Scholarships for Health Profession Students
The only way to apply for any of the Health Profession’s scholarships is through the MSU online application system. Any degree seeking student at MSU Denver can apply including Dreamers and International students for scholarships. Not all scholarships require a FAFSA and or a DIAA form, but we strongly encourage all students to complete the relevant form to increase their chances of eligibility. For more information about MSU Denver scholarships click here.
Health Professions Scholarships
Health Professions Department “Rising Star” Scholarship
Submission Deadline: March 1st
The Rising Star Scholarship is an award for students showing initiative, enthusiasm, and potential for future success in Metropolitan State University of Denver’s Health Professions (HEP) Department. It is the intent of the Rising Star Scholarship to be able to support students in their pursuit of becoming passionate professional in their field of study. Each program in HEP has the opportunity to provide one student with the Rising Star Scholarship.
Criteria:
- By meeting the University’s Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) requirements and cannot be in default or owe any refund/repayment of federal, state or institutional aid.
- Have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or greater
- Be a Master of Health Administration student OR a Health Profession undergraduate major
- Be enrolled in a minimum of 12 credit hours (6 credit hours for graduate students)
- Required to submit a 500-word essay addressing the following: Describing the lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. Perhaps it was a time when you were under pressure to make a significant decision. Explain the situation and the reason you acted as you did. How did it affect you, what was the impact of your action(s)? Would you make the same decision again today?
The Dr. Linda B. White Endowment
Submission Deadline: March 1st
The fund is established to encourage the pursuit of graduate level education among students in the Integrative Health Program (“IHP”), or a substantially identical program known by a different name, by offering financial assistance to those students in the IHP program with plans to pursue a master’s degree or doctorate after graduation. From 2004 to 2014, Linda B. White, M.D. taught in the Integrative Health Program. She developed the following classes: Botanical Pharmacology, Herbal Medicine, Stress and Sleep Science, and Writing for the Health Professions. She also revised Physiology of Aging and Holistic Pediatrics. She wrote a textbook now used in Dynamics of Health (Health Now: An Integrative Approach to Personal Health). Her magazine articles and books she coauthored (Kids, Herbs, and Health and The Herbal Drugstore) have been used as required reading in other courses. Her husband, Charles White, is an attorney with a strong interest in integrative medicine. Jeremy Jie Bird Casey, D.O. and Annaliese Marie Stone, D.O. are Metropolitan State University of Denver alumni. Both majored in what was then called Integrative Therapeutic Practices. In 2009, they fell in love on an independent study abroad program of traditional Chinese medicine in Xianyang, China. In 2011, Jie won the President’s award and was class valedictorian. That year, the couple married and began medical school at Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine in Parker, CO. They graduated in 2015 and moved to Ellensburg, Washington for their family medicine residency. While at MSU, Dr. Casey and Dr. Stone received several scholarships. Their appreciation for that financial support, belief in the Integrative Health Program, and passion for health care led them to establish this scholarship in 2014—an act that coincided with the Whites’ own desire to establish an endowment for the same purposes
Criteria:
- Be in compliance with MSU Denver’s Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) requirements and not be in default or owe any refund/repayment of federal, state or institutional aid
- Complete the MSU Denver Office of Financial Aid Scholarship Application.
- Be a junior or senior
- Submit an essay 250 to 500 words in length elucidating the applicant’s plans to obtain an advanced degree and expressing how the applicant will use that education to benefit others
- Submit a current Degree Progress Report with the essay
- Have declared a major in Integrative Health or Integrative Health Extended and express a genuine desire to continue his or her education at the graduate level
- RENEWAL: A junior-level recipient may apply to receive the scholarship again for his/her senior year.
Guldman-Strauss Endowment
Submission Deadline: March 1st
To assist a Metropolitan State University of Denver student majoring or minoring in Integrative Therapeutic Practices who have financial need. Henry Strauss is a pharmacist and real estate investor. He has a strong interest in the integration of all the medicines of mankind. He was one of the early progenitors of the integrative medicine program at Metropolitan State University of Denver. He contributed many of the Auraria library books which are used by students taking these courses. Also, he started with twenty books and built the Florence Strauss Indigenous Medicine Collection now known as the Strauss-Wisneski Collection. It is housed at the library of the Colorado University Health Science Center. This now has over twenty-four hundred books on alternative and indigenous medicine from all over the world. Henry also has a deep and abiding interest in the University, serving on the Foundation board in many capacities from 1988 to 2010.
Criteria:
- A minimum cumulative or transfer GPA of 2.0
- Have declared a major or minor in the Integrative Therapeutic Practices Program
- Have financial need, based on FAFSA and the University’s Office of Financial Aid
- Be a sophomore, junior or senior
- Provide an essay of no more than 250 words about reasons for his/her interest in integrative therapeutic practices and plans after graduation
Karen L. and Robert H. Eckhoff Endowment
Submission Deadline: March 1st
The Fund is established to provide financial support to students pursing degrees or certificates in Integrative Health Care and Nutrition and Dietetics.
