JULY 9, 2001 - Director Kathleen Wilbur announced today that the Michigan Department of Consumer & Industry Services (CIS) is presenting checks to four universities to provide scholarships for 19 students in advanced practice nursing program.

The universities are each receiving a $10,000 nursing scholarship grant as part of a program initiated in 2000 by CIS to address a national shortage in the advanced practice nursing profession. The Michigan Board of Nursing, a CIS board of health professionals and public members appointed by Governor John Engler, proposed a scholarship fund after it determined a need for advanced practice nursing professionals based on state and national health data.

Wilbur said the state program is expected to provide scholarships this year to 55 advanced practice nurses for medically underserved communities.

“The response to the program by the eligible Michigan colleges and universities has been very enthusiastic. Health care statistics indicate a need for advanced practice nursing professionals across the nation, and Michigan is certainly no exception,” Wilbur said. “Our goal is to have the scholarship recipients from each advanced practice nursing program working in different counties in Michigan to provide better coverage in areas where their services are needed the most.”

In 2000, CIS invited the 16 Michigan schools with accredited advanced practice nursing programs to apply for participation in the scholarship program. The applicants were asked to select students studying to become a nurse practitioner, nurse midwife, or nurse anesthetist depending on the program the school offers. 

The scholarship recipients are required to possess a Michigan nursing license in good standing, be a Michigan resident, be willing to work in a county designated as medically underserved, and may not be receiving a full scholarship from another source. The scholarships will provide a one-time grant to each scholarship recipient for tuition, books and fees.

The scholarship recipients from Northern Michigan University are:

The scholarship recipients from Oakland University-Beaumont Graduate Program of Nurse Anesthesia are:

• Michael J. Ranieri, Sterling Heights - $2,000
• Nicole Boné, Taylor - $2,000
• Christina Defour, Shelby Twp. - $2,000
• Saju V. George, Royal Oak - $2,000
• Deborah Ann Egnatoski, Macomb Township - $2,000

The scholarship recipients from Henry Ford Hospital/University of Detroit Mercy Graduate Program of Nurse Anesthesiology are:

• Faith Mbanugo, Canton - $5,000
• Metodija Naumovski, Sterling Heights - $5,000

The scholarship recipients from University of Michigan-Flint/Hurley Medical Center are:

• Elizabeth E. Scott, Grand Blanc - $1,000
• Kari N. Rickman, Midland - $1,000
• Diane M. Moore, Clio - $1,000
• Angela C. Lickey, Grand Blanc - $1,000
• Melanie S. Krohn, DeWitt - $1,000
• Dawn M. Jones, Davison - $1,000
• Joseph A. Gizoni, Troy - $1,000
• Jere D. Getzinger, Allenton - $1,000
• Janey L. Emery, Howell - $1,000
• Heidi M. Brogger, Hamburg - $1,000

Read more Michigan Department of Consumer & Industry Services press releases.