THE CHU MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP FUND

Transcription

1 Program Description THE CHU MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP FUND The Chu Memorial Scholarship Fund was established by Dr. Priscilla Chu in loving memory of her husband, Dr. Caleb Chu. Dr. Caleb Chu was born in Peiping, China, and devoted thirty-one years of his life to practicing medicine at Oneida Mountain Hospital in Clay County, Kentucky. Early in his career at the hospital, Dr. Chu received a visit from two representatives of the Appalachian Fund who asked what he needed for the hospital. The Appalachian Fund became a benefactor of the hospital, providing vital funds for pressing needs and, later, for scholarships for heath care studies. This scholarship is now administered through the Berea College Appalachian Fund and is intended to assist Southern and Eastern Kentucky students pursuing allied health professions. This scholarship is not intended for medical school or dentistry students. In order to qualify for Chu Memorial Scholarship funds, applicants must be from Southern and Eastern Kentucky, be enrolled full-time in an allied health program, have a minimum of a 2.5 GPA at the time of the application, and have a financial need that is unmet by other sources. Applicants will also be asked to write a 1,000 word essay on one of the following topics: 1. Why I want to become an Allied Health Career Professional 2. How can Allied Health Career professionals benefit my community 3. Tell us about a personal experience with the Allied Health Career field that inspired or motivated you to become an Allied Health Career Professional Essays will be judged based on clarity, level of academic writing, knowledge, and content. The donor (i.e. Chu Memorial Scholarship Fund) will make the final decision regarding which candidates receive scholarships. However, the Partners for Education program at Berea College will play a vital role in identifying and recruiting eligible, serious applicants for the program. Partners for Education at Berea College utilizes a place based, student focused approach to improve educational outcomes in Appalachian Kentucky. The program braids services and aligns funding to optimize results. Through a suite of programs, including GEAR UP, i3 and the first rural Promise Neighborhood, Partners for Education leverages $18 million annually to serve 15,000 young people and their families. Partners for Education has staff members that are in close contact with both youth and adult populations that are interested in allied health careers, but may not be able to afford the costs that are associated with exam and course fees. Partners for Education will work cohesively with the Chu Memorial Scholarship Fund in identifying eligible applicants. All applicants will apply online through the Partners for Education website. Once applications are submitted, applicants can expect a 2-3 week waiting period before hearing whether or not they have been accepted into the program. Awarded applicants will receive a letter stating that they have been chosen. In the letter, the amount of scholarship monies will be disclosed as well as a date when the applicant can expect to receive his or her funding. In order to receive funding, applicants must abide the deadlines that have

2 been established by Partners for Education and the funder. There are not any hard deadlines for submitting applications because funding is on-going throughout the academic year. After the application process is complete, applicants will receive an confirming that their application has been submitted successfully. Along with the applications, applicants must submit proof that they have either been accepted into an allied health program or proof of current fulltime enrollment. Frequently Asked Questions about the Chu Memorial Scholarship Fund Q: Am I eligible? A: Eligible applicants have a minimum 2.5 GPA. Applicants that are natives of the Southern and Eastern Kentucky region will receive priority points over other applicants. All applicants must be currently living in the Southern and Eastern Kentucky region. Q: Where can I apply? A: Application process is available on the Partners for Education website Q: What are the deadlines for applications? A: Fall Semester: On-going funding cycle Spring Semester: On-going funding cycle Summer Semesters: On-going funding cycle Q: What are some examples of popular jobs with allied health? A: Arts and Humanities in Health, Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA), Chiropractic Medicine, Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Environmental Health, Gerontology, Health, Administration/Management, Informatics, Medicine, Mental Health, Nursing, Nutrition/Dietetics, Occupational Therapy, Optometry, Pharmacy, Physical Therapy, Podiatric Medicine, Public Health, Speech-Language-Hearing, Sports Medicine, State Registered Nurse Assistant (SRNA), Veterinary Medicine Q: What is the amount of a typical scholarship that is awarded through the Chu Memorial Scholarship Fund? A: Up to $1, Q: What areas does the Chu Memorial Scholarship Fund serve? A: Southern and Eastern Kentucky region

