Mary June Bland Blackford Nursing Scholarship

The Mary June Bland Blackford Nursing Scholarship is awarded to non-traditional students pursuing RN to BSN completion at Eastern Illinois University. The scholarship is designed to incentivize academic success and support students who demonstrate the greatest potential for lifetime achievement in hands-on nursing careers. Recipients must be at least 20 years of age and enrolled part-time or full-time in the RN to BSN program. The scholarship prioritizes students from Illinois, particularly those from within a 100-mile radius of Charleston, Illinois, with preference given to Coles County residents. Applicants must have achieved a 3.0 GPA by the end of their junior year and demonstrate financial need. The award requires an essay outlining the applicant's commitment to pursuing a career in hands-on nursing. This scholarship may only be received once and is paid in the Fall semester.