Foundation Scholarships

Lopas and Cicenas Family

The recipient must be a sophomore nursing major with financial need accepted into the College of Nursing at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. Additional preferences include single parents and Wisconsin residents. Special consideration will be given to applicants from widely diverse backgrounds. The award is renewable for up to two years if the nursing student maintains all standards and requirements as established by the College of Nursing and continues as a nursing major at UW-Eau Claire. Should the recipient change majors after receiving the award the donor has the right to cancel the scholarship and have it be awarded to another qualified UW-Eau Claire nursing major. It is the donors’ intention to assist students who are trying to improve their economic status. As such, they would not want this scholarship to be awarded to a student who already has a college degree beyond the associate’s degree or who has an RN degree.

Application Forms - Students who are admitted to the nursing program at UW-Eau Claire will receive an email in February when the scholarship application is ready and available. The email will include the path to the online application forms – (http://www.uwec.edu/nurs/ on the bottom of the page under HOT LINKS). The forms are filled out and submitted on line, AND a hard copy must be printed off and submitted along with a written essay to the Dean’s Assistant Office, Nursing 277, by the deadline. Written essay - each application must include one written essay in not more than 200-300 words stating why you believe you should be awarded each of the scholarships for which you are applying. The essay must address the eligibility criteria for each of the scholarships that you are applying for. The criteria are listed on the scholarship website http://www.uwec.edu/finaid/aid/FDNscholarships.htm. Financial Need – For scholarships that indicate “financial need required” a FAFSA Financial Aid form must be filled out and there must be some level of financial need. Contact the Financial Aids office for the form at 715-836-3373. Please apply for financial aid by March 1.

The Nursing Scholarship Committee will select the recipient.

Prior to the Nursing scholarship dinner

The Dean of Nursing and Health Sciences will send notification to the recipient by letter and submit a “Scholarship Award Form” to the Financial Aid Office.

The intent of establishing the Lopas and Cicenas Family Scholarships is to support nursing students who demonstrate great abilities in the nursing field throughout their educational journey at UW-Eau Claire. Recognizing the value of strong medical care and critical need to help meet the nursing shortage, Gene Lopas and Arlene Cicenas-Lopas established the Lopas and Cicenas Family Scholarships in 2005. The recipients should send a thank-you note to Gene Lopas and Arlene Cicenas-Lopas in care of the UW-Eau Claire Foundation Office, Schofield Hall 214.