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Empowering Missouri nurses

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The Musgrave Foundation’s scholarships empower students to chase their dreams by providing crucial financial support. 

Those who receive the graduate nursing scholarship are able to make an impact in Missouri’s health care landscape.  

The scholarship benefits universities across the Ozarks, supporting the retention of current graduate nursing students and creating the next generation of Missouri nurses.   

Missouri State University graduate nursing students can apply for the graduate nursing scholarship through the Missouri State University Foundation. 

Since 2021, 17 MSU graduate nursing students have received the scholarship. 

“Scholarship support at Missouri State is extremely valuable. Some students couldn’t attend without it,” said Debbie Branson, director of foundation relations at MSU.   

About the scholarship 

The Musgrave Foundation’s graduate nursing scholarship program covers a large part of tuition costs. Each year, the MSU Foundation submits a grant application to the Musgrave Foundation to request funding for the graduate nursing scholarship. This year, the grant was $30,000, with six students receiving $5,000 in the 2024-2025 academic year.   

Recipients must be in good academic standing, enrolled fulltime and have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better. They also must complete the MSU Foundation Scholarships application.  

Donor-funded scholarships are privately donated funds given to MSU students each year. They come from private gifts to the university made by individuals, groups or companies. Students receive scholarships based on criteria such as major, high school attended, academic achievement, leadership and financial need. 

Recipients of the scholarship must be enrolled in one of the following programs: 

Serving the underserved  

A five-year average of MSU’s FNP graduates indicates that 98% remained in Missouri and 56% worked in rural settings to provide health care to underserved populations.   

Amid a nursing shortage, MSU graduate nursing programs address the evolving health care landscape. Many graduates focus on rural health and primary care, equipping them to bridge gaps in access to quality health care. 

“We’re in a nursing crisis right now. It’s important to know this scholarship doesn’t fund your typical nursing program. It’s for nurses who are preparing to become frontline caregivers,” Branson said. 

By reducing their financial burden, students can focus on clinical experience and become equipped to address health care challenges. 

“For the last 40 years, the Musgrave Foundation’s grantmaking has created brighter futures for so many in Springfield and southwest Missouri,” said Bridget Dierks, vice president of programs for the Community Foundation of the Ozarks (CFO). “We’re grateful to carry on Mrs. Musgrave’s charitable legacy well into the future.” 

The Musgrave Foundation legacy  

The Musgrave Foundation began in 1983 with Jeannette L. Musgrave’s vision. It supports many charitable projects in Springfield and southwest Missouri. Its grants surpass $20 million, upholding Musgrave’s vision for community impact.  

The CFO manages the scholarship program. 

“I’m extremely grateful to Jeanette Musgrave for her love of nursing and progressive foresight to generously give to nurses seeking to provide patient care,” said Dr. Melissa Penkalski, graduate program director and associate professor at MSU.  

“I’m certain she would be proud to see the impact she has made and continues to make in health care and our communities. I’m also appreciative to the CFO for stewarding Jeanette’s wishes.” 

A call to action  

Initiatives like the Musgrave Foundation’s scholarships are vital for supporting the next generation of nurses as the demand for skilled health care professionals increases. By investing in education, the foundation is investing in the health and well-being of our communities for generations to come.  

“It’s amazing how many students the Musgrave Foundation is helping across the Ozarks,” said Jacqui Coones, executive director of prospect development at MSU.  

There is an urgent need for more individuals and organizations to help and uplift aspiring nurses on their journey to transforming lives. 

Explore graduate nursing programs

 

Funding the next generation of nurses

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In a time when health care workers are in high demand, The Mid-America Transplant Foundation (MAT) is launching the MAT Scholarship for students enrolled in Missouri State University’s nursing program.  

“We are humbled and honored at the gracious gift given to our students from MAT,” Monika Feeney, Department Head for the School of Nursing, said. “This scholarship will raise awareness for organ donation in the community by enabling nursing students to learn about organ donation and the importance of it to our community.” 

This gift is in recognition of the critical role nurses play in the organ and tissue donation process in Southwest Missouri.

In 2021, Springfield hospitals supported patients and their families who wanted to save and heal lives through organ, tissue, and eye donation. These patients become donor heroes who saved 134 lives through organ donation and impacted up to 20,000 lives through the donation of eyes, skin, tendons, ligaments, heart valves and bone.

Applying for scholarship 

Ten scholarships at $1,000 each will be given to qualified applicants beginning with the 2023-24 academic year. The scholarship is part of the MAT Foundation’s focus on workforce development.  

Nursing students interested in applying must submit an essay. The essay must include:  

  • A discussion of organ donation. 
  • The role nurses play in the organ donor process, including the impact of grief on donor families.  
  • The role that MAT plays in southwest Missouri communities.  

Scholarship recipients will travel to St. Louis to receive a tour of MAT facilities. 

Learn more about MSU Nursing program

New social work scholarship gives support to students working with specialized groups

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Anita Bridges Cruzan had a career worth celebrating.

Cruzan graduated from Missouri State with a bachelor’s in social work in 1978. She dedicated her life to social work among the elderly, HIV/AIDS patients and children with disabilities or special needs.

Now that she’s in retirement, Cruzan’s brother, Paul Bridges Jr., wanted to honor the compassion she showed during her career. So, he established the Anita Bridges Cruzan social work scholarship at MSU.

Helping a student with the same goals

The first recipient of the Anita Bridges Cruzan social work scholarship is Savannah Gray. Gray is a social work major graduating in spring 2021.

“The extra funding has been such a help to me, especially during COVID-19,” Gray said. “It’s a stress reliever to not have to worry about how I’m going to pay for school while I’m taking classes during this strange year. I’m honored to be the first recipient.”

MSU Annual Scholarship Application

When Bridges decided on criteria for the scholarship, she wanted the money to help a student who plans to serve the same communities she has.

“I was a State social worker for 33 years, and it’s important to me that people keep pursuing the kind of work I was doing,” she said. “It’s not easy, but it’s necessary, and it helps you put what’s important in perspective.”

Gray wants to work as a social worker in a children’s hospital, specifically with adolescents struggling with mental illness. Before she gets there, she plans to attend graduate school.

“I think Anita’s career is inspiring,” Gray said. “And knowing I have a scholarship in her name makes me proud and want to work harder as I pursue my career.”

About the scholarship

To be eligible for the scholarship, the recipient must be an undergraduate student majoring in social work, be a graduating senior and must have maintained a 3.0 minimum GPA.

Additionally, priority will be placed on applicants who have a minimum of 40 volunteer hours in the last 12 months with the elderly, HIV/AIDS patients or children with special health care needs.

If students are accepted into the Master of Social Work program, the scholarship can be renewed. Students must reapply.