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 2019 Recipients
Joquel Yanabah Begay Haudley
Navajo
Utah State University Eastern Blanding
Degree – MS Public Health
Nicolette D. Corbett
Orutsararmiut, Yupik
University of Alaska, Anchorage
Degree: BS Nursing
Jordan Brooke Crissler
Turtle Mountain Chippewa
University of Mary
Degree: BS Nursing
Rhea Neachet Decoteau
Turtle Mountain Chippewa
University of Arizona
Degree: PhD Nursing
Kyle Anthony Durrant
Yakama Nation
John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Degree: MS Nursing
Kate Shelerud Eskuri
TRIBE?
University of Minnesota
Degree: Dr. in Nursing Practice, Women’s Health and Integrative Health
Amber Sara Hopkins
Hughes Village (Alaska Native)
University of Southern California
Degree: MSN
Zoe MacKenzie Harris
Mashpee Wampanoag
Northeastern University
Degree: BS Health Science
“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
