Avera Health and Dakota Wesleyan University yesterday announced a new education funding program to support nursing workforce needs in the region.
Through the Avera Achieve Sponsorship Program, Avera will support selected sophomore DWU nursing students with $20,000 in education funding for their junior and senior years as long as they successfully complete their studies and commit to working as nurses at Avera for three years following graduation.
The first cohort of six were announced at a press conference held on the DWU campus on Tuesday. Student recipients include:
Tessa Kilber, Ipswich
Nora Nelson, Rapid City
Elisabeth Ortiz, Sturgis
Jasmine Salcido-Santos, Mitchell
Connor Tapia, Tea
Alexis Tilton, Mitchell
The Avera Achieve Sponsorship is only available to DWU nursing students who have completed their first two years of the four-year curriculum.