Nurse Practitioners of Oregon Scholarship

Scholarship Sponsored by Nurse Practitioners of Oregon

Overview

The Nurse Practitioners of Oregon (NPO) provides a scholarship program to support registered nurses pursuing nurse practitioner (NP) education and NPs advancing their clinical or leadership training. The scholarship, formerly known as the NPO Nanette Clapper Memorial Scholarship, is intended to develop emerging NP leaders and strengthen their connection to NPO and the Oregon Nurses Association (ONA). The award represents a tangible member-funded benefit intended to promote professional growth within the NP community.

Description: The NPO Scholarship supports students enrolled in accredited NP programs and emphasizes leadership development and professional involvement with NPO/ONA.

History: The award was previously named the NPO Nanette Clapper Memorial Scholarship and was reestablished under the current NPO Scholarship name to continue supporting NP education and leadership.

• Supports NP students and practicing NPs pursuing further education.
• Emphasizes leadership development and engagement with NPO/ONA.
• Member-funded and presented annually.

Goals

The scholarship aims to cultivate future NP leaders and to increase value for NPO/ONA members by expanding member benefits. By linking awardees to committee work or leadership roles, the program seeks to foster ongoing involvement in professional organizations. The goals also include promoting professional growth and strengthening the NP community across Oregon.

Goals: Promote leadership development among NP students and increase NPO/ONA membership engagement through tangible member benefits.

• Develop leadership skills among NP students.
• Encourage continued membership and active participation in NPO/ONA.
• Strengthen the NP professional community in Oregon.

Award Amount

The NPO Scholarship provides a single annual award of $5,000. The payment is disbursed to the recipient’s academic institution and is intended for tuition-related expenses. The award is presented at the NPO annual business meeting and educational conference each October.

Award Value: $5,000 awarded to one student per academic year and paid to the academic institution for tuition.

• One award of $5,000 per academic year.
• Funds are paid directly to the recipient’s institution for tuition.
• Presentation announced at the annual NPO conference in October.

Scholarship Criteria

Selection prioritizes leadership experience, professional involvement, and commitment to ongoing participation in NPO/ONA. Applicants must be ONA members in good standing and enrolled in an accredited NP program. Recipients are expected to maintain membership and participate in leadership or committee roles for at least three years after completing their academic goals, and to attend two NPO meetings in the 12 months following the award. Award decisions are based on the application, letters of reference, and may include a personal interview with NPO leadership or a designee.

Eligibility: Applicants must be current ONA members in good standing and enrolled in an accredited NP program; leadership experience and prior/current professional organization involvement are critical selection factors.

Selection and Obligations: Award determination follows review of application materials, references, and possible interview. The awardee will be assigned to a committee or leadership position upon program completion and must attend two NPO meetings (in person or by conference call) within 12 months of receiving the scholarship. The recipient is also expected to present at the following year’s NPO event about how the scholarship supported their academic goals.

• Must be an ONA member in good standing and enrolled in an accredited NP program.
• Leadership experience and professional involvement are required.
• Recipients have post-award participation and presentation obligations.

Application Materials

A complete application includes a detailed application form and three letters of reference, two of which must be professional references and one of those must be from an NPO/ONA member. The application requests prior education and work experience, NPO/ONA involvement, anticipated practice after program completion, NP career goals, previous academic accomplishments, awards/honors, and a personal statement of approximately 500 words describing the applicant’s program and the scholarship’s impact. Reference letters are submitted via a form sent to referees or accessed online.

Documents Required: Completed application with educational and professional history, NPO/ONA experience, practice plans, career goals, academic accomplishments, organizational involvement, awards/honors, and a ~500-word personal statement; plus three letters of reference (two professional; one must be an NPO/ONA member).

• Completed application detailing education, experience, goals, and a 500-word statement.
• Three letters of reference; at least two professional and one from an NPO/ONA member.
• Reference submission form available at www.nursepractitionersoforegon.org/scholarship-reference.

Administration

NPO leadership or an appointed designee administers the scholarship program, oversees selection, and manages award disbursement. The scholarship check is written to the awardee’s academic institution and designated for tuition expenses. The administration also coordinates award presentation at the annual NPO meeting and monitors the recipient’s fulfillment of participation obligations.

Administration: Managed by NPO leadership or a designee; disbursement directed to the academic institution for tuition and award presentation is coordinated at the annual conference.

• Program administered by NPO leadership or a designee.
• Funds paid to the recipient’s academic institution for tuition.
• NPO coordinates presentation and monitors recipient obligations.