CentraCare Health and St. Cloud Hospital offer a variety of scholarships. Click on the scholarship for application information.
Held Scholarship
About the Held Scholarship
Dr. William Held was a radiologist at St. Cloud Hospital from 1967 until his untimely death in July of 1988. In memory of his work and interest in education, this scholarship fund was established to help students who have successfully completed their first year of the radiologic technology program at the St. Cloud Hospital School of Radiologic Technology. One student each year is awarded a scholarship. The awards are be made without regard to race, color, creed religion, sex, disability or national origin. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
The Award
The successful scholarship recipient will receive a $500 credit, which will be made to their account at the St. Cloud Hospital School of Radiologic Technology.
Award Criteria
Successful applicants must:
- Be enrolled full time, in good academic standing and completing the first year in the St. Cloud Hospital School of Radiologic Technology Program.
- Plan to continue a second year with the St. Cloud Hospital School of Radiologic Technology Program as a full-time student.
- Submit the required application materials on or before the deadline.
Required training for a current profession, including continuing education credit, is not eligible. Expenses related to certification or licensures are not eligible. A Selection Committee appointed by the CentraCare Health Foundation will determine whether a course of study is eligible.
Application Procedure
The following materials must be complete and returned by the deadline:
- Signed Application Form, download the application form (PDF)
- Letters of Recommendation
- Enrolled full time and completed first year of the program
- Essay
- Resume or Biographical Sketch
- Current Transcript
Letter of Recommendation
Two letters of recommendation to be written by a program director, teacher, counselor, and/or employer of the applicant’s choice. Please write a letter of recommendation for the candidate which comments on his/her leadership abilities, initiative, and why this award would be significant to the applicant.
**NOTE** The Selection Committee uses a blind selection process. Please refer to the applicant as “the candidate” or “the applicant,” etc. Do not refer to the applicant by name except at the top of this page. Thank you.
Linda A. Chmielewski Nursing Scholarship
About the Linda A. Chmielewski Nursing Scholarship
Linda Chmielewski served St. Cloud Hospital for 34 years. Linda was the Vice President of Hospital Operations and Chief Nursing Officer from 1994 – December 2015. Achieving Magnet recognition for the organization in 2004 as the second Magnet hospital in Minnesota is a highlight of Linda’s nursing career. St. Cloud Hospital was again designated in 2009, 2013 and 2017.
The Award
The successful scholarship recipient will receive a $500 scholarship toward tuition. The scholarship will be sent directly to the financial aid office of the school indicated.
Award Criteria
Successful applicants must:
- Be employed, part-time or full-time, as a registered nurse at St. Cloud Hospital;
- Be enrolled in a professional nursing degree program as a sophomore, junior, or senior;
- Demonstrate qualifications through references, work experience, and professional nursing goals and achievements.
Application Procedure
- Scholarship application form (PDF)
- Application and materials must be received by 8 a.m. April 26, 2019.
- Resume or curriculum vitae (include employment history, education history, and community and volunteer work experience)
- Two letters of recommendation (not a relative but a mentor, community leader, instructor, etc.)
- Transcript from the current academic year (transcript must include cumulative grade point average)
- Copy of letter of enrollment into an accredited nursing program
Parish Nurse Class Scholarship
The Central Minnesota Parish Nurse Advisory Committee is offering $250 scholarships for persons intending to work as parish nurses in Central Minnesota.
Conditions of the scholarships include:
- The parish nurse role will be activated within 6-9 months of course completion.
- In a brief letter (one page or less), please address how the above criteria will be met in your parish nurse ministry
- Reside in Central Minnesota or have approval from the Central Minnesota Parish Nurse Ministry Committee Officers.
Please complete and return the
form (PDF) to:
Annette Jesh, BSN, RN, PHN, Faith Community Nurse
Parish Health Ministries Program
CentraCare St. Cloud Hospital
1406 Sixth Avenue North
Annette.Jesh@centracare.comwww.centracare.com/services/spiritual-care/faith-community-nursing/(320) 249-0280
Phil & Evelyn Ruggiero CentraCare Health Volunteer Scholarship
The family of Phil and Evelyn Ruggiero will award scholarships for the upcoming school year to current CentraCare Health Volunteers who are pursuing a college degree or program certification. Payment will be made directly to the scholarship recipient’s school. Award may be given to one or two recipients with the amount varied between $1,000- $5,000 each year.
To be eligible for consideration an applicant must:
- Be an active CentraCare Health Volunteer and have volunteered for at least one year;
- Be a currently enrolled college student in an accredited college/technical institution;
- Be 18 years of age or older and successfully completed at least one year of school;
- Have a grade point average of 2.5 or above;
- Demonstrate involvement in community, school or work activities.
Applications will be taken through April 30, 2019.
Download the application (PDF)
2018-19 High School Health Care Scholarships
St. Cloud Hospital Halenbeck Fund will award scholarships for the 2019 Fall Semester and 2020 Spring Semester for students pursuing a career in health care. Payment will be made in two installments, directly to the successful applicant's school.
To be eligible for consideration, an applicant must:
- Be a high school senior enrolling in a health care-related degree program;
- Have a grade point average of 2.8 or above;
- Demonstrate involvement in community, school or work activities.
Each applicant must:
- Complete the application form. (PDF)
- Attach a list of school, community and work activities, including volunteer work. Please include the activity, years, and any awards received.
- Attach transcript from the current academic year. Transcript must include cumulative grade point average.
- Attach a copy of letter of enrollment into the health care program.
