IHA Awards Scholarship to MHP Nurse Melissa Schultz
Mahaska Health Partnership Inpatient Nurse Melissa Schultz is one of 34 students from across Iowa to be awarded the Iowa Hospital Education and Research Foundation (IHERF) scholarship. Schultz, who currently works on Inpatient Services, is pursuing her Bachelor’s of Nursing degree at William Penn University. She is shown receiving her scholarship check from MHP CEO Jay Christensen.
MAHASKA COUNTY – Mahaska Health Partnership Nurse Melissa Schultz has been awarded a $3,500 from the Iowa Hospital Education and Research Foundation (IHERF), which is supported by the Iowa Hospital Association (IHA).
Schultz, who lives in Oskaloosa, currently works on Inpatient Services. She is also attending William Penn University pursuing a Bachelor’s of Nursing Degree. According to MHP CEO Jay Christensen, a past IHA Board of Trustees member, Schultz is among 34 outstanding students from across Iowa who have received assistance this year from the IHERF Health Care Careers Scholarship Program.
“We are very proud of Melissa,” Christensen said. “She is working full-time while pursuing her advanced degree. IHERF provides an awesome program with funding for education and development. As the need for BSN nurses increases, this is one way to help defray the costs for students.”
IHA established the IHERF Health Care Careers Scholarship Program in 2004 to help address the ongoing shortage of health care professionals and encourage young Iowans to establish or continue their careers with Iowa hospitals. The first scholarships were awarded in 2005 and now nearly 400 students have benefited from the program.
In exchange for that financial support, scholarship-receiving students agree to work one year in an Iowa hospital for each year they receive an award. In this way, the scholarship program helps stabilize and enhance Iowa’s hospital workforce. Today, more than 200 scholarship recipients are working in Iowa hospitals.
Christensen said that hospital leaders from all parts of the state evaluated scholarship applications from dozens of qualified students who were judged on grade-point average, a written personal statement, letters of reference, and extracurricular, community and health care-related activities.
“Because of the generosity of Iowa hospital leaders and other supporters of this program, we have presented more than $1.1 million in scholarships,” said IHA President and CEO Kirk Norris. “We are proud to help these high-achieving students fulfill their career goals at Iowa hospitals.”
