What types of scholarships and gifts does MSGA provide?

The value of higher education has never been more significant than it is now. Unfortunately, the cost of higher education has continued to increase year over year, making it difficult for families to afford. We understand and we’re here to help. At MSGA, we strive to lessen the financial burden for students and their families by offering educational scholarships to individual members and gifts to nursing schools.

As we continue our commitment to improving member’s lives, we continuously look for opportunities to support educational institutions in health, wellness and nursing. Each year, when given the opportunity to further help the community outside of our scholarship program, we provide financial gifts to select charities and nursing schools.

Below is information on our Nursing School Gift Program and the MSGA Scholarship Program.

The Nursing School Gift Program

As part of our mission in improving our member’s overall health, MSGA actively seeks to help students studying to become future nurses. Between 2015 and 2019, MSGA provided a total of $375,000 in gifts to St. Louis University School of Nursing, St. John’s School of Nursing and the College of St. Mary’s under our ‘Nursing School Gift Program’. These gifts have enabled the chosen institutions to provide scholarships to a number of their own nursing students who might otherwise not have been able to complete their studies due to financial stress.

MSGA worked with St. Louis University to establish the MSGA Nursing Scholarship Fund and gifted a total of $75,000 in 2017, $25,000 in 2018 and $25,000 in 2019 into this fund. The Go Further Scholarship initiative via St. Louis University has a matching program that doubled the impact of the gifts. Thanks to donations from MSGA and the matching funds, the scholarship fund grew to $250,000 and is awarded to those nursing students who show financial need and academic success.

Located in Omaha, Nebraska, the College of Saint Mary is a Catholic women’s university which has an outstanding nursing program. MSGA provided $75,000 in 2017, $25,000 in 2018 and $25,000 in 2019 to the school which in turn has provided 25 students with $5,000 scholarships.

St. John’s School of Nursing is located in Springfield, IL and offers upper division bachelor nursing degree programs to those who have already completed their liberal arts and science courses at other institutions. The St. John’s School of Nursing is associated with the Hospital Sisters of St. Francis and offers students hands on experience to accompany their nursing program. Since December 2015, MSGA has provided a total of $125,000 to the St. John’s School of Nursing to be used for student scholarships.

If you represent a nursing school and would like to apply for a future gift, please fill out the Nursing Scholarship Program Donation Application.

The MSGA Scholarship Program

MSGA intends to provide up to 20 scholarships in the amount of $5,000 each year to students who meet the eligibility requirements. We look at a number of different aspects when choosing a scholarship recipient, including their goals, a letter of recommendation and overall GPA. In addition, applicants must demonstrate how the scholarship funds will be used to help their academic progress and/or enhancement of their skills.

Who is eligible to apply?

• Applicants are only eligible if they are a member of the MSGA and/or legal dependent or household relative of such a member at the time of the application and the award.
• Applicants must be either a high school senior who has been accepted to a 2 or 4-year college or university or is currently enrolled in a 2 or 4-year college or university and provide documentation of such acceptance or enrollment.
• Applicants must have a minimum 2.0 GPA and include a school transcript with the application.
• Applicants will be required to provide a Letter of Recommendation (from a professor, employer, or character reference) in the application process. 
• MSGA Board Members, Directors, Employees or entities contracted with MSGA or their families/relatives are not eligible for a scholarship.
• An incomplete application will not be considered.

Please note that we will award no more than five scholarships to applicants from the same university.

When is the deadline?
We will be accepting applications for the 2020-2021 school year beginning on June 15, 2020. Please check back to our website at that time to submit your application.

Our Past Recipients