New Financing Plan Available for RN Refresher Students

We are excited to announce a new option for financing education and covering life expenses while enrolled in the NC AHEC RN Refresher Program. The Forward Fund helps students enrolled in the NC AHEC RN Refresher Program cover their cost of attendance and living expenses with a 0% interest loan, so you can focus on your training and upskilling and make no payments for up to 36 months.

If you are interested in learning more about this funding opportunity, please click here and reach out to the RN refresher coordinator at the regional AHEC for your county to obtain additional information and access to the loan application.

Scholarship Opportunities

Dogwood Health Trust

In 2019, Mission Health System sold, creating Dogwood Health Trust as a new, independent entity to carry on the commitment and compassion of the Little Flower Mission. Today, Dogwood’s team carries that spirit into its work to address the upstream factors that influence the wellbeing of individuals, families and communities in Western North Carolina: housing, education, economic opportunity and health & wellness. If you reside in the Mountain AHEC region and are interested in learning more about this opportunity, reach out to Tonja Schroder.

Elizabeth M. Pabst AHEC RN Refresher Student Support Fund

This fund supports adult students who may have held nursing credentials and licensure in the past and are seeking licensure as an RN in the State of North Carolina. This endowment fund supports a student in need attending the AHEC RN Refresher Course every year at free or reduced cost. This fund was created in memory of Elizbeth M. Pabst in recognition of her dedication to supporting her family and nurse education and training. If you reside in the following counties, please reach out to the regional AHEC coordinator: Wake County – Kathy Clark; Harnett County – Tonja Teter; and Edgecombe, Nash, or Wayne County – Lisa Renfrow.
Applications will be available Fall of each academic year.

Robert A. Ingram Institute for Equitable Health Scholar Program

This is a scholarship initiative for the NC AHEC RN Refresher Program sponsored by the Ingram Institute to support nurses returning to inpatient acute care nursing at UNC Health. Applicants must demonstrate a commitment to practicing in acute care in rural and underserved communities in North Carolina, specifically at a UNC Health entity in one or more of the following counties: Durham, Edgecombe, Franklin, Granville, Halifax, Johnston, Lee, Nash, Northampton, Person, Vance, Wake, Warren, or Wilson. The program offers $2,000 towards program costs, priority placement for a clinical rotation in a UNC Health rural, acute care setting, mentorship support, resume and interview preparation, and guaranteed interviews with up to three UNC Health units in the qualifying counties. If you reside in the following counties, please reach out to the regional AHEC coordinator: Franklin, Granville, Johnston, Lee, Vance, Wake, or Warren County – Kathy Clark; Durham or Person County – UNC SON Office; or Edgecombe, Halifax, Nash, Northampton or Wilson County – Lisa Renfrow.