Graduate student scholarships | Messiah, a private Christian University in PA

Harry & Nancy Preis Endowed Scholarship

In recognition of the demand for highly skilled ethical and compassionate nurses, therapists and healthcare providers, the School of Graduate and Professional Studies awards scholarships to students pursuing a graduate degree in nursing or the applied health sciences (athletic training, occupational therapy, physical therapy). Preference will be given to students who exemplify servant-leadership, who demonstrate financial need and who are not receiving tuition reimbursement from their employer.

Applicants must:

Be a graduate student in the nursing, athletic training, occupational therapy or physical therapy program. At time of application:
- Nursing students must have completed four or more courses in their curricular plan of graduate nursing study at Messiah University.
- First year graduate applied health students (athletic training, occupational therapy or physical therapy) who have completed their first semester.
Submit a completed application by March 1, 2025
Complete a FAFSA form prior to application.
Be registered for courses in the Spring semester.
Grant permission for the dean to view academic transcript to assess scholastic ability
Submit an essay (500 words or less) that outlines your future goals, your understanding of servant-leadership and evidence of your commitment to servant leadership.
Provide a personal or professional letter of recommendation from a non-family member (optional)

Amount: Amount varies and is not a cash award. Scholarship will be applied directly to the recipients’ tuition bill for the upcoming academic year.

Deadline: March 1, 2025 for Fall 2025 scholarships.

Contact: School of Graduate & Professional Studies, gradschool@messiah.edu

Selection information and criteria

A committee of graduate faculty will select recipients and determine award amounts based on the criteria for the award.
Applications for the award will be made available to graduate students in late fall each year.
Applicants must be a graduate student in the nursing, athletic training, occupational therapy, or physical therapy program.
- Nursing students must have completed four or more courses in their curricular plan of graduate nursing study at Messiah University.
- Applied health students (athletic training, occupational therapy, or physical therapy) must be in their first year of study.
Recipients will receive scholarship funds to apply to the subsequent Fall semester's tuition.
The recipients will be featured in Nursing News, School of Graduate and Professional Studies’ social media and Messiah University websites.
Recipients will be presented with framed certificates.

Rocco and Nancy Ortenzio Endowed DPT Scholarship

Graduate students currently enrolled in the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program who have successfully completed the first semester of the DPT program and who demonstrate financial need may apply for this scholarship. Individuals with diverse cultural, racial and experiential backgrounds, as well as non-traditional applicants, are given preference. Students must demonstrate dedication to the PT profession, ethical leadership and professional interpersonal skills.

Applicants must:

Be a graduate student in the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program in their first year of study at time of application.
Submit a completed application by March 1, 2025
Complete a FAFSA form prior to application.
Be registered for courses in the Spring semester.
Grant permission for the dean to view academic transcript to assess scholastic ability.
Submit an essay (500 words or less) that outlines your goals for a career in the PT profession and how your background uniquely prepared you for PT school at Messiah University. Your essay should outline your dedication to the PT profession and evidence of why you are an ethical leader and how you exhibit professional interpersonal skills.
Provide a personal or professional letter of recommendation from a non-family member (optional)

Amount: Amount varies and is not a cash award. Scholarship will be applied directly to the recipients’ tuition bill for the upcoming Fall semester.

Deadline: March 1, 2025, for Fall 2025 scholarships

Contact: School of Graduate & Professional Studies, gradschool@messiah.edu

Selection information and criteria

A committee of graduate faculty will select recipients and determine award amounts based on the criteria for the award.
Applicants must demonstrate financial need as determined by the FAFSA.
Applicants must have successfully completed the first semester of the DPT Program.
Individuals from diverse cultural, racial, and experiential backgrounds, as well as non-traditional applicants, are given preference.
Students must demonstrate dedication to the PT profession, ethical leadership and professional interpersonal skills.
Applications for the award will be made available to graduate students in late fall each year.
Recipients will receive scholarship funds to apply to subsequent Fall semester's tuition.
The recipients will be featured on the School of Graduate and Professional Studies Social Media and Messiah University websites.
Recipients will be presented with a framed certificate.

Mary Ann and Jack Mihok Scholarship

Mary Ann Mihok retired as an associate professor of dietetics in 2004 after 23 years of dedicated and faithful teaching at Messiah College. During her tenure at Messiah College, she served as the director of the College’s Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics - accredited dietetics program. She also served in various leadership positions, including the dietetic educator representative to the Pennsylvania Breastfeeding Coalition. The