By MATT PIKE
12 students made up the first class of the Nurses of Scholar program, a program designed to help make going into nursing school more affordable.
Students in the program will have their first and fourth years of nursing school at Missouri Western State University fully paid for by Mosaic Life Care, with the second and third years paid at 50%.
Missouri Western President Elizabeth Kennedy says the costs of nursing school can get up there, so this program is a tremendous help for students
"So, if you think about your books, and fees to have testing done, and fees to buy the scrubs, everything is going to be taken care of them for three full years so that's a huge financial relief for them," Kennedy tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. "And it really gives them the opportunity where instead of worrying about taking out loans or how they're going to pay for it, now they can worry more about working on their academics, working for the hospital, developing the network, learning about the healthcare fields and industry."
Eight of the students come from the area. Students signed an agreement to work at Mosaic while going to school at Western, and for four years after graduating from the university. Students can also work during the summer if they wish
Mosaic Chief Medical Officer Dr. Davin Turner says recruiting those local students is important, because when it comes to recruiting for rural healthcare, it's vital to keep those people here
"Mosaic Life Care provides health care for over 18 counties in northwest Missouri, up into Iowa, Nebraska, and over into Kansas, and to have these local kids come back means they'll most likely settle and stay in these communities, live in the communities, and come here and work for us," Turner tells reporters. "And it's going to only benefit all of us."
One of those students that comes from the area developed a passion for nursing when she started as a lifeguard, Madison Kendall, who recently graduated from Savannah.
Kendall says she applied for the program because once she's out of college, she'll be set for the future
"It will put me in a job, and I will be financially stable enough to get set on my life and my journey further abroad," Kendall says. "Buying a house, everything, I won't be in debt."
And Kendall says it's also important to her that with this program she gets to stay in the area, close to her family and friends
"I feel like being close to home is helpful for me and my mental health, but also I could potentially care for people that are close to me, or like my friends, so staying close to home and helping my community gives me a warm, fuzzy feeling," Kendall says.
Some of the other area schools represented were Central, Lafayette, Bishop LeBlond, and Riverside.
You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.