Pennsylvania Higher Education Foundation Announces Big 33 Nursing Scholarship Award Program
New partnership to help Pennsylvania students achieve nurse education

Harrisburg, PA - May 12, 2004 - The Pennsylvania Higher Education Foundation held an event today in cooperation with the Big 33 to announce more than 160 winners of the Big 33 Nursing Scholarship Awards Program.

The Foundation, along with PHEAA, which established and administers such programs as the Nursing Loan Forgiveness Program for Healthier Futures and the Nursing Education Grants, found a natural fit in the Big 33 Nursing Scholarship Award Program. The Foundation has agreed to donate up to $80,000 in matching funds to the program.

“The Foundation continues to be focused on reducing the critical shortage of nurses here in the Commonwealth,” remarked Elinor Z. Taylor, President of the Foundation’s Board of Directors. “We are dedicated to providing affordable access to nurse education through grant, scholarship and loan forgiveness programs. The Foundation’s newly established relationship with the Big 33 provides another avenue for assisting nursing students and, as a result, the people of Pennsylvania.”

The Big 33 is well known throughout Pennsylvania for its annual Football Classic and Big 33 Academic Scholarships.

The Big 33 Scholarship Foundation has awarded more than $2,000,000 since 1985 for academic scholarships. All scholarships are non-athletic. "This year we'll award nearly $385,000 in academic scholarships with $160,000 of that being awarded to nursing students in our matching funds program with the Pennsylvania Higher Education Foundation", said Mickey Minnich, Executive Director of the Big 33 Scholarship Foundation. "Being able to reward academic achievement while addressing the nursing shortage helps makes the Big 33 an even more effective way for students to realize a higher education."

Applications for the 2005 Big 33 Nursing Scholarship Award Program will be available at www.big33.org.

For additional information about the Foundation’s initiatives or to inquire about donation opportunities, contact the Foundation office at (717) 720-3961 or visit www.HigherEdFoundation.org.