Barbara May Scholarship for Nurses

Award Amount: $5,000 in scholarship awards available; applicants may apply for up to $5,000. The number of awards and amounts will be determined by available resources and selected awardees.

Geographic Scope: New Jersey residents only

Focus Areas:

• Public/community health
• Perinatal health
• Nursing education

Background

Established in honor of Barbara May, RN, MPH, a respected pioneer in South Jersey's public and perinatal health who served as the longest-tenured staff member of The Cooperative from 1985 to 2023. Barbara earned her Bachelor of Science in nursing from Duke University (1975) and Master of Public Health with focus on Public Policy from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (2004).

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must:

• Be 18 years old or older
• Be a resident of New Jersey with commitment to a nursing career in the state
• Be enrolled in or have applied/been accepted to an accredited university or college nursing program
• Have a minimum GPA of 3.0

Additional Notes:

• Employees, board members, and immediate family members of The Cooperative and Family Health Initiatives are eligible to apply but will not receive preferential consideration
• This is a one-time award; awardees may not re-apply or be considered for additional financial scholarships from this program after receipt
• Non-discrimination policy: All qualified candidates welcomed regardless of abilities, age, race, ethnicities, gender identities, sexual orientations, religious and political beliefs, socioeconomic status, educational levels, military/veteran status, or other characteristics

Award Details

• One-time scholarship award
• Decisions determined by the Barbara May Scholarship Review Committee
• Recipients announced at The Cooperative's Annual Meeting (typically April)

Application Requirements

Applicants must submit an online application with the following materials:

Personal Information:

1. Applicant's name, address, phone number, email address, date of birth

Academic/Professional Materials:

1. Applicant's resume/CV
2. Applicant's official transcripts/academic performance
3. Proof of enrollment/acceptance in an accredited university or college nursing program

Written Statements:

1. Personal statement and commitment to nursing in New Jersey (maximum 500 words)

Recommendation Letters:

1. One (1) letter of recommendation on official letterhead from an academic or professional reference
   • MUST be on official letterhead
   • Should be specific to this scholarship opportunity
   • Must be addressed to the Barbara May Scholarship Review Committee

Application Process

• Complete online application
• Submit all required materials by application deadline
• Applications reviewed by Barbara May Scholarship Review Committee
• Awards announced at The Cooperative's Annual Meeting

Questions

For questions or technical difficulties with the online application, email: Scholarship@thecooperative.org