South Carolina Department of Health Scholarships
School Nursing Awards, Scholarships
Dee Dee Chewning School Nurse Administrator Award
Each year, DHEC and the S.C. Department of Education publicly recognize a registered nurse functioning in a school nurse administrator/supervisor role who excels at administering and coordinating quality school nursing and school health programs. This award is called the Dee Dee Chewning School Nurse Administrator Award. It’s named in honor of Ruth D. Chewning, RN, SNP, NCSN. Through her work as a school nurse, executive director for Healthy Learners, and other leadership roles, she has excelled at demonstrating the traits of an effective leader and inspiring others to lead with respect and compassion.
The School Nurse Conference Planning Committee works with the State School Nurse Consultant to select the recipient.
- Dee Dee Chewning School Nurse Administrator Award
Nurse Administrator Award Nomination Packet Requirements & Form (pdf)
School Nurse of the Year RN and LPN Awards
Each year, DHEC and the S.C. Department of Education recognize recognize outstanding contributions by an RN and an LPN currently practicing as school nurses. The awards are presented at the Annual School Nurse Conference. Each year the School Nurse Conference Planning Committee works with the State School Nurse Consultant to select an RN and LPN to be honored.
- School Nurse (RN) of the Year Award:
RN Nomination Packet Requirements & Form (pdf)
- School Health LPN of the Year Award:
LPN Nomination Packet Requirement & Form (pdf)
Mary Ellen Hatfield School Nursing Scholarship Awards
The Mary Ellen Hatfield School Nursing Scholarship was established as a memorial to a former State School Health Nurse Consultant. Mary Ellen Hatfield served South Carolina from 1980 until her retirement in 1997. Hatfield knew that requiring licensed nurses for the provision of school health services was in the best interest of children. She worked hard to increase the number of school nurses in state schools. She also worked to build administrative systems to support a competent and well-informed school nursing work force. At the beginning of her tenure as School Health Nurse Consultant, South Carolina had 180 school nurses. Upon her retirement, there were more than 450. Thanks to Hatfield’s leadership, manuals outlining standards for school nursing practice were developed; an annual orientation program for school nurses was launched; and the Annual School Nurse Conference became the premier source of continuing education for South Carolina’s school nurses. She helped construct a solid foundation that continues to support innovative school health services programming.
Scholarship awards are provided annually, as funds are available. The scholarships will go to 2 nurses practicing in a school setting in South Carolina who are pursuing higher educational degrees. One award will be given to a licensed practical nurse, the other to a registered nurse.
To make a tax deductible donation to the Mary Ellen Hatfield School Nursing Scholarship fund, send your check, made payable to the South Carolina Nurses Foundation, to:
MaryEllen Hatfield School Nursing Scholarship
c/o SC Nurses Foundation, Inc.
1821 Gadsden Street
Columbia, SC 29201