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Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health

Public Health Scholarships

Fay W. Boozman Public Health and Community Service Scholarship

To honor his memory and provide support for students in furtherance of their public health education, Dr. Boozman’s family and friends have endowed the Fay W. Boozman Public Health and Community Service Scholarship Fund.  This scholarship is given annually to a MPH student or students (based upon available funding) who demonstrate the greatest potential to further Dr. Boozman’s vision for public health and community service.

Eligibility

Students will be eligible to apply for the scholarship upon meeting the following criteria:

• Currently enrolled in the UAMS College of Public Health (COPH) as a candidate for the MPH degree.
• In good academic standing (3.0 GPA) and have successfully completed a minimum of nine (9) credit hours in the UAMS COPH, but not completing their degree this semester and returning for the Fall semester.
• Not a previous recipient of this scholarship.

David Bourne Public Health Physician Memorial Scholarship

In recognition of a lifetime of achievement in public health policy and the ability to make others want to share in his dreams for better health for all Arkansans, Dr. David E. Bourne’s family and friends endowed the David Bourne Public Health Physician Memorial Scholarship to be awarded to the medical student or resident who exhibits an interest and aptitude in public health policy through study to obtain a Masters in Public Health at the Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health.

Eligibility

Students will be eligible to apply for the scholarship upon meeting the following criteria:

• Currently enrolled in the UAMS COPH as a candidate for the MPH degree.
• Demonstrated interest in public health policy.
• Has an MD or currently pursuing an MD.
• In good academic standing (3.0 GPA) and has successfully completed a minimum of nine (9) credit hours in the UAMS COPH, but not completing their degree this semester and returning for the Fall semester.
• Not a previous recipient of this scholarship.

Edward F. and Carol C. Stewart Scholarship for
Academic Excellence in Public Health

(Not available in 2023)

Dr. Katharine E. Stewart, former Associate Dean of Academic Affairs at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health, and Jada Walker, MEd established The Edward F. and Carol C. Stewart Scholarship for Academic Excellence in Public Health to provide support to an outstanding student’s commitment to achieving academic excellence in public health. 

Eligibility

Students will be eligible to apply for the scholarship upon meeting the following criteria:

  • Currently a degree-seeking student in one of the COPH’s masters or doctoral degree program (MPH, MHA, DrPH, Ph.D.)
  • Completion of at least 18 credit hours towards that degree with a GPA of 3.85 or higher

Dr. Jan S. Richter Health Behavior Health Education Scholarship

Dr. Jan S. Richter served with distinction, honor and integrity as a faculty member in the UAMS Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health’s Health Behavior and Health Education (HBHE) Department. The Dr. Jan S. Richter Health Behavior and Health Education Scholarship was endowed in her honor. The scholarship is given annually to a HBHE MPH student (or students based upon available funding), who demonstrates the greatest commitment, among a pool of nominees, to public health and community service.

Eligibility

Students will be eligible to apply for the scholarship upon meeting the following criteria:

  • Currently a degree-seeking student in the COPH MPH program
  • Completion of at least the MPH core courses (18 credit hours)
  • Formally declared pursuit of the HBHE concentration track
  • Completion of at least 9 hours in the HBHE concentration track beyond the core courses
  • Have a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or higher and be in good standing in the COPH

Neil and Clara Spain Memorial Scholarship

The late Neil and Clara Spain generously established through their estate The Neil and Clara Spain Memorial Scholarship to provide support to a public health student in need who has demonstrated high academic performance in public health.

Eligibility

Students will be eligible to apply for the scholarship upon meeting the following criteria:

  • Currently enrolled in the UAMS COPH as a candidate for a degree in the college of public health (MPH, MHA, MS, DrPH or PhD).
  • Successful completion of at least 18 credit hours towards that degree with a cumulative COPH GPA of 3.5 or higher, but not completing their degree this semester and returning for the Fall semester.
  • Not a previous recipient of this scholarship.

Arkansas Regional Organ Recovery Agency (ARORA) Scholarship

The Arkansas Regional Organ Recovery Agency (ARORA) established the ARORA Scholarship Award to encourage students to consider as part of their career path an advanced degree in public health with a practicum. The public health practice needs are enormous in Arkansas, the nation, and globally.

Eligibility

Students will be eligible to apply for the scholarship upon meeting the following criteria:

  • Currently enrolled as a degree-seeking student in one of the COPH’s masters or doctoral degree programs that has a practicum (i.e., MPH or DrPH).
  • Documented plans (e.g., the completed MPH Applied Practice Experience Registration Form, or the completed DrPH Practicum Registration Form) to conduct the practicum in the upcoming academic year.
  • Preference: students with documented financial need.

