IHERF Scholarships Awarded to 24 Students

IHA’s Iowa Hospital Education and Research Foundation (IHERF) has awarded $72,000 in scholarships to 24 college students from all parts of Iowa.  The students, who are all studying in health care fields, will each receive $3,000 for the upcoming academic year and each is eligible for up to $6,000 in assistance from IHERF over two years.

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 remain in the state as they establish their careers.  The first scholarships were awarded in 2005, and now more than 100 students have benefited from the program.  In exchange for financial support, scholarship-receiving students agree to work one year in an Iowa hospital for each year they receive an award.

The IHERF Board, hospital leaders and IHA Auxilian/Volunteer Board members from throughout the state evaluated scholarship applications from more than 280 students, who were judged on grade-point average, a written personal statement, letters of reference, and extracurricular, community and health care-related activities.  Those evaluating the applications noted that this year’s group, which includes both graduate and undergraduate students, was especially competitive and highly qualified.