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The application program will be available again in February. Please return then to view the updated Eligibility and Awards for the upcoming academic year! If you are an applicant who would like to discover more scholarship opportunities you might qualify for, please continue to the Scholarship America Hub and sign up!

St. Elizabeth Health Foundation Scholarship Program
Application status: Closed

St. Elizabeth Health Foundation is dedicated to addressing health care needs in St. Clair County and Madison County, Illinois by sponsoring health care occupations scholarships to qualified students of that area. Eligibility for individual programs is determined at the sole discretion of the sponsor, and eligible applications are reviewed by Scholarship America’s evaluation team. This scholarship program has been established to assist only students enrolled in a recognized health care occupation program at an accredited institution.

This scholarship program is administered by Scholarship America, the nation’s largest designer and manager of scholarships and other education support programs for corporations, foundations, associations and individuals. Awards are granted without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sexual orientation, age, gender, disability or national origin.

HISTORY OF THIS SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

The Sisters of Divine Providence, an organization of religious Catholic nuns, purchased St. Elizabeth Hospital, Granite City, IL, in 1921, and were the sole sponsor of that institution until January 1, 2002. As the Hospital’s scope of clinical services increased, the name of the institution was changed to St. Elizabeth Medical Center. In the mid-1990s, the Sisters formed St. Elizabeth Health Foundation; the income to be used to support the care of the needy and promote health care.

In 2001, the Sisters of Divine Providence concluded they could not continue to sponsor the Medical Center and sold it to CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc. and the facility is now operational as “Gateway Regional Medical Center”. In August, 2002, the Sisters elected to withdraw as sponsor of the Foundation and it was placed under a Board of Directors consisting of community leaders.

The Foundation joined the Ladies Auxiliary of Gateway Regional Medical Center as a Supporting Organization. In November, 2012, the Foundation recognized the success of its financial portfolio and concluded a more significant and enduring program could be provided. Hence, the Board determined the “It Starts Here Foundation”, a 501 (c)(3) organization, and a subsidiary of Southwestern Madison County Chamber of Commerce, would provide it with a common goal to benefit residents in Illinois Madison and St. Clair Counties.

More than $600,000 in medical scholarships have been awarded since 2013 to students from Madison and St. Clair Counties in Illinois. One scholarship is named in honor of former Congressman Jerry Costello. St. Elizabeth Health Foundation welcomes donations to increase medical scholarships. Such contributions are deductible as a 501 (c)(3) organization.

Visit the St. Elizabeth’s Health Foundation’s Facebook page for more information!

Applicants to the St. Elizabeth Health Foundation Scholarship Program must be residents of Madison County, Illinois or St. Clair County, Illinois, and:

  • pursue a degree at a college or university, or attend an educational institution that provides a program that is acceptable for full credit towards a bachelor’s or higher degree, or offers a program of training to prepare students for gainful employment in a recognized occupation, and is authorized under federal or state law to provide such a program and is accredited by a nationally recognized accreditation agency
  • a scholarship award can only be used for “qualified educational expenses”, which are tuition and fees to enroll at or attend an eligible educational institution, and course-related expenses, such as books, supplies, and equipment that are required of all students in your course of instruction at the eligible educational institution
  • Applicants must be high school seniors, high school graduates or current undergraduate or graduate students or students who were previously enrolled and are returning to school. Applicants must enroll in full-time undergraduate or graduate study for the entire upcoming academic year and must be majoring in a health care occupation

Awards

The Foundation anticipates awarding several scholarships annually, including the Foundation’s Jerry Costello Healthcare Scholarship Award. Annual scholarship awards may be granted up to $15,000. Awards are not renewable, but a recipient may reapply each year. The number of awards and each of their amounts shall be at the sole discretion of the Board of Directors of the Foundation. Applicants shall disclose all other known grants and financial awards to be received for the upcoming academic year.

Recipients, after being advised of the amount of the Foundation scholarship awarded to them, must furnish the Foundation a recent photo and sign that the Foundation may publish their name, photo and amount of their award.

St. Elizabeth Health Foundation reserves the right to review the conditions and procedures of this scholarship program and to make changes at any time, including the right of termination of the program.

Awards are for undergraduate and graduate study.

Selection of Recipients

Scholarship recipients are selected on the basis of:

  • Academic performance
  • Demonstrated leadership and participation in school and community activities
  • Work experience
  • Statement of goals and aspirations
  • Unusual personal or family circumstances
  • An outside appraisal

Financial need is not considered.

Selection of recipients is made by the St. Elizabeth Health Foundation Board of Directors. All applicants agree to accept the decision as final.

Notification

Applicants will be notified in early June. Not all applicants to the program will be selected as recipients. Students may reapply to the program each year they meet eligibility requirements.

Payment of Scholarships

Scholarship America processes scholarship payments on behalf of St. Elizabeth Health Foundation. Payment is made in August.

As part of your application, you must upload the following:

  • A current, complete transcript of grades. Grade reports are not accepted. Transcripts must display student name, school name, grades and credit hours for each course and term in which each course was taken.
    • Applicants currently or previously enrolled in college or vocational-technical school must include all college or vo-tech transcripts of grades from each school attended.
    • Applicants who have completed less than one full term of postsecondary education must include a high school transcript of grades.
    • Applicants who have completed less than one full term of postsecondary education and who did not graduate from high school but have taken the General Educational Development (GED) test must provide a copy of their GED certificate and test scores.

One online recommendation form must be submitted on your behalf no later than April 18, 2023 3:00 pm Central Time.

Your application is not complete unless all required materials are submitted electronically.

St. Elizabeth Health Foundation has partnered with Scholarship America. Selecting the button below will redirect you the Scholarship America Student Hub!