Respiratory Therapy Scholarships

Specialized Training Earns You A Good Job in Healthcare

Respiratory therapists treat patients who have trouble breathing properly. Most of your clients will have serious lung conditions like asthma, emphysema, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. You will learn how to remove secretions from the lungs, administer respiratory aids like medicated vapor and oxygen, and operate a ventilator.

Respiratory therapists work in hospitals, health clinics, and nursing homes, or travel to clients’ houses in order to provide care. As the American population continues to age, trained therapists will be in ever-increasing demand. The scholarships you see below represent a sample of the financial aid available for this type of professional education.

Scholarships From Colleges

State University of New York Upstate Medical University

The State University of New York Upstate Medical University offers four scholarships to students enrolled in the College of Health Professions’ respiratory therapy training program:

• The Robert James Reilly Scholarship is given to a second-year student seeking a Bachelor of Science degree who has both an outstanding academic record and financial need.
• The Margaret Ann Richards Scholarship is intended for students from Oswego County. It brings $2,500 per year to two students, and is potentially renewable for a second year.
• The General Alumni Scholarships go to more than twenty students every year, and criteria include scholastic achievement, leadership ability, financial need, and enthusiasm for the profession.
• The Ken George Scholarship Fund is sponsored by a retired instructor.

Georgia State University

The Byrdine F. Lewis School of Nursing and Health Professions at Georgia State University provides the following scholarships to its respiratory therapy students:

• The Daniel J. Sansone Memorial Scholarship is reserved for undergraduates who want to specialize in respiratory therapy for children. Your GPA must be at least 3.0, and if you have financial need that will be considered.
• The Northside/St. Joseph’s Hospital Scholarships go to juniors and seniors. One award is given for financial need and the other for academic success.
• The Marshall L. Bowie CHHS Scholarship in the amount of $2,000 is handed out based on scholastic achievement, financial need, service to the community, and participation in school activities.
• The Lettie Pate Whitehead Scholarship is for women from Southern states. You must have a good academic record and be able to show financial need.

North Dakota State University

The Respiratory Care division of North Dakota State University’s Allied Sciences program offers a number of scholarships to its students. Here are three of your choices:

• The Dean’s Scholarship goes to an outstanding student who displays leadership and participates in activities outside class. The award is for $1,000.
• The Lambda Beta Scholarships (four of them at $500 each) are given to students who excel at academics.
• The Morris Opp Scholarship, awarded to AARC/NDSRC members, is funded by the North Dakota Society for Respiratory Care (NDSRC).

Scholarships From Private Organizations

American Respiratory Care Foundation

The American Respiratory Care Foundation, which is the philanthropic arm of the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC), has established six Education Recognition Awards for undergraduates learning respiratory therapy. All of them include a certificate and payment of expenses for attending the annual AARC Congress. Here are details on each of them:

• The Morton B. Duggan, Jr. Memorial Award gives $1,000 to an outstanding student, and those from Georgia and South Carolina receive preference.
• The Jimmy A. Young Memorial Award is similar, but gives preference to minorities.
• The NBRC/AMP William W. Burgin, Jr., MD and NBRC/AMP Robert M. Lawrence, MD Awards are both in the amount of $2,500. The Burgin goes to a second year student pursuing an associate degree, and the Lawrence to a third or fourth year student in a baccalaureate program.
• The NBRC/AMP Gareth B. Gish Postgraduate and William F. Miller, MD Postgraduate Awards both provide $1,500 to a graduate student with a GPA of at least 3.0.

Massachusetts Society for Respiratory Care

The Massachusetts Society for Respiratory Care, which is affiliated with AARC, distributes scholarships to both undergraduates (seven awards of $1,000 each in 2012) and graduate students (three $1,500 awards). You will need to contact the group for further information on how to apply.

Virginia Society for Respiratory Care

The Virginia Society for Respiratory Care, which was founded as a regional branch of the AARC, also provides financial aid for students seeking to enter the profession. The Leslee Harris Smith Scholarship benefits an actively licensed Respiratory Care Practitioner in Virginia. You must belong to the AARC/VSRC to apply and submit both a cover letter and a PowerPoint presentation describing your qualifications for the award.