Karen and Robert took courses at MSU Denver in the 1980s while working full time. Robert took various computer courses to help him in his work with the U.S. Government. Karen, who was working as a Registered Medical Technologist at Presbyterian Medical Center in Denver, decided to go back to school to pursue a degree in Accounting. She continued to work and take courses at MSU Denver for 6 years, and graduated in December 1986 with a B.S. Degree in Accounting. While at MSU Denver, Karen earned a scholarship each semester based on her GPA. This assistance toward completing her degree helped her attain employment and a successful career with the U.S. Government.
Summary of Karen’s U.S. Government Career: After graduation, Karen went to work for the IRS in Denver, and passed the CPA exam in 1989. After working 3 years with the IRS, she transferred to the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA), a federal agency, where she started as a federal credit union examiner tasked with examining U.S. credit unions to ensure they were operating in a safe and sound manner to maintain their federally insured status. Due to her willingness to take on unique problems, the high amount of travel and relocation to other parts of the country, she rose in the senior management structure of NCUA, and retired in 2014 after 30 years of federal government service. Her MSU Denver education helped her navigate and manage the regulatory challenges governing a continually changing financial services industry, supervise teams of examiners, and work successfully with people in various cultures to achieve outcomes that were mutually desired by NCUA and the regulated credit unions.
Karen and Robert strongly support educational institutions that provide opportunities for students who are dedicated to improving and changing their lives. They are establishing this endowment because they believe in the mission of MSU Denver, are impressed with the growth of programs and community relationships at MSU Denver, and are grateful for the scholarship assistance Karen received while at MSU Denver. In addition, both Karen and Robert strongly believe that people need better knowledge and understanding of nutrition and its relationship to good health.
They are pleased to establish this endowment for degrees and certificates in Integrative Health Care and Nutrition and Dietetics. It is their hope that future health practitioners who attain their education at MSU Denver will become significant contributors to better health understanding and attainment in their communities.
Criteria:
- By meeting MSU Denver’s Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) requirements and cannot be in default or owe any refund/repayment of federal, state or institutional aid
- Have a declared major in Integrative Health Care or Nutrition and Dietetics
- Be a sophomore initially. This scholarship is renewable for two years (three years in total) if the recipient continues to meet the criteria
- Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0
- Be employed at least 10 hours per week while attending MSU Denver.
- There is preference for the recipient to be taking at least 12 credit hours during the semester/s the scholarship is received.
- ASSET students are eligible.
Carol Jensen Endowment
This Fund is established to provide scholarships for students experiencing unforeseeable financial hardships. This scholarship is available to students majoring in Integrative Health Care or Lifestyle Medicine (or any future names of these two programs) and funds will be disbursed to students in hardship situations of last resort when other financial avenues have been explored. Students can only receive one award per fiscal year. Awards will not exceed $500 per request.
Carol Jensen, R.N., M.Ed., created the Integrative Health Care program at MSU Denver which was the first of its kind in the United States. Carol began as a clinical nurse and administrator but found her true avocation in working with, and teaching MSU students. Above all else, she believed in the students in her classes and program, understood that they work extremely hard to put themselves through college, and often struggle to financially complete their degrees. She always said how lucky she felt to work with such intelligent, kind, compassionate students and colleagues at MSU Denver.
Criteria:
- By meeting MSU Denver’s Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) requirements and cannot be in default or owe any refund/repayment of federal, state or institutional aid
- Be enrolled full or part time
- Be a junior or senior
- Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0
- Have a declared major in Integrative Health Care or Lifestyle Medicine (or any future names of these two programs)
- Submit a statement of need that provides a clear and reasonable explanation why additional funds are needed, the amount that is needed, and how this scholarship award will promote the likelihood of their success and/or degree completion.
- This scholarship must be awarded with student retention in mind.
Master of Health Administration Scholarship
External Scholarship Opportunities
Submission Deadline: March 31st
The AUPHA/McGaw Scholarship is available to junior or senior Health Care Management majors. The Foster G. McGaw Scholarship provides financial support to undergraduate students in health administration. Health Professions awards the scholarship to the student/s most deserving of recognition. More than 900 scholarships have been awarded since the program was established in 1975. The scholarship was endowed by Foster G. McGaw, founder of the American Hospital Supply Corporation. McGaw recognized the importance of health administration education and AUPHA’s contribution to the field.
Criteria:
- You must be a junior or senior student seeking a major in Health Care Management at MSU Denver.
- You must have a cumulative GPA of 3.65.
- You must be enrolled in 12 credit hours during the semester of the scholarship.
- Your anticipated graduation date must be Spring 2022 or later.
Be prepared to provide the following when you apply:
- Education/Certifications
- Work History. Identify organization names, dates of involvement, and briefly describe job duties.
- Volunteer activities related to health care. Identify organization, dates of involvement, and briefly describe your duties.
- Other volunteer activities. Identify organization names, dates of involvement, and briefly describe your duties.
- Professional Memberships/affiliations
- Awards and Honors
- Other Activities
- A 500 word essay that includes why you chose this career path, your career goals, and a summary of your accomplishments, strengths and weaknesses:
By submitting an application, you understand that if you receive an award you must maintain standards of academic progress as required by the AUPHA/McGaw Scholarship. Note: previous recipients of this award are not eligible to apply.
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The Department of Health Professions is located:
Auraria Campus, West Classroom #239
Mailing Address
Department of Health Professions
Metropolitan State University of Denver
Campus Box 33, PO Box 173362
Denver, CO 80217-3362
