BNR Philly Minority Nursing Scholarship Program

The Minority Nursing Scholarship Program is designed to support underrepresented minority
students who aspire to pursue a career in nursing. This program aims to encourage diversity
within the nursing profession and provide financial assistance to high school seniors and nursing
students who demonstrate academic excellence, passion for nursing, and a commitment to
improving healthcare in their communities.

Scholarship Details:

Award Amount: $1000 (each scholarship)
Number of Scholarships: 4
Funding Use: To assist with tuition, textbooks, or other educational expenses related to nursing programs.

Eligibility Requirements:

High School Seniors or Nursing Students:

Applicants must identify as a member of an underrepresented minority group in healthcare (e.g., African American, Hispanic, Native American, Asian American, etc.).
Must be a PA resident

Enrollment in an Accredited Nursing Program:

For high school seniors: Must have been accepted into or plan to enroll in anaccredited nursing program at a college or university.
For current nursing students: Must be actively enrolled in an accredited nursingprogram or pre-nursing program.

Community Service:

Applicant must provide proof of at least 20 Volunteer hours within the last year. Hours should have been completed between January 2025- March 2026.

Essay Requirements:

Applicants must submit a written essay (500-750 words) answering the following question:
"Why do you believe you should be chosen for this scholarship, and how do you plan to contribute to the nursing profession as a minority nurse?"
The essay should reflect the applicant’s passion for nursing, commitment to their education, and how they plan to impact their community and the healthcare field.

Application Guidelines:

Personal Information:

Full Name
Date of Birth
Contact Information (email, phone number, mailing address)
High School or College/University Name
Nursing Program or Intended Major (if applicable)

Academic Information:

High school GPA (for high school applicants)
College GPA (for current nursing students)
Transcript (unofficial transcripts are accepted for high school seniors and current nursing students)

Community Service:

List the hours completed with the date and the name of the organization. This list must be submitted as a separate document along with the application. Ex. Volunteered 4 hours on 1/1/2026 at the Black Nurses Rock Philly Community Baby Shower.

Essay Submission:

Essay (500-750 words) answering the prompt outlined above. The essay must be submitted as a separate document along with the application.

Letter of Recommendation:

A letter of recommendation from a teacher, counselor, or someone familiar with the applicant's academic or community service achievements.

Application Deadline:

Applications must be received by May 1, 2026. Late applications will not be considered.

Selection Criteria

The scholarship selection committee will review applications based on the following criteria:

Academic Excellence: A minimum GPA of 3.0 is required for high school students and
2.75 for undergraduate students. Higher GPAs will be given additional consideration.
Essay Quality: The clarity, depth, and originality of the applicant’s essay. The essay
should demonstrate the applicant’s passion for nursing, their goals, and their commitment
to the nursing profession.
Community Involvement: Participation in community service or extracurricular
activities, especially those related to healthcare or public service, will be taken into
consideration.
Financial Need: While not a primary criterion, financial need may be considered if there
is a tie between candidates.
- Must be a high school senior interested in pursuing a career in nursing, OR
- Must be currently enrolled in a nursing program (undergraduate or pre-nursing)

Application Submission Process:

All application materials, including the essay, personal information, academic transcript, and any letters of recommendation, must be submitted via email by the application deadline.
Email Submission: Applicants may submit their application via blacknursesrockphilly@gmail.com

Scholarship Award Notification:

All applicants will be notified of their scholarship status by June 1, 2026.
Award recipients will be contacted directly via email.
Scholarship funds will be issued directly to the recipient.

Terms and Conditions:

Non-Transferable: The scholarship is non-transferable and may only be used by the
recipient
Non-Discriminatory: The scholarship is open to all eligible students identifying as a
member of an underrepresented minority group in healthcare without discrimination
based on race, gender, disability, or national origin.

Program Timeline:

Application Opens: March 30, 2026
Application Deadline: May 1, 2026
Notification of Recipients: June 1, 2026
Scholarship Disbursement: June 2026