NDSU nursing student Emily Zikmund is among the first of 51 nursing students to receive a national scholarship from the COVID-19 Nursing Student Fund. Launched in April to remove barriers to new nurses entering the workforce, the Foundation for Academic Nursing created the program to help nursing students nationwide during the pandemic complete their degree program.

Zikmund, who lists Pisek, North Dakota, as her hometown, is the first North Dakota student to receive the scholarship from among 2,800 applications nationally. She is a student in the pre-licensure BSN program at NDSU.

"As a community of academic nursing leaders, we believe that it is critically important to support nursing students," said American Association of Colleges of Nursing president and chief executive officer Deborah Trautman. "Now, more than ever, we need a robust supply of nurses available to combat today's pandemic as well as future threats to our nation's public health and safety."

Nursing students from all 50 states and the District of Columbia were chosen for support following a competitive application process. Students selected will receive $500 awards to help support completion of their nursing programs or meet life expenses. Priority was given to entry-level students in baccalaureate and master's degree programs in the final two semesters of their nursing programs.

The Foundation for Academic Nursing is the philanthropic arm of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing. The foundation created the program to help nursing students nationwide who are facing challenges as a result of the pandemic and can benefit from assistance to complete their degree programs.

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