SCHOLARSHIPS TO $20,000 NOW AVAILABLE: PROGRAM EXPANDED TO INCLUDE COST OF ATTENDANCE
Wasilla, AK — Mat-Su residents interested in pursuing education in health, wellness and nonprofit management are invited to apply for Mat-Su Health Foundation (MSHF) scholarships beginning January 1, 2018. Individual awards may be as high as $20,000 for students pursuing degrees at accredited universities. In 2017, more than $770,000 was awarded to local students.
“Our scholarship program is continually evolving to better meet the workforce needs of the community,” said Mat-Su Health Foundation CEO Elizabeth Ripley. “Because many students need help with more than just tuition, books and fees, in 2018 we will begin offering scholarships that can be used towards the full cost of attendance, including necessary living expenses.”
Mat-Su Health Foundation scholarships help defray the cost of higher education in degree programs that emphasize health or wellness, including mental health and substance abuse, and in nonprofit management. Awards for traditional MSHF scholarships are based on each applicant’s stated career goal and financial need. The maximum amount awarded per student for these scholarships is $20,000. Applicants must complete an online application at healthymatsu.org no later than February 23, 2018. In addition, all interested students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at fafsa.ed.gov.
New in 2017 was the Mat-Su Scholars Award, which is also based on the applicant’s stated career goal, but not on financial need. Mat-Su Scholars Awards require an essay and interview as part of the online application process and may be for as much as $10,000 each for up to six applicants who meet specific criteria:
• Behavioral Health Major: The Vivian “Babe” Shaver Scholarship
• Graduate-Level Applicants: The Ya Ne Dah Ah /K’tl’egh’i Sukdu Scholarship
• Hospital Administration and Nonprofit Management: The George V. Larson, III Scholarship
• Physician Assistant: The Jessica Stevens Scholarship
• Nursing: The Darlene Reed Scholarship
All MSHF scholarship applicants must be residents of the Mat-Su Borough, U.S. citizens, eligible for the Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend, and attending (or planning to attend) an accredited health care program at least half-time. Complete eligibility requirements are available at www.healthymatsu.org.
About Mat-Su Health Foundation: Mat-Su Health Foundation (MSHF) is the official business name of Valley Hospital Association, Inc., which shares ownership in Mat-Su Regional Medical Center. In this capacity, the MSHF board members and representatives actively participate in the governance of Mat-Su’s community hospital and protect the community’s interest in this important healthcare institution through board oversight. The MSHF invests its assets into charitable works that improve the health and wellness of Alaskans living in Mat-Su. More information is available at www.healthymatsu.org.