Foundation Scholarships

Nelson, Vera Nursing

The recipient must be accepted into the College of Nursing and Health Sciences and be a permanent resident originally from Chippewa County who plans to remain in the County after graduation.

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.

By judgment of the scholarship committee, the most compassionate and caring student shall be selected.

Prior to the Nursing scholarship dinner

The College of Nursing and Health Sciences shall notify Mark E. Nelson, Paul A. Nelson and Julie Nelson Hesson, as well as Financial Aids and the Foundation upon the selection of the scholarship recipient. A Scholarship Award Form must be submitted to the Financial Aid Office by Nursing in order for the scholarship to be paid.

Elvira Hanson Nelson was born in 1919 in Hallie, Wisconsin, a small rural area between Eau Claire and Chippewa Falls. Her parents were immigrants of Norway, and she was one of five sisters and a brother. Unusual for the times, her father insisted that all of the girls be educated for a career. Vera received her nursing degree from Luther Hospital as did two of her sisters. She joined the Navy as a nurse, working in Chicago and later in San Diego for her tour of duty in World War II. She returned to the Chippewa Valley to work at a hospital, then the Northern Colony in Chippewa Falls. It is now known as the Northern Wisconsin Center for the Developmentally Disabled. She retired from there in 1983. She married Ernest Nelson, a 1943 education grad and they had three children. Vera was known throughout the community for her kindness and compassionate care of the Colony residents and for her group of elderly acquaintances. She visited many elderly friends in their homes, washed their hair and helped with some basic home health care needs. Her three children wish to reward a compassionate, giving Nursing student that emulates their mother’s life of loving service. Send a thank-you note to the Nelson Family in care of the UW-Eau Claire Foundation Office, S- 214.