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New Jones Full-Ride Scholarships Aimed at Nursing, Education Majors

by Gwendolynne Larson

Emporia, KS (10/11/2023) — Emporia State's new, full-ride scholarship opportunity for incoming freshmen majoring in education or nursing is the most recent in a long history of collaboration with the Jones Foundation. The new Jones Premier Nursing and Education Scholarship will fund up to six students per year who attend ESU to eventually work in two fields currently facing workforce shortages.

The Jones Premier Nursing and Education Scholarship is a competitive scholarship available to high-achieving graduating high school seniors in Lyon, Osage and Coffey counties who plan to major in education or nursing at Emporia State. The scholarships are renewable for up to four years as long as the scholars meet grade and credit hour benchmarks. Selected students will have the full cost of their attendance at Emporia State paid for.

This is the third scholarship program at Emporia State University created by the Jones Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to "improving the health and education of eligible Kansans in Coffey, Lyon and Osage counties."

The original Jones voucher program became the Jones Success Scholarship in 2022 - a $7,000 value over four years that is automatically granted to eligible ESU students whose hometown is in Lyon, Coffey and Osage counties.

"Education and healthcare have long been a focus for the Jones Foundation," said Sharon L. Tidwell, executive director of the Walter S. and Evan C. Jones Foundation. "The development of the Jones Premier Nursing and Education Scholarship with ESU provides a unique opportunity for some of the brightest students in the three counties we serve."

Added Dr. R. Brent Thomas, ESU provost and vice president for academic affairs: "Our tri-county region is so fortunate to have the Jones Foundation working diligently to expand and improve educational opportunities. This gift initially helps six local students each and every year access our stellar education and nursing programs without having to worry about cost.

"With the current shortage of nurses and educators across the state," he continued, "we know that these scholarships will benefit all Kansans because these students will become much-needed education and nursing professionals in the Kansas workforce."

Jones Premier Nursing and Education Scholarship At a Glance

  • Three full-ride education scholarships to ESU - one each from Lyon, Coffey and Osage counties;
  • Three full-ride nursing scholarships to ESU - one each from Lyon, Coffey and Osage counties;
  • Awards renewable for four years;
  • First awards for 2024-25 academic year, then six new four-year awards available for entering freshmen each year thereafter;
  • Includes automatic admission to the ESU Honors College for each scholarship recipient.
  • To apply, students must:
    • Have a 3.7+ weighted GPA OR a 28+ ACT score;
    • Complete two required essays;
    • Live in Lyon, Coffey or Osage counties.
  • Applications accepted Nov. 1 through Jan. 15.
  • Learn more and apply at emporia.edu/jones.

Media Attachments

Sharon Tidwell, executive director of the Walter S. and Evan C. Jones Foundation, signs a gift agreement with Shane Shivley, CEO and president of the ESU Foundation, far left. Witnessing the new agreement is, from left, Kari Hess, professor of nursing; Sara Schwerdtfeger, interim dean of The Teachers College; and R. Brent Thomas, ESU provost and vice president for academic affairs. (Photo by Lindsay Thompson/Emporia State University)

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