Frank Lanza Memorial Scholarship a Blessing for Health Care Students

The United States is in need of health care professionals more than ever before. Between a rapidly aging population and workers retiring faster than they can be replaced, something has to be done, but a new scholarship for health care students may help.

The American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) teamed up with Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, Medical Education Technologies, Inc (METI), and global aerospace and defense company L-3 Communications to launch the Frank Lanza Memorial Scholarship Program, named in honor of L-3’s founder. METI Chairman and CEO Lou Oberndorf created the program in memory of Lanza, a good friend of his, in reference to his leadership and “commitment to charitable causes.” The scholarship program is meant to reward the achievements of students currently pursuing EMT training degrees and nursing degrees at community colleges nationwide.

According to Reuters, the scholarship program “will target part-time, full-time and international students who have completed 50 percent of their course work leading toward achieving an associate degree and who have a demonstrable financial need (certificate students are not eligible to apply).” Although Phi Theta Kappa is one of the scholarship’s sponsors, students don’t need to join in order to apply.

The foundation plans to release up to twenty-five scholarships of $1,000 each during the 2010 academic year. Interested? For more information and downloadable applications, check out the web sites for Phi Theta Kappa and AACC before this year’s deadline, Oct. 15, 2009.

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