Agrace Hospice and Palliative Care: High school seniors encouraged to apply for new Minority Certified Nursing Assistant scholarship

Contact: Liz Kopling, Director of Marketing & Communications

Office: (608) 327-7219 Cell: (608) 772-9653

liz.kopling@agrace.org

High School Seniors Encouraged to Apply for New Agrace

Minority Certified Nursing Assistant Scholarship

MADISON, Wis. – Agrace Hospice & Palliative Care today announced the launch of a new Minority Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Scholars Program. The program offers a scholarship opportunity for high school seniors of color to complete their studies toward a Nursing Assistant Certificate at Madison College. It funds CNA education, training and certification, and provides the opportunity for a CNA job with Agrace once the scholar’s certification is complete.

Students selected to participate in the program will receive full tuition, books and supplies as well as hands-on training with Agrace’s clinical staff to enhance the students’ professional and personal development. The cost of the certification exam is also covered.

The Agrace Minority CNA Scholars Program, supported by the Agrace Educational Institute, honors Agrace’s commitment to being an inclusive environment that welcomes diversity. Agrace is a local, nonprofit palliative care and hospice agency offering specialized pain and symptom management and other services to help increase patients’ comfort and reduce their stress during any stage of a serious illness.

“What makes the Agrace Minority CNA Scholars Program different are our networking, mentoring and tuition advancement features, which are all commitments to support both the student’s success and Agrace’s desire to prepare students for leadership roles,” said Alia Dayne, diversity coordinator at Agrace.

“In Wisconsin, minorities make up less than 5 percent of registered nurses. We are growing our diverse employee population by investing in education and encouraging more minorities to enter the health care field.” According to Dayne, studies show that as more minorities become nurses, people in underserved areas get better access to health care.

Full details and the scholar program application can be obtained by calling Alia Dayne at Agrace at (608) 327-7236 or visiting agrace.org/CNAscholarship. The deadline to apply is November 7, 2014.