Enrollment is open for annual BJC HealthCare scholarship fund

Applications are now being accepted for the BJC Scholars Fund, a scholarship opportunity for college-bound high school seniors who plan to pursue a two- or four-year degree. BJC created the scholarship in response to regional community needs identified by the Ferguson Commission.

In its second year, the BJC Scholars Fund is funded by BJC and administered by The Scholarship Foundation of St. Louis. Scholarships are awarded annually to up to 14 students in communities served by BJC hospitals: St. Louis City, St. Louis County, St. Charles County, Boone County, St. Francois County and Crawford County in Missouri; and St. Clair County and Madison County in Illinois. Scholarships will be renewable through graduation or a maximum of 10 semesters, resulting in 50-60 BJC Scholars being funded each year when the program reaches full implementation.

Each scholarship will be a need-based award of $10,000 per academic year at a public Missouri or Illinois state college or university in the state where the student resides, or at a public university in another state offering in-state tuition reciprocity.

The annually renewable scholarship will be applicable toward tuition, fees, room and board, transportation and incidental costs. The Scholarship Foundation will support students and parents in taking full advantage of other state, federal and institutional funds to which students are entitled, to ensure that the BJC scholarship award enables the complete funding required for full year attendance.

Interested students can access more information about the scholarship criteria and the application on the Scholarship Foundation website: https://sfstl.org/financial-aid/student-loans-grants.

BJC is funding the scholarship program to help increase college access and affordability. The scholarship fund aligns with BJC’s strong advocacy for education, in recognition of the connection between education and improved health and longevity.

“BJC is at heart a health-care organization. We are also the St. Louis area’s largest employer and are actively engaged with our community,” says Rich Liekweg, BJC president and CEO. “We know statistics and studies show there is a very strong connection between higher education levels and better health outcomes. By creating this scholarship fund, BJC hopes to make an impact in helping young people attain their educational goals and create new opportunities for a brighter and healthier future.”

The Scholarship Foundation provides outreach services to promote the scholarship opportunity and administers all aspects of the application and selection process, as well as ongoing support that includes advising, workshops, financial aid counseling, participation in paid internship programs and additional funding opportunities if relevant.

“Education and – just as important – affordable access to education are critical to set the stage for future success,” says Faith Sandler, executive director of The Scholarship Foundation of St. Louis. “We are pleased to be able to bring this opportunity to high school students in every region where BJC HealthCare has a hospital presence.”

The BJC Scholars Fund submission deadline is April 16. Recipients will be announced in July 2018 for the 2018-2019 academic year.