SENATOBIA, MS (01/11/2018) The Mississippi Board of Nursing Office of Nursing Workforce (MSBN /ONW) recently awarded scholarship funds through the Northwest Foundation to the Nursing Division and Practical Nursing program at Northwest Mississippi Community College. Northwest received $22, 920 in total, which was distributed evenly between the two programs. According to MSBN/ONW, the funds need to be disseminated by May 1.
According to Dr. Denise Bynum, division director of Nursing, during the fall semester, scholarship funds were distributed to seven students who were in their last semester and were graduating in December.
"These funds were disseminated through the Foundation, and we were able to award those seven students cash scholarships, which they used for fees associated with their NCLEX-RN test," Bynum said. (NCLEX-RN stands for National Council for Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses.)
According to MSBN/ONW, in addition to student scholarships, the funds can be used for a variety of things including faculty professional development. "We are not sure what we are going to use our remaining funds for in the spring. We will give out more student scholarships, and may use a portion for faculty development," Bynum said.
Students receiving scholarships in the fall were Shylo McNatt of Water Valley, Tiffany Heard of Horn Lake, Jessica Jones of Oxford, Dee Dee Zaid of Tunica, Kimberly Cross of Horn Lake, Jennifer Powell of Hernando and Ashley Smith of Southaven.
The Associate Degree Program in Nursing provides a foundation in general education and nursing. Upon completion of the curriculum, an Associate of Arts degree is awarded. Graduates of the program are eligible to write the NCLEX-RN. Graduates are prepared to provide nursing services in beginning staff level positions and have potential for advancement on an individual basis.
For more information on the Northwest Division of Nursing, contact Bynum at dtbynum@northwestms.edu or visit the college's website at northwestms.edu.
Pictured: These recent graduates of the Northwest Mississippi Community College Associate degree in Nursing program received cash scholarships from the Mississippi Board of Nursing Office of Nursing Workforce (MSBN/ONW). Pictured left to right are Shylo McNatt of Water Valley, Tiffany Heard of Horn Lake, Jessica Jones of Oxford, Dee Dee Zaid of Tunica, Kimberly Cross of Horn Lake, Jennifer Powell of Hernando and Ashley Smith of Southaven. (Photo submitted)