Several students in the UCF College of Nursing will benefit from a new $25,000 scholarship made possible by The Hans & Cay Jacobsen Charitable Foundation.
The scholarships will support students in the inaugural class of UCF’s concurrent Associate of Science in Nursing to Bachelor of Science in Nursing program, which will begin in August at Lake-Sumter State College in Leesburg. Each scholarship will help offset the tuition, fees and other costs associated with the B.S.N. courses.
The innovative concurrent program enables students to complete coursework toward a B.S.N. degree from UCF while enrolled in the A.S.N. program at a partner institution. After completing the A.S.N. degree, students can complete their B.S.N. degree with just two additional semesters of coursework, thereby shortening the time it takes to earn the B.S.N. degree. Students must meet the admission requirements of both programs.
Because of the rigorous academic schedule and clinical placements for the concurrent-degree program, students are typically unable to work at outside jobs.
“Scholarship support is a critical component of providing high quality education for this community’s future nurse leaders,” said Jean D’Meza Leuner, dean of the UCF College of Nursing. “These scholarships will not only help alleviate the financial costs of their higher education, but more importantly, they will enable the nursing students to focus on their academic successes.”
The B.S.N. has become the standard level of education expected in the nursing field. The Institute of Medicine’s publication, The Future of Nursing, provides recommendations on how to improve nursing education and practice to meet the growing demands and complexities of the nation’s health-care system. The report states that higher levels of education and training are necessary for nurses to deliver safe and effective health care in this continuously evolving industry.
By partnering with LSSC, the UCF College of Nursing is expanding the availability of the B.S.N. degree to students of Lake and Sumter counties. Launched in 2006, UCF’s concurrent program has been successful at two other partner institutions, Valencia College’s West Campus and Seminole State College’s Altamonte Springs campus. More than 300 nursing students are enrolled in the concurrent programs at these two campuses. Graduates of the program often return to pursue a Master of Science in Nursing.
Teresa Borcheck, board member and president of The Hans & Cay Jacobsen Charitable Foundation, said the board is pleased to continue the legacy Cay Jacobsen established for nurses at LSSC by funding UCF’s inaugural class of B.S.N. students at LSSC.
“Mrs. Jacobsen was a nurse and during her lifetime encouraged many young nurses to advance their education,” she said. “We are excited to know this program will produce highly skilled nurses to serve the residents of Lake and Sumter counties,” she added.
Until now, students in Lake and Sumter counties interested in obtaining a B.S.N. degree would need to first complete their A.S.N. degree at LSSC and then enroll in UCF’s online R.N. to B.S.N. program – which takes 30 credit hours to complete – or travel to one of UCF’s campuses where the B.S.N. program is offered.
With 368 students enrolled, the basic B.S.N. program on UCF’s main campus in Orlando is consistently at capacity. To increase the number of nurses with a B.S.N. degree, the UCF College of Nursing partnered with five state colleges in Brevard, Orange, Seminole, Volusia, and now Lake-Sumter.
“The Hans & Cay Jacobsen Charitable Foundation award presents an opportunity to achieve the IOM’s goal of 80 percent B.S.N. nurses by 2020,” said Maggie Wacker, director of the nursing program at LSSC. “This is a win-win solution for nursing students and the profession at large.”
The foundation is dedicated to helping disadvantaged, underprivileged and at-risk children and young adults receive greater access to education, health care, recreational and cultural programs in Lake and Sumter counties. Created by Cay Jacobsen, the foundation supports programs and organizations that promote the passion and vision the Jacobsens had for their community.
If you would like to support nursing scholarships at UCF through a tax-deductible donation, contact Katie Korkosz at 407-823-1600 or katiek@ucf.edu [1].