- Attach an essay of no more than two, double-spaced typed pages. The essay should outline the following:
- Applicant's career goals
- Factors that influenced the applicant to choose a health care career.
Application to be postmarked by Thursday, February 1, 2019.
Race and/ Ethnic Diversity Scholarship for Employees or Volunteers at CentraCare Health
The CentraCare Health Race and/or Ethnic Diversity Scholarship is for employees and/or volunteers of CentraCare entities with a race and/or ethnic diversity background and who are pursuing a degree in a health-care related program. Payment will be made directly to the successful applicant’s school.
To be eligible for consideration, an applicant must:
- Have a race and/or ethnic diversity background and be an employee or volunteer in good standing at a CentraCare entity.
- Be enrolled in a health-care related education program.
- Demonstrate involvement in community, school or work activities.
- Have a grade point average of 2.5 or above.
Each applicant must:
- Download and complete the application form. (PDF)
- Attach a list of school, community and work activities, including any volunteer work. Please include the activity, years, and any awards received.
- Attach most recent transcript, which needs to include cumulative grade point average.
- Attach a copy of letter of enrollment into the health-care program.
- Attach an essay of no more than two, double-spaced typed pages telling us about you and your career plans.
If any of the required materials are not provided, the application will be disqualified automatically.
Application to be postmarked by January 30, 2019.
Rosalie Timmers Memorial Scholarship
The family of Rosalie Timmers will award scholarships for students pursuing a career in health care who are current or former St. Cloud Hospital Junior Volunteers (minimum of 50 hours served). Payment will be made directly to the successful applicants' school.
Application and materials to be postmarked by March 1, 2019.
School of Nursing Alumni Scholarship
The St. Cloud Hospital Nursing Alumni Scholarship Fund was established to be an ongoing memorial to the school. The purpose of the fund is to support nursing education and recruitment of viable candidates into the profession through financial assistance.
The scholarship is a competitive process. The criteria for selection of candidates established by the Alumni Board with the assistance of the CentraCare Health Foundation are as follows:
- Those graduates of the St. Cloud Hospital School of Nursing who are seeking to further their education or seeking a specialty degree within the field of nursing
- Family members (children / grandchildren) of St. Cloud Hospital School of Nursing alumni
- Applications will be accepted regardless of geographic location of residence
To be eligible for consideration an applicant must be:
- Enrolled in an undergraduate or technical program in the nursing field
- Maintain a grade point average of at least 3.0
- Demonstrate involvement in alumni association, community and/or school activities
Each applicant must:
- Complete an application form
- Attach a current transcript
- Provide a typed essay that outlines the applicant’s career goals and factors that led to choose a health care career
- Provide two letters of reference
- Application to be postmarked by May 3, 2019.
For questions or more information about the Nursing Alumni Scholarship, please contact the CentraCare Health Foundation at 320-240-2810 or foundation@centracare.com.
St. Cloud Hospital Auxiliary College Scholarship for Employees or Volunteers
St. Cloud Hospital Volunteer Auxiliary will award scholarships once a year for students pursuing a career in degrees required for employment at St. Cloud Hospital. Applications must be postmarked February 1, 2019.
Sue and Terry Pladson Advanced Practice Scholarship
About the Sue and Terry Pladson Advanced Practice Scholarship
Terry and Sue were married in 1969. Terry is a graduate of the University of Minnesota Medical School. He completed Internal Medicine Residency and a Pulmonology Fellowship at the University of Minnesota. He practiced Pulmonology and Critical Care at St. Cloud Hospital July 1978 through December 2002. In January 2003, Terry was selected as President and CEO CentraCare Health and served in this capacity through retirement in December 2014.
Both Terry and Sue received the St. Cloud Tech High School Distinguished Alumni Award and were recognized for their commitment to philanthropic work with a Service to the Foundation Award in 2017 by CentraCare Health Foundation.
The Award
Two successful scholarship recipients will receive a $1,500 scholarship toward tuition. The scholarship will be sent directly to the financial aid office of the school indicated.
Award Criteria
Successful applicants must:
- Be employed, or previously employed at a CentraCare entity (includes hospitals and clinics);
- Be enrolled in an Advanced Practice Program;
- Demonstrate qualifications through references, work experience, and professional nursing goals and achievements.
Each applicant must submit the following:
- Scholarship application form (PDF);
- Application and materials must be postmarked by March 1, 2019
- Resume or curriculum vitae (include employment history, education history, and community and volunteer work experience);
- Two letters of recommendation (not a relative but a mentor, community leader, instructor, etc.);
- Transcript from the current academic year (if available). Copy of letter of enrollment into an accredited program.
Medical Mission Grants
Update: Check back soon for more information on the 2019 application process.
Houle Medical Mission Scholarship
The Houle Medical Mission Scholarship funded by Nicholas and Terese Houle support groups who can help meet the health care needs of people in developing countries including Honduras. Send the completed application to the CentraCare Health Foundation, 1406 Sixth Avenue N, St. Cloud, MN 56303, by Sept. 15 in order to be reviewed.
St. Cloud Medical Fund Mission Scholarship
The St. Cloud Medical Foundation Fund was set up through physicians practicing in St. Cloud to be used for projects coordinated by St. Cloud Physicians that have community benefit and/or to provide modest support for local individuals to perform medical mission work around the world.
An amount is allotted each September through the CentraCare Health Foundation Grants committee to use toward medical mission trips. Send the completed application to the CentraCare Health Foundation, 1406 Sixth Avenue N, Saint Cloud, MN 56303, by Aug. 1 in order to be reviewed. Notice of acceptance will be sent by the end of October.
