Mercy Health Foundation Southeast offers scholarships

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (KBSI) – The need for health care providers is greater than ever, but for some promising students’ financial barriers stand in the way of reaching their dream of caring for others.

Mercy Health Foundation Southeast is committed to helping remove barriers for students through its scholarship program made possible through the generosity of individuals and family donors.

“There’s a need for more health care workers. The demand for health care professionals across the country is clearly outpacing the supply of qualified workers,” said Darah Jirkovsky, executive director of Mercy Health Foundation Southeast. “We are so fortunate to have generous donors who recognize this vital need by helping support students as they work toward career goals.”

Students enrolled in programs within the region Mercy Southeast serves will receive preference for these scholarships.

Students must complete a scholarship application, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form, provide two references and an official transcript.

A description and requirements for each scholarship as well as forms and applications are available online at sehealth.org/scholarships. Scholarship applications will be accepted through May 31, 2024.

Since 1962, Mercy Health Foundation Southeast has awarded more than $1.2 million in assistance to local scholars.

These funds have supported the education of more than 1,300 current and future health care works in our region.

Community benefits like these foundation programs are just one way Mercy gives back to its communities.

These community benefits along with the free care Mercy provided, including traditional charity care and unreimbursed Medicaid, combined for more than half a billion dollars of support to Mercy’s communities in fiscal year 2023.