Charles Hamlin Scholarship Grant

Charles Hamlin Scholarship Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Nurses Educational Funds Inc.
Last Updated: March 25, 2026

Summary

The Charles Hamlin Scholarship, established by Nurses Educational Funds, Inc., supports professional nurses pursuing master's or doctoral degrees in nursing. Applicants must hold a current RN license and demonstrate a commitment to nursing leadership, particularly in orthopedic care and the well-being of Native American communities. The scholarship honors Dr. Charles Hamlin's legacy, emphasizing the importance of cultural sensitivity in healthcare and preventing burnout among healthcare professionals. This award aims to empower future nursing leaders and enhance diversity in the field.

Overview

Note: Applicants MUST have a minimum of two semesters of study remaining after notification of award in early June (i.e. summer and fall; fall and spring).NEF Scholarships are awarded directly to the successful applicants and not to their college or university. Nurses Educational Funds Nurses Educational Funds, Inc. depends solely on donations to advance our only mission, to promote nursing leadership through annual scholarship support for professional nurses seeking masters and doctoral degrees in nursing education, practice, research, and administration. NEF’s only purpose is to provide nursing scholarship assistance to make graduate level nursing education possible. NEF is one of the largest, national, private, professionally endorsed source of funds for advanced nursing study with over one hundred years of service to and for professional nursing. NEF is a non-profit organization with 501(c) status. Charles Hamlin Scholarship Dr. Charles Hamlin, was a renowned orthopedic surgeon specializing in surgery of the hand, had outstanding training at Roosevelt Hospital, Hospital for Special Surgery, and the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Columbia University in New York. Dr. Hamlin attributed his ability to form trusting relationships with his patients due to his study of the humanities and having undergone a full Freudian analysis, thereby able to sense the messages that patients try to send but are not verbalizing. Dr. Hamlin was honored by The American Society for Surgery of the Hand with the Volunteer Service Award and by the Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS) with the Humanitarian Award for providing years of expert care to the Navajo Nation - all at no cost to the patients. For this work, he was also presented with the Navajo Indian Health Service Directors Award. Dr. Hamlin was inspired to create this nursing scholarship in honor of Mary Vass, RN. As a high school student, she came into the Hamlin home to help in the care of the three young children. At that time, Dr. Hamlin’s Father was in the Pacific Theater during WWII for over three years. Later, Dr. Hamlin’s Father provided funds for a nursing degree for Mary Vass and she enjoyed a long career in nursing in Boston, MA. This award underscores the importance of the study and care of people of diverse cultures; the specialty of orthopedic nursing care; and the prevention of burnout for all healthcare professionals.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. General RequirementsThe following requirements must be met by ALL applicants:Current RN license/Registration with current expiration date, from any state within the USA RequiredCurrent national professional nursing association membership with a current expiration date – such as the American Nurses Association, or specialty organization and/or evidence of international honor society membership (Sigma Theta Tau International).You will be asked to upload a copy of your membership card.Proof of current citizenship or legal residency status, such as:United States Passport (biographic page) with current expiration dateBirth CertificateNaturalization Certificate from the USCISPermanent Resident (Green) Card with current expiration date Specific RequirementsMaster’s degree applicant must haveCompleted a baccalaureate degree in nursing (or the equivalent requirement if enrolled in an “entry” level Master’s program).Enrolled either full or part-time in a professionally accredited nursing program.Completed at least 12 graded credits (pass/fail & satisfactory credits are not counted) of the master’s program at the time the application is submitted.Maintained a minimum GPA of 3.6.Doctoral degree (PhD, DNP, DNAP, EdD) applicant must have:Completed a bachelor’s and master's degree.Enrolled either full or part-time in a professionally accredited nursing program.Completed at least 12 graded credits (pass/fail & satisfactory credits are not counted) of the program at the time the application is submitted.Maintained a minimum GPA of 3.6.Accelerated BSN to Doctoral (PhD, DNP, DNAP, EdD) applicant (includes student without a master's degree in nursing)Enrolled full or part-time in a professionally accredited nursing program.Completed 40 graded credits (pass/fail & satisfactory credits are not counted) of the program at the time the application is submitted.Maintained a minimum GPA of 3.6. Accredited Graduate Nursing Programs including but not limited to master's or DNP nursing programs, are those programs that are accredited by the following:Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN); Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE); Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCC); New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE); or other recognized American Nursing College or School of Nursing Accrediting bodies. A Nursing Program is defined here as:A graduate (master’s or doctorate) nursing program that is in a Department/School/College/University of Nursing granting graduate nursing degrees.If the applicant is enrolled in a dual degree program, one of the dual degrees must be in graduate (master’s or doctorate) nursing, granted by a nursing department/school/college/university and both of the degrees must be awarded simultaneously at the end of the program. An articulation agreement within the university or between two colleges in which degrees are given at different completion dates are ineligible (both of the degrees must be awarded simultaneously at the end of the program).

Ineligibility

A student in post-graduate certificate program is not eligible for an NEF Scholarship