St. Scholastica awarded Manitou Fund grant for nursing scholarships

The College of St. Scholastica has received a $525,000 grant from Manitou Fund, a private foundation in White Bear Lake, Minnesota. This grant will provide renewable scholarships to two cohorts of nursing students who demonstrate significant financial need.

The Manitou Fund Nursing Scholarship program will provide renewable $3,600 scholarships to 32 students with significant unmet need, including one cohort of students entering in fall 2021 and a second cohort entering in fall 2022. Preference will be given to students from communities of color, rural and mid-sized communities, first-generation college families and other groups underrepresented in nursing.

“This grant feels good,” said Greg McNeely, Trustee, Manitou Fund. “It’s going to grow to be a lifeline for students trying to juggle going to college without the needed resources.”

Manitou Fund President and Trustee Oliver Din added, “The impactful assistance offered to students with high levels of unmet financial need may serve as meaningful support for those students to continue pursuing undergraduate nursing education at The College of St. Scholastica.”

College leaders are hopeful the Manitou Fund Nursing Scholarship Program will serve as a powerful new national model to build a stronger, more diverse nursing workforce.

“This new scholarship program will provide critical support to individual recipients and will also help increase the size and diversity of our nursing student population,” said President Barbara McDonald. “Moreover, this investment will have a great impact on the communities who will benefit from these nursing graduates.”

To be eligible students must have: a current FAFSA on file, documented unmet financial need of more than 25 percent, entering GPA of 3.0 or above and intent to pursue an undergraduate degree in nursing.

“This generous support will increase opportunities for nursing students with the ultimate goal of more baccalaureate-prepared nurses entering the workforce,” said Dr. Sheryl Sandal, dean of nursing.

About the School of Nursing

For over 100 years, The College of St. Scholastica has been preparing nurses for successful careers in healthcare. The School of Nursing responds to the health care needs of both rural and urban areas, especially underserved populations, and residents with mental health needs through its mission of “educating students to be socially conscious and morally responsible nursing leaders who promote holistic health for all.” The College’s Nursing Program is considered a leader in the state and region through its innovative programming and curriculum at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.