping to ease the financial burden for students and their families while simultaneously addressing our nation's need for more nurses."
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, by the year 2020, there will be a shortage of more than one million nurses nationwide. Furthermore, more than one million new and replacement nurses will be needed by 2020 to address the country's severe nursing shortage.
"The Navigate to Nursing Scholarship Program acts as a springboard for high school seniors who already have an interest in nursing and want to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree," said Mary Gray, health career instructor at Rich South High School in Richton Park, Ill. and Rich Central High School in Olympia Fields, Ill. "This is a valuable opportunity for students who want to pursue a career in this high-growth field and a great opportunity for high schools to start a dual-enrollment program."
In order to apply, students must be in their senior year at a state approved high school. Applicants must possess a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.2 and submit a letter of recommendation from a teacher or guidance counselor and an official copy of their high school transcript. The N2N Scholarship Program is currently available through Chamberlain's campuses in Chicago and Addison, Ill. and Columbus, Ohio.
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