Formed in 2006, the Southside Health Education Foundation (SHEF) is a 501(c)3 charitable organization serving Petersburg and the surrounding region. SHEF’s mission is to advance educational opportunities for students pursuing a career in the healthcare industry through the receipt and distribution of educational scholarships and funds to be used for tuition and other related educational expenses. By supporting the region in this way, SHEF plays a critical role in improving the lives of residents through access to education; improving the overall health and quality of life for the region by expanding the number of health care employees; and improving the economic vitality and future of the region by developing a skilled workforce.
In accordance with the wishes of Victor Lavenstein, scholarships from the Louise W. Lavenstein Scholarship Fund will be awarded according to the below criteria.
Implementation:
- SHEF Scholarship Committee and/or Board will meet to determine the number of scholarships to distribute based on the fund’s performance.
- SHEF will promote the availability of the scholarship to nursing students enrolled at Southside College of Health Sciences (SCHS) and have a current GPA of 2.0 or higher.
- Interested students must complete and submit the SHEF Application for Financial Assistance found on the SHEF website. Applicants must submit a copy of their driver’s license or other form of government ID.
- Interested students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and submit the Student Aid Report (SAR) with their application.
- The SHEF Scholarship Committee will review applications and recommend candidates to the SHEF Board of Directors.
- Applicants will be notified of decisions via the US Postal Service or through electronic mail.
- Prior to the release of funds, students will be presented information regarding repayment of scholarship if the student falls below the 2.0 GPA or cancels enrollment from SCHS.
Awarded to:
- Rising senior of Southside College of Health Sciences Nursing Program who is a resident of the SHEF service region.
- Student who has demonstrated exceptional ability.
- Recipients of this scholarship are required to obtain employment within the SHEF Service Region upon graduation and maintain employment within the service region for a minimum of two (2) years.
The Louise W. Lavenstein Scholarship Fund will be awarded annually for the minimum amount of $600.
Approved by the Board of Directors, October 22, 2012.