Scholarship

2026 Wisconsin Director of Nursing Council Scholarships

The Wisconsin Director of Nursing Council is proud to offer scholarships for the 2026 school year to promote excellence in long-term care nursing. These scholarships aim to support qualified individuals pursuing further education and careers in the long-term care nursing profession.

2026 Scholarship Overview

Two Scholarship Options:

  1. WDONC Nursing Scholarship: Requires nomination for individuals pursuing an RN degree or higher. The nominee must have been accepted into nursing school, completed the waiting period, and be enrolled in nursing classes on or before January 2026. The person nominated will need to provide a transcript verifying enrollment if their nomination is accepted for review. The Nominations must be submitted by a Director of Nursing, Administrator, or nursing supervisor. Multiple nominations for an individual are accepted and encouraged.
  2. Debby Schuna Advanced Nursing Memorial Scholarship: Requires nomination for individuals pursuing a BSN or higher. Nominations must be submitted by a Director of Nursing, Administrator, or nursing supervisor. Multiple nominations for an individual are accepted and encouraged. Nominees must hold a current Wisconsin RN license, and must have been accepted into nursing school for a BSN or higher, completed the waiting period, and be enrolled in nursing classes on or before January 2026.

Scholarship Details:

  • Minimum award: $1,000 per scholarship
  • Scholarships are determined based on the number and quality of nominations.
  • Individuals may be nominated for only one scholarship.

Eligibility Criteria

WDONC Nursing Scholarship Nominees:

  • Must be a Wisconsin resident.
  • Must be enrolled in an accredited program by January 2026.
  • Must be employed at a long-term care continuum organization in Wisconsin.
  • Must agree to work in a long-term care facility for at least two years after completing the nursing program.
  • Must submit a complete nomination by December 22, 2025, at 12:00 PM.

Debby Schuna Advanced Nursing Memorial Scholarship Nominees:

  • Must be enrolled in an accredited BSN, MSN, or Ph.D. in Nursing program.
  • Must hold a current Wisconsin RN license.
  • Must be a Wisconsin resident.
  • Must be employed at a long-term care continuum organization in Wisconsin.
  • Must commit to working in a long-term care facility for at least two years after completing the nursing program.
  • Must submit a complete nomination by December 22, 2025 at 11:59 PM.

Nomination Requirements

For both scholarships, the nominator must provide:

  • Nominee’s personal contact details.
  • Current employer details.
  • Date of enrollment and anticipated graduation date.
  • Name of the accredited educational institution.
  • Responses to specific questions about the nominee, detailing their qualifications, achievements, and reasons for nomination.

Important Notes

  • Nominees must provide the name of their accredited educational institution to confirm enrollment if selected. Financial aid department information must also be submitted for verification purposes. Scholarships are contingent upon verification of enrollment in a nursing program.
  • Scholarship recipients will be announced in January 2025 and formally recognized at the March 2026 WDONC Symposium.
  • Scholarship funds will be issued directly to the recipient’s educational institution.
  • By submitting a nomination and by accepting the scholarship, both the nominee and nominator grant WDONC permission to use their names, images, and likenesses for promotional purposes. This may include, but is not limited to, posting interviews on our website and social media, quoting from the interview or application, and listing names and organizations in public forums. Nominees and nominators also agree to participate in a Zoom interview if requested. The video recordings may be shared with third-party organizations when applicable and approved by the WDONC Scholarship Committee. (For example, so that the nominee's company can share the good news.)

Submission Guidelines

  • Deadline: All nominations must be submitted by December 22, 2025.
  • Once started, nominations cannot be saved. Prepare all required materials before beginning.
  • Confirm submission by clicking the “Submit” button at the end of the form. A confirmation message will appear.

Questions?

For further assistance, please contact the WDONC Scholarship Committee.

Start Scholarship Nominations