The American Indian Medical Scholarship Award Program (AIMS) was started by the Pennsylvania Society in 1928 and made a national project by the NSCDA in the 1930s to give students of American Indian descent the opportunity to pursue careers in nursing.
The students are expected to return to work among their people to help improve health care. Some students work on reservations, and others find employment in hospitals in areas largely populated by American Indians. Intended originally to benefit females only, the program has expanded to include males and the career goals now include not only nursing careers, but jobs in health care and health education, as well.
The current goal is to grant a $1,500 scholarship each semester, as long as the student remains in academic good standing. The scholarship money is restricted to tuition and specific academic expenses. To meet the financial demands of their education, many students seek additional government grants and subsidies and maintain part-time jobs.
Scholarship Recipients
- Fall 2022 Recipients
Jodi King
Navajo
Northern Arizona University
Degree – Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Nicole Natachu
Zuni
University of New Mexico
Degree: Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Noellia Davilla
Round Valley Tribes, Yuki
Santa Rosa JC
Degree: Associate of Science in Nursing
Tiffany Blue Diaz
Choctaw
Frontier Nursing University
Degree: Nurse Practitioner
Wyatt Ute
Navajo
University of Arizona
Degree: Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Tatum Begay
Navajo
Mojave Community College
Degree: Associate of Science in Nursing
Emery Fox
Muskogee Creek
Oklahoma State University
Degree: RN
Monique Martinez
Jemez Pueblo
University of New Mexico
Degree: Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Tara Leedham
Choctaw
Eastern Kentucky University
Degree: Advanced Practice, Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Meggan Judge
Cheyenne River Sioux
Alaska Pacific University
Degree: Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences
Kira Alaniz
Paiute
James Madison University
Degree: Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Stacia Fredericks
Navajo
Pennsylvania State University Harrisburg
Degree: Bachelor of Science in Nursing
“Your scholarship will help fund my next career step in obtaining my PhD at the University of Arizona. Earning my PhD will enrich skills needed to expand diabetes programs and projects. There are so many research topics that are needed to better understand diabetes especially in the pediatric and Native American populations. My research in the program will focus on food insecurity and lack of access to safe and effective and safe physical activity resources among Native Americans.”
-Rhea DeCoteau, 2019 Recipient
Click HERE to download the AIMS Application
