College of Health and Human Services Celebrates Strong Year for Student Scholarships

September 8, 2006

By Lori Jennings

Some students in George Mason’s College of Health and Human Services (CHHS) are seeing lighter tuition bills this fall, thanks to a windfall of 2006-07 scholarship money – making this year’s scholarship fund the largest available to students in the college's 30-year history.

“Over the past two years, we have seen a tremendous increase in the amount of scholarship money available to our students,” says Shirley Travis, dean of CHHS.

“Programs in the college prepare students to enter careers that help people and communities. It is rewarding to know that our alumni and friends are supporting students who want to enter careers in health and human services, which are vital to the well-being of our region and where serious workforce shortages exist.”

In all, $84,000 has been raised by the college, both through foundation scholarships and endowed scholarships. The monies will be used to provide 22 students in nursing, social work and gerontology with scholarships ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 for the fall semester.

One student benefiting from this year’s scholarship money is Jeanne Frost, a master’s student in gerontology who received her bachelor's in nursing from George Mason. Frost is the first recipient of the $1,000 Mitchell J. Czoch scholarship for the study of gerontology.

“As an adult learner who is now trying to put her own daughters through college, I cannot express how grateful I am to have been awarded the Mitchell J. Czoch scholarship,” Frost says.

“This award will allow me to concentrate on my studies without having to worry about my finances. My goal is to become a nursing leader, focusing on the health needs of our aging and diverse population. Through the generosity of the scholarship donor, I am that much closer to achieving my goals.”

Additional scholarship donations include the following:

• Annual Alumni and Friends Scholarship – $20,000 (will provide four $5,000 scholarships for students in any program in CHHS)
  
• Spring Scholarship for a Gerontology Student – $1,000 scholarship
  
• Camille Barry PhD Nursing Scholarship – $5,000 scholarship to two PhD nursing students
  
• Lettie Pate Whitehead Foundation – $43,000 (will provide eight $5,000 scholarships and one $3,000 scholarship for undergraduate nursing students)
  
• Dominion Guild Scholarships – $13,000 (will provide two $3,000 undergraduate nursing scholarships and two $2,500 PhD scholarships in January)
  
• Carolyn A. Taylor Scholarship – $1,000 undergraduate nursing scholarship

For information about donating to scholarships, contact Mary-Earle Farrell, associate director, Development Office, at mfarrel1@gmu.edu or 703-993-8640.

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