District 9 Student Loan Program - Its History

Kentucky Nurse, Jul-Sep 2006

"Nurses Helping Nurses" has been the working motto for District #9 members for many years. Beginning 061353, District #9 members began the Special Fund. 9th District, Kentucky State Association of Registered Nurses as a loan program for nursing students. This Fund was developed to assist persons to enter into and complete an educational program to become a registered nurse or more recently earn an advanced degree in nursing. The loans have always been interest free and have ranged from $10.00 a month initially to cover "room and board" to eventually $500.00 per semester.

This Special Fund was incorporated 033062 under the name of District No. 9 Kentucky State Association of Registered Nurses Education Foundation. Inc. Through the years, monies were raised from such activities as Nurses Dance, card parties, and item raffles (chair, electric skillet, ham, stereo hi-fi, basketball tickets, Corning ware products).

Many District members have given of their time to further this endeavor. The following registered nurses are just some who have volunteered many hours to ensure the solvency of this group: Frances M. Edwards, Martha Hiatt, Charlotte Nutgrass, Dorothy Tohill. Martha Russell, Virginia Cudgel, Nancy Caldwell, Shirley Noah, Helen Broaddus, Ida K. Hurt, Barbara Sonnen, and Theresa Sue Milburn.

To date sixty-nine (69) students have benefited from the loan of $83,525.10 with a repayment rate of 87%.