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Franklin County awards nursing scholarships to local students amid staffing concerns
Summary
Franklin County commissioners and HR staff presented $2,500 nonrenewable nursing scholarships to four local high-school graduates, citing projected nurse workforce growth and local retirements; the county has granted roughly $148,000 in support since 2017.
Franklin County commissioners presented four nursing scholarships to local high-school graduates on the county’s May agenda, highlighting the program as a response to a local and national nursing workforce shortage.
Tiffany Blair, identified in the meeting as the county human resources director, said demand for skilled nursing care in Franklin County is “at a historic high,” citing national figures that project 5–6% growth in nursing employment from 2024 to 2034 and industry surveys that roughly 40% of registered nurses intend to retire or leave nursing in the next five years. Blair said the county began the scholarship program in 2017 to encourage local students to pursue nursing degrees.
The scholarships are $2,500 each, nonrenewable, and are open to Franklin County high-school seniors who have lived in the county for at least a year and are accepted into a four-year nursing program. Blair said the county received 12 applications this year; since the program’s founding she said the county has awarded about $148,000 to local aspiring nurses.
This year’s named recipients included Mackenzie Brinkman, Tara Brown, Kenzie Hudson and Ava Ziegler. Commissioners congratulated the students and encouraged them to return to Franklin County to practice after completing their degrees.
The board did not take formal policy action on the scholarships at the meeting; certificates were presented and a photo opportunity followed.
