Twelve University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB) Nursing Department students were recently awarded $4,000 each through the Arkansas Linking Industry to Grow Nurses (ALIGN) program.
The students include Kennedy Abanihe, Daniel Aondo, Lori Bonnettey, Mariah Debose, Ky’Aria Ginger, Christopher James, Jr., Mikala Jenkins, Jeanine Ralston, Fidaus Razak, Destini Reams, Kayia Tucker and Jacqueline Twumwaah.
Last May, Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Secretary Hugh McDonald, and Cody Waits, director of Arkansas Workforce Connection, announced that $20.4 million in grants would be given to assist 19 Arkansas higher education institutions in training more nurses to address a nationwide shortage.
UAPB received a little over $1 million, according to a press release on the Governor’s website. The website stated that the ALIGN program is designed to upskill nursing professionals, expand nursing apprenticeship programs, and increase nurse educator recruitment and retention.
Dr. Brenda Jacobs, Chairperson of UAPB’s Department of Nursing, said $52,000 was awarded to the junior and senior students. Each student was asked to write a 200-word essay on how the ALIGN scholarship would assist them in becoming a Registered Nurse.
“This was a very precious moment for the department. All students received a $4,000 scholarship to be applied to their accounts only. Some of these students had not registered for the next semester because they did not know how they were going to pay. The awards are a good use of the funds,” Dr. Jacobs said.
UAPB nursing students say that the scholarship was awarded in the nick of time, providing the necessary funds to assist them in moving forward with their education.
“I am grateful to all those who played a role in my acceptance of the ALIGN Scholarship,” says Twumwaah, a junior nursing student at UAPB. “Upon receiving this scholarship, it went directly into clearing off my balance of $3,200. This helps ease my financial burden, enabling me to focus on my studies. The remainder was used for my miscellaneous expenses (gas and other bills). This scholarship gave me a sense of satisfaction and relief.”
Ralston, a senior nursing student who plans to graduate in May, described her feelings as a combination of both “excitement” and “relief” when she learned that she had received the scholarship. The funds significantly lowered her overall tuition balance, which her family was able to assist in paying off in full.
“My mom retired when I graduated from high school in 2020, so she’s been working really hard to find funds for me. She’s been substituting as a teacher. She retired as an assistant principal. My dad works at a grocery store. They’re both getting older, and I just wanted to try and get some relief for them somehow, some way. And that scholarship was the best way that I could relieve them,” Ralston said.
She explained that nursing schools are “not cheap at the least” and require more of a financial commitment due to the number of vaccinations one must receive and the high cost of textbooks. She said that she worked during the summer months to save up money during the semester so that her mother would not have to worry about giving her money during the first two months of classes.
“I was actually on an allowance every month…$4,000 really helped me a bunch, more than they probably will ever know,” Ralston said. “ALIGN, what that word means to me, is everything is in order for me to graduate and to be successful and have some relief on my parents…I feel like everything is just really coming together. With that extra money, everything really came together full circle. Everything is aligning with my goal, and my goal is to graduate and go within my journey of nursing.”
Dr. Jacobs expressed her gratitude and shared additional insight into the positive impact the funds have had.
“I am sincerely appreciative of the investment from Gov. Huckabee Sanders and the Office of Skills Development in the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Department of Nursing. The funds are allowing us to make improvements in the program and our outcomes. We are growing nurses here at the university,” Dr. Jacobs said.
In a press release, Gov. Huckabee Sanders spoke about the importance of healthcare and nursing.
“As Governor, one of my biggest priorities is preparing young Arkansans for future careers. Healthcare and nursing is one of our primary areas of focus. The 19 2- and 4-year colleges and universities receiving grants today (May 13, 2024) train some of the best nurses in America. Each of them will help us build Arkansas’ next generation of healthcare professionals.”
“Nurses play a critical role in delivering quality healthcare in our state. It is essential that we have qualified nursing professionals to meet Arkansans’ healthcare needs today and in the future,” Secretary of Commerce McDonald said in the press release. “Increasing educational opportunities and apprenticeships is vital for developing the nursing pipeline in Arkansas, and the ALIGN Program will provide funding to support the growth of our state’s nursing field.”
