The Mary Mahoney Professional Nurses Organization (MMPNO), a local non-profit organization that provides financial aid and scholarships to students who are pursuing careers in professional nursing, awarded twelve scholarships to nursing students during their 2018 scholarship awards luncheon last Saturday in Seattle.
The organization named in honor of Mary Eliza Mahoney, the first colored graduate nurse in the United States, has provided financial support to students of African heritage who are perusing a career in professional nursing for over 60 years.
This year, the organization awarded scholarships to three students who are earning advanced practice nursing degrees — Manaye Utaile (Seattle University), Jamilia Sheris (Thomas Jefferson University) and Nueka “Jessica” Iwuoha (University of Washington).
In addition, they awarded scholarships to two students who are earning their AA Degrees in nursing — Sharran Wallace (Renton Technical College) and Rebeccah Njenga (Clover Park Technical College.
Seven of the awardees are earning Bachelors Degrees in Nursing, including two University of Washington nursing students – Habibo Bario and Elizabeth Gebretsadik. The other scholarship awardees, who all attendSeattle University, are Aicha Biaye, Shanell Brown, Julia Mariga, Hodan Omar and Amina Osman.
In addition to scholarships, members of MMPNO provide ongoing community health screening activities, mentor nursing students.
MMPNO Nursing scholarships are awarded annually and all application requirements are posted on their website www.marymahoney.org. Students at all levels who are pursuing a career in professional nursing are encouraged to apply.
