Funding For Six Native Nurses

With help from Queen’s Health Systems, Kamehameha Schools and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Chaminade University has established a full scholarship program for six Native Hawaiian nursing students.

The grants cover yearly tuition and fees – currently $24,860 – for a full four years for each selected first-year student.

Founded by Henry Gomes during his tenure as director of Native Hawaiian Partnerships at Chaminade, and Dr. Jamie Boyd, Health Programs coordinator at Windward Community College, the program targets native students who would be less likely to afford it. Candidates are referred to the CU nursing school from WCC and from Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center.

The university’s passion is for all students to achieve their education goals, stated Chaminade president Bro. Bernard Ploeger, adding that he’s committed “to providing access for Native Hawaiians to higher education.”

CU enrollment includes nearly 15 percent Native Hawaiian undergraduates, and it receives funding from the U.S. Department of Education. More than 97 percent of the Kaimuki Catholic college’s students receive financial aid.

Having recently earned full accreditation, the nursing program aims to develop highly skilled Native Hawaiian nurses with cultural competency. For details on the grants, call 735-4750.