New scholarship fund for financially struggling nursing students lends major stress relief
“My fears have definitely been waylaid,” sophomore nursing major Lucas Yanes said about the Skelly Emergency Fund. “If and when I experience some kind of financial emergency, I am taking hope in this fund.”
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A scholarship for nursing students with financial needs is now in place and available at Lee University.
The Skelly Emergency Fund will aid Lee in supporting nursing students through difficult and unexpected financial emergencies with a $10,000 grant. While these funds are not meant to help with month-to-month obligations, the relief of this fund is sending a much-needed sense of comfort through the School of Nursing.
Florida-based organization Gertrude E. Skelly Foundation is in the business of routinely providing educational opportunities and needed medical care for those university and college students who can't afford them.
Nursing students will be able to request up to $1000 per academic semester to assist them with things like medical and dental emergencies, impending eviction, emergency auto repairs and unexpected loss of parental financial support.
Sophomore nursing student Lucas Yanes said he's able to breathe a huge sigh of relief as the fund will allow him to continue his education if his current college funds dry up.
“The thought that, because of finances, I would no longer be able to go to Lee University or any university and continue in my calling to be a nurse honestly terrifies me,” Yanes said. “However, my fears have definitely been waylaid. If and when I experience some kind of financial emergency, I am taking hope in this fund because I know money will not be easy to come by.”
Abbi Cook and Stacy Parris, both nursing majors, said they simply don't have the time or energy to stress about anything other than school—particularly finances.
Parris said she felt her education would have been more secure if the scholarship had been in place when she started the program.
“Being a nursing major, you do not have time to work on top of school; therefore, you have to take out loans to support yourself and pay for things if your parents don’t pay for everything,” Parris said.
And Cook said the Skelly Fund would bring reassurance to many of her classmates.
“I would say I speak for everyone in the program when I say that it’s extremely reassuring and comforting to know it’s there,” Cook said. “And financial burdens are a huge issue for a lot of us in the program. This is a great solution to a major issue that could help so many and ease our minds a little more.”
According to Parris and Cook, the possibility of becoming a nurse with a degree from Lee University has become a reality for those who may have found themselves falling on hard times.
Nursing students who are looking to apply for the fund may follow the link http://www.leeuniversity.edu/academics/nursing/scholarships.aspx, where the application can be filled out online.