James M. Racyznski, Ph.D. and Martha M. Phillips, Ph.D.
Endowed Scholarship

Drs. Raczynski and Phillips were instrumental in establishing the Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health. This scholarship, in recognition of their work and service, was established to encourage students to consider public health as a career path.

Eligibility

Students will be eligible to apply for the scholarship upon meeting the following criteria:

  • Incoming or currently enrolled as a degree-seeking student in one of the selected COPH’s masters or doctoral degree programs (i.e., MHA, MPH, MS, DrPH and PhD).
  • Preference: students with documented financial need.

Marshall Scholarship for Sexual Health and Gender Equity

(Not available in 2023)

This scholarship was established to support students interested in addressing sexual health and gender disparities.

Eligibility

Students will be eligible to apply for the scholarship upon meeting the following criteria:

  • COPH enrolled student
  • Minimum GPA of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale
  • Preference to students with research interests in:
    • Adolescent/emerging adult sexuality
    • Sexual health and development
    • Health disparities among sexual and general minorities – particularly HIV and bullying/discrimination among LGBT youth
  • Students who have held this scholarship previously may reapply each year until they have reached the five (5) semester limit.

Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health Scholarship for Graduates of
Arkansas’ Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU)

This scholarship was established to encourage graduates from one of the four HBCUs in Arkansas to consider public health as a career path.

Arkansas HBCU’s are Arkansas Baptist College, Philander Smith College, Shorter College and the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff.

Eligibility

Students will be eligible to apply for the scholarship upon meeting the following criteria:

  • Incoming MPH student who by the time of enrollment at UAMS is a graduate of one of Arkansas’ HBCU’s.
  • Commitment to, and promise of, achieving academic excellence in their chosen field in the college of public health.
  • Preference will be given to a student who has:
    • Indicated an interest in pursuing either the Epidemiology or Biostatistics MPH track
      AND
    • Has pursued an undergraduate program that emphasizes strong quantitative skills, such as a STEM science, engineering, mathematics, statistics, quantitative psychology, or business
  • Each scholarship is for one academic year. Prior recipients may not be considered for this scholarship during subsequent years. Should a recipient become ineligible, a new recipient may be named using criteria stated above.

Second Presbyterian Church Health Equity Fund Scholarship

This scholarship was established to support MPH students in on-going efforts to reduce racial health disparities in Arkansas.

Eligibility

Students will be eligible to apply for the scholarship upon meeting the following criteria:

  • Students of color who are undergraduate students who can be recruited from area colleges.
  • Commitment to, and promise of, achieving academic excellence in their chosen field in the College of Public Health.

Dr. John Baker Master in Health Administration (MHA) Scholarship

The Dr. John Baker MHA Scholarship will provide tuition awards to MHA students in support of their academic and research efforts to become leaders in the highly complex and changing healthcare system. This scholarship was established in honor of Dr. Baker’s legacy of hard work and service to the healthcare leadership community.

Eligibility

Students will be eligible to apply for the scholarship upon meeting the following criteria:

• Currently enrolled in the UAMS COPH as a candidate for the MHA degree.
• In good academic standing with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5 and having successfully completed a minimum of nine (9) credit hours in the UAMS COPH, but not completing their degree this semester and returning for the Fall semester.
• Not a previous recipient of this scholarship.

The Marshall Dissertation Research Award

Dr. S. Alexandra Marshall, an associate professor in the college’s Health Behavior and Health Education Department, has established this award for doctoral students to encourage them to engage in meaningful research opportunities in public health and to offset expenses incurred during their research studies.

Eligibility

Students will be eligible to apply for the scholarship upon meeting the following criteria:

  • Currently enrolled as a degree-seeking student in one of the selected COPH’s doctoral degree programs (i.e., DrPH and PhD in Epidemiology, Health Promotion and Prevention Research, and Health Systems and Service Research).
  • GPA minimum of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale

Maternal and Child Health Scholarship

The goal of the Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health Maternal and Child Health Scholarship is to increase the number of graduate student trainees who are from underrepresented backgrounds in the maternal and child health field. The scholarship is funded by Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services through the Maternal and Child Health Public Health Catalyst Program.

Eligibility

Students will be eligible to apply for the scholarship upon meeting the following criteria:

  • Currently enrolled in a degree program affiliated with the UAMS College of Public Health (COPH).
  • Be from one or more underrepresented backgrounds as defined by at least one of the following:
    • Underrepresented minority based upon the definition of HRSA (American Indian or Alaska Native, Black or African American, Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, Hispanic );
    • First Generation to attend college – Have/had no parents or legal guardians who completed a bachelor’s degree (see First-Generation and Continuing-Generation College Students: A Comparison of High School and Postsecondary Experiences;
    • Individuals with disabilities, who are defined as those with a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, as described in the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended;
    • Were or currently are eligible for Federal Pell grants;
    • Received support from the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) as a parent or child.
  • Be in good academic standing within COPH.