Exceptional Nurse Scholarships

Scholarship Sponsored by Exceptional Nurse

Introduction and Mission
ExceptionalNurse.com launched in 2001 as a grassroots initiative focused on meeting the needs of nursing students and nurses living with disabilities. The organization operates as a non-profit and is dedicated to improving access, support, and opportunities for learners and professionals in nursing who face physical, cognitive, or developmental challenges.

Founder
The organization was founded by Donna Maheady, Ed.D., APRN, a pediatric nurse practitioner and long-time nursing educator. Dr. Maheady has more than 40 years of experience teaching nursing and supporting students with a broad range of disabilities. Her doctoral dissertation explored the experiences of nursing students who have disabilities. She currently serves as an adjunct faculty member at Utica College. Dr. Maheady’s personal experience also informs her work: her daughter has been diagnosed with HNRNPU, a de novo genetic mutation associated with epilepsy, limited speech, intellectual disability (historically referred to as mental retardation), and autistic characteristics.

Eligibility
To qualify, applicants must be students with a documented disability who have either applied to or already been admitted to a college or university program on a full-time basis.

Application Checklist
- Completed and signed application form
- Three letters of recommendation from individuals (non-relatives) who can speak directly to your academic strengths and personal character
- Essay of approximately 1–2 pages
- Official transcripts for completed high school and/or college coursework
- Medical Verification of Disability Form