AORN Foundation Scholarship Board awards scholarships to 72 members

AORN Journal, Nov, 2000

Some of the many benefits available to AORN members include scholarship awards and education grants through the AORN Foundation. Many dollars in scholarship funds have been awarded to AORN members since the Foundation was established in 1991. The Scholarship Board (Figure 1) met at AORN Headquarters in May 2000 and awarded more than $50,000 to AORN members pursuing bachelor's degrees (44%), master's degrees (51%), and doctoral degrees (5%). These funds included AORN, RN first assistant (RNFA), and novice nurse scholarships.

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AORN FOUNDATION STRUCTURE

The AORN Foundation is governed by a volunteer Board of Trustees. Members include industry representatives, surgeons, financial experts, and AORN members. The AORN Scholarship Board develops scholarship and education award application criteria and determines recipients of scholarship awards. In addition, the Scholarship Board recommends strategies to the AORN Board of Directors about increasing nursing scholarships to student nurses, minorities, surgical technologists wishing to obtain a nursing degree, and people considering a second career.

AORN FOUNDATION FUNDING

Funds for scholarships come from individuals, AORN chapters, and corporate donors. Currently, scholarships are available to RNs who have been AORN members a minimum of one year, are in good standing, and are pursuing a bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree in nursing or a related complementary field at an accredited institution. Individuals may apply for scholarships in the amount of $500, $1,000, $1,500, or $2,000 during specific, semiannual funding periods. The amount requested cannot exceed the estimated cost of the semiannual tuition and other associated approved costs (eg, books, laboratory fees).

There are three types of scholarships available, including AORN scholarships, RNFA scholarships, and novice nurse scholarships. The RNFA scholarships are for RNFAs who are pursuing bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degrees. Novice nurse scholarships are intended for nurses with fewer than five years of perioperative nursing experience who are pursuing a bachelor's or master's degree.

SCHOLARSHIP FUNDING CRITERIA

Each year, the Scholarship Board reviews and updates the scholarship application. Individuals who apply for scholarships must follow directions, fulfill all requirements listed on the application, and submit completed applications before the application deadline. Applications that are incomplete, not typed, or late will not be considered. In addition, all applicants must provide proof that the institution of higher learning they are attending is accredited. Scholarship application requests and questions about the application requirements should be sent to Suzanne Stokes at sstokes@aorn.org, or call (800) 755-2676 x 366.

Each applicant must submit proof of acceptance or enrollment in a bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree nursing program or a related complementary field. It is the responsibility of each applicant to ensure that schools mail all official transcripts of recently completed degree programs and current course work (if applicable) directly to AORN. Applicants who received education outside the United States must submit transcripts of recent course work in the United States to demonstrate the capability of maintaining a 3.0 grade point average (GPA) at the college level.

Required documentation includes

* a current resume or curriculum vitae, which may include, but is not limited to, demographic information, education, professional experience, membership in professional nursing organizations, and community activities;

* a personal statement that describes current and past contributions to perioperative nursing practice, research, and education;

* a description of financial need;

* a description of how the applicant will apply the information gained from course work to perioperative nursing practice and AORN;

* professional goals related to completing the degree; and

* three endorsement letters written by colleagues, other AORN members, or school advisors that should include, but are not limited to, the applicant's scholarly achievement, potential for leadership in applied fields, ability to work with others, perseverance in pursuing goals, written and oral communication skills, and clinical competence.

Each applicant must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. The Scholarship Board believes that part of the eligibility requirement for receipt of scholarship money is scholastic excellence, and a grade of "B" or above is believed to be a reflection of scholastic excellence. Payment will be made directly to each student at the end of the funding period after successful completion of the course(s) and receipt of the course grade and copies of all receipts for allowable expenses.

Deadlines for the semiannual funding periods are April 1 and October 1. Applications and supporting documents must be sent via the US postal service and postmarked no later than the deadline. Copies sent by facsimile will not be accepted.