3 Q: What is an example of something that the Chu Memorial Scholarship Fund would pay for? A: An SRNA program is a perfect example. Students are responsible for buying such things as scrubs, liability insurance, nursing license, stethoscopes, and the state exam. Depending on the school, students may be responsible for costs that range anywhere between $300-$1,000. Q: How is this program marketed? A: Partners for Education has been charged with disseminating the information and identifying and recruiting potential applicants. Flyers and announcements will be circulated throughout school districts, community action agencies, public organizations, technical and vocational schools, school counselors, and other entities within Southern and Eastern Kentucky communities. Strategic Partnerships Strategic partners have been brought on board to assist with the allocation of Appalachian Fund scholarships. The reason for partnerships of this nature is to spread the word about the available funding and find applicants that are talented, smart, and serious about becoming productive members of the allied health care workforce. The following partners have been identified: High Schools, Hospitals Vocational Schools and Teachers (i.e. Rhonda Childress is a vocational teacher at Rockcastle County High School. Someone in a position of this nature would be helpful with recruitment of Chu Memorial Fund Scholarship recipients.) Southern KY AHEC: Southern KY AHEC will be able to help with this endeavor as we have a huge network of teachers in our 15 county region. We provide several opportunities for the students such as classroom presentations, summer camps, and the Health Occupations Expo. These opportunities are a great way to spread the world about college programs and health careers. We could use our network to find eligible candidates for the scholarships. Partners for Education (Currently serves 20 counties with staff placed in each county. These folks will work to identify potential grantees within the service region while working with local entities such as HCTC and EKU.) Berea College, HCTC, and EKU How can people in Southern and Eastern Kentucky benefit from this program? The Chu Memorial Fund will provide scholarship monies to rural citizens who are interested in obtaining employment within the realm of allied health. As long as applicants meet the established criteria, anyone is eligible to apply. An example of how Chu Memorial Scholarship Funds may be allocated is to pay for state nursing exams. For example, a national pharmacy

4 technician exam cost about $ This is something that the Appalachian Fund may assist a program recipient with. Another popular example is the State Registered Nursing Assistant (SRNA) program. Students are responsible for purchasing two sets of scrubs, a stethoscope, and they are required to purchase liability insurance. There is also a fee for their state exam. Many students do not have the funds to cover these expenses, even though the fees for the class and the textbook are waved. Appalachian funds are applicable to items of this nature because they are necessities for successful program completion. What are eligible expenses that can be covered by the Chu Memorial Scholarship Fund? Allied health careers and programs are broad and varied, but the fees for popular programs hover around the same costs across Southern and Eastern Kentucky. Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) programs range from $400-$1,000. Monies could be allocated here. At the state level, a State Registered Nursing Assistant (SRNA) must pay $75 for his or her state exam. Monies could be allocated to cover this cost. Most vocational school students (i.e. SRNA students) have to pay for the following items: Nursing License Nursing Liability Insurance Scrubs (2 pair) Tuberculosis Test Stethoscope SRNA Exam The total estimated cost for these items is $300 (i.e. Rockcastle County Vocational School). Students who wish to obtain credentials to be a Pharmacy Technician in the state of Kentucky must pay for the exam. Exam costs range from $250-$300. At Bluegrass KCTCS, the following costs are associated with the Medicaid Nurse Aide program: Course Fee, malpractice insurance, and State test fee $500 Books and required nametag (approximate estimate) $110 Security Fee $40 Total Approximate Cost* $650

5 THE CHU MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP FUND Applicant Information Full Name: Last First M.I. Date: Address: Street Address Apartment/Unit # City State ZIP Code Phone: County of Origin: Did your parents attend a post-secondary school? YES NO County You Currently Reside: High School Graduation Date: High School Extra Curricular Activities: Education High School GPA: Allied Health Career Interests: School or Program You Are Enrolled: Allied Health Tuition Per Semester: $ School Start Date: Amount Requested: $ How Did You Hear About the Chu Memorial Scholarship Fund: Agreement and Essay Upon receipt of scholarship funds, you must sign a contract that you commit not to quit your chosen program. Are you willing to sign a Commit Not to Quit contract? YES NO Choose one of the following topics and compose a 500 (min)- 1,000 (max) word essay: 1. Why I want to become an Allied Health Career Professional 2. How can Allied Health Career professionals benefit my community 3. Tell us about a personal experience with the Allied Health Career field that inspired or motivated you to become an Allied Health Career Professional