College Awarded $77,087 to Aid Disadvantaged Nursing Students

7/2/2009

The University of Mount Saint Vincent has been awarded a $77,087 grant by the Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA), a division of the office of Health and Human Services. The grant, which was announced this week by the office of Congressman Eliot Engel, will provide scholarships for disadvantaged nursing students. The Mount is an Hispanic-serving and minority-serving institution in the Bronx and has been instrumental in educating nursing students to serve the needs of the surrounding community. The grant is under the direction of Justine Taddeo, Professor of Nursing.

Said Congressman Engel, “Mount Saint Vincent has a distinguished reputation and I take great pleasure in announcing this grant. Over the past two years, Mount Saint Vincent has helped 56 disadvantaged students…to attend college.  This is an investment that will pay itself back many times when these young men and women go out into the world with their acquired knowledge and abilities to help create a better America.”

According to Charles L Flynn, Jr., President of the College, “The University of Mount Saint Vincent appreciates deeply this grant through the Department of Health and Human Services.  Congressman Engel has consistently supported financial aid that helps us to provide educational opportunity for talented students of modest financial means. This economy makes that challenge more urgent. This help could not come at a more critical time.”

Carol Vicino, Director of the Nursing Department at Mount St. Vincent, added, “In this time of an acute nursing shortage, it is indeed fortunate that we have been awarded this grant.”

Nearly 68% of the College’s nursing students are from culturally diverse backgrounds and approximately 67% of the nursing student population is financially disadvantaged, with 40% of the full-time nursing students meeting federal poverty guidelines.   “Because of the award, the College will be able to continue to provide educational experiences into the future,” said Rep. Engel.