How many scholarships does the Lancaster County Lions Foundation make each year?

We make two scholarships each calendar year.

What is the Maximum Scholarship amount?

In addition to the $10,000 Maximum Scholarship from RNH Foundation,  the Lancaster County Lions Foundation will contribute up to an additional $2,000, providing those receiving a Lancaster County Lions Foundation Scholarship with a total of up to $12,000!

Duration of Scholarship

Beginning with the Start Date and subject to the other provisions of your Scholarship Agreement, you may draw on your Scholarship for up to two (2) Academic Years.

Is there a limit to how much scholarship money I can receive per semester or per year?

Yes, including funds from both RNH Foundation and Lancaster County Lions Foundation, the scholarship will provide up to three thousand ($3,000) dollars per semester (six thousand [$6,000] dollars per academic year) OR the cost of tuition per semester or academic year, whichever is less. An academic year runs from the beginning of the fall/spring semester until the beginning of the next fall/spring semester.

Can I use scholarship funds for any school or major?

The program, college, or university for which you intend to use scholarship funds must be accredited by the Accreditation Association for the Education of Nurses and/or the Commission on the Collegiate Nursing Education. Any program, certificate, or course of study must be related to nursing. Scholarship funds may be used for a range of certifications or degree paths, from initial GNA/CNA certifications up to and including a Master’s in Nursing (MSN). Currently, we do not offer scholarships for degrees beyond the MSN.

Can scholarship funds be used to pay for all charges from my school?

The Scholarship covers tuition and other course-related fees (e.g., lab fees); costs for room, board, books, insurance, and other non-course-related costs and fees are not covered and will remain your responsibility.

Can the scholarship be used for courses taken during summer and/or winter term(s)?

Yes, subject to the limit per academic year, above, your Scholarship may be used to pay for covered charges for courses taken during the summer term (the period between the end of the spring semester and beginning of the fall semester) and/or winter term (the period between the end of the fall semester and beginning of the spring semester). Again, Scholarship funds paid for summer/winter terms will count towards the limit for the academic year.

When can I apply?

We accept applications each year beginning January 15 through the end of February. All applications must be completed (i.e., both the online application and all supporting documents received by us) by the end of February.

How do I apply?

During the application window, you can click here to begin your application.

What is the application process?

The application process is pretty simple:

• Click here to fill out and submit an application

• Gather and upload the list of required supporting documents listed here

• After all supporting documents have been uploaded, you will be contacted to set up a virtual interview with the Scholarship Review Committee

• Scholarship award decisions will be emailed no later than April 15.

How is my application evaluated?

Your application will be evaluated and scored by three members of the Scholarship Review Committee (SRC) using the rubric below. The SRC is comprised of one member from the Lancaster County Lions Foundation and two members from RNH Foundation. The scoring rubric is weighted to give preference to applicants currently employed in the nursing industry, then to those who are working (or have worked) in a nursing-related capacity and also to current nursing students, then to high school (pending) graduates and those who have earned a GED. To help ensure we are serving those most in need of financial support, we mimic the income guidelines used to qualify low- and moderate-income homebuyers. We use an online tool to determine how your Qualifying Income (see below) compares to the Area Median Income (AMI) for your address of record. If you are claimed as a dependent on someone else’s tax return, the Qualifying Income of that person or persons will be used to determine your eligibility. Instructions for accessing and using the AMI can be found below.

We have a deep connection to our local community, so some preference will be given to applicants residing in the local community, as indicated in the scoring rubric. However, since the aim of the scholarships is to provide more qualified nurses for the health care industry in any location, applications from otherwise eligible persons will be considered, even if they don't live in the immediate area.

Each SRC member will award between 23 and 102 points per application. Each application will be scored and the points awarded by each member will be totaled to yield your application's Total Score, which can range from a minimum of 69 points to a maximum of 306 points. Tie scores between applications will be resolved by giving preference to the application with the earlier submission timestamp.

How do I access and use the Area Median Income lookup tool?

Access the Area Median Income (AMI) tool online at https://ami-lookup-tool.fanniemae.com/amilookuptool/. Input your address of record. Compare your Qualifying Income to the figures on the resulting chart to determine whether you meet the <=50%, >50% to <80%, 80% to <100%, or 100%+ threshold.

For more information, please visit our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ).