In May, 1989, the Illinois Association of School Nurses (IASN) and the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) were selected by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE), as the administrative agent, to develop a technical assistance document for the management of students with health impairments in the school setting. Mary Ellen Madden, RN, MS served as Project Director, representing IASN; and Linda Edwards, RN, DrPH, Project Advisor, represented IDPH.

• The first $500.00 scholarship was awarded in 1991. Since 1997, two scholarships have been awarded each year, and the recipients receive a one-year complimentary IASN membership and are invited to attend the Annual Conference with the registration fee waived in addition to the monetary amount.

• Applicants must be registered professional nurses with Illinois licensure, currently enrolled in a Type 73 Certification Program (School Nurse Endorsement) and enrolled in or have made application for entrance into a school nurse internship.

IASN members on the Document Development and Writing Committees were Mary Ellen Madden, Joy Erickson, Susanne Gomez, Judith Gray, Audrey Quinn, Joan Reilly, Rosalie Sherman, and Margaret Winters. IDPH members were Linda Edwards, Carmen DeLay, Corinne Cloppas, and Garnett Shorb. Marjorie Uroche, a principal from the Special Education District of Lake County was also a member of the committees.

Proceeds from the $15,000.00 grant were designated for a scholarship fund to be used to encourage and assist other nurses in their efforts to achieve Type 73 school nurse certification. Continued funding is provided through IASN fundraising activities and donations, which may be sent to:

Marian Myers, IASN Executive Secretary at 1110 White Rock Drive, Dixon IL 61021. Make checks payable to IASN.

Scholarship Award form downloads (under Award category)