CINCINNATI—On Monday, Nov. 7, donors and students gathered for the 10th annual University of Cincinnati (UC) College of Nursing Scholarship Awards Dinner to celebrate $448,500 in financial assistance distributed this year to 185 nursing students.
 
The dinner, which was held in the Grand Ballroom at the Kingsgate Marriott, is hosted by the college to honor donors and connect students with their benefactors.
 
"Recognizing our donors and scholarship recipients on this evening is one of the most rewarding events the college hosts each year, and we do so out of tremendous appreciation for both donor and scholarship awardees,” says UC’s senior vice provost for academic planning Kristi Nelson, PhD, who spoke at the event. 

By funding scholarships, Nelson says, "donors give students the opportunity to obtain their nursing education, which ultimately helps the profession evolve with the changing health care profession.” 
 
The scholarships can be earned based on either need or merit. More than half of the scholarships are in excess of $1,000.  
 
Funding for the scholarships has remained consistent over the past five years. Funding for scholarships is critical, not only for attracting high performing students with financial need, but also for recognizing leadership and academic performance.

The UC College of Nursing enrolled approximately 2,700 students in the 2011-12 academic year. The college is ranked in the top 8 percent of nursing programs in the country by U.S.News & World Report.