Arizona College of Nursing and the National Black Nurses Association Award Scholarships Valued up to $135,000 in Tuition Towards a BSN Degree
Arizona College of Nursing and the National Black Nurses Association (NBNA) recently announced the recipients of a scholarship program valued up to $135,000 in tuition and fees towards a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree at Arizona College of Nursing.
Melissa Georges is the recipient of a full-tuition scholarship valued up to $90,000 in tuition and fees towards a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree at Arizona College of Nursing. Georges, a first-generation college student from a family of ten, has known she wanted to be a nurse since childhood. Georges is currently enrolled at AZ College of Nursing in Fort Lauderdale and plans to graduate in April 2022. She is also an active member of her NBNA chapter, is the president of the National Student Association of her campus and serves as a peer mentor for other nursing students.
Melissa Georges received the calling to become a nurse at the age of seven when her dad passed away. Georges witnessed his struggles and believed he lost his life because he did not receive access to proper healthcare. That life-shaping event has driven her to make a difference in the lives of others and strengthened her belief that everyone should be treated equally and receive the best possible care
Dallas resident, Moira Kirk, is the recipient of a partial-tuition scholarship valued up to $45,000 in tuition and fees towards a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree at Arizona College of Nursing. Kirk is motivated to finish her degree, not only for herself but also for the sense of pride her family and community will feel. Once she establishes her nursing career, she hopes to start her own scholarship fund for other low-income students dreaming of a nursing career.
Growing up in South Dallas, Kirk’s mother instilled in her the importance of education, an opportunity that eluded prior generations in her family. Kirk took her mother’s words to heart. While many of her neighbors succumbed to the lure of drugs, Kirk saw higher- education as a path to rise above her circumstances and improve her quality of life. Today, she is about halfway finished in her nursing program, a volunteer in the community and serves as president of the National Student Association of her campus.
As part of an ongoing collaboration, Arizona College of Nursing and NBNA created the annual scholarship program to support minority students who have been traditionally underserved in nursing. These two scholarships were awarded to pursue a BSN degree. Scholarship applicants were required to have a minimum GPA of 3.50, write an essay, provide reference letters and demonstrate a commitment to community service.
“We are honored to award these scholarships and help these students achieve their educational dreams,” said Nick Mansour, President, Arizona College of Nursing. “These recipients are exemplary of the type of student this scholarship program set out to support and we look forward to seeing what the future holds for Melissa and Moira.”
The partnership between Arizona College of Nursing and the National Black Nurses Association extends beyond the scholarship. Arizona College of Nursing pays the local and national dues for Core Nursing students interested in joining NBNA enrolled at the College. Some of the membership benefits of NBNA include opportunities for professional development, networking, and leadership positions. This program is available to Core Nursing students at all nine of the school’s dedicated nursing campuses.
For more information on NBNA, visit: https://www.arizonacollege.edu/partnerships/
For more information on scholarships, visit: https://www.arizonacollege.edu/admissions/scholarships/
Information in this blog post is accurate as of October 14, 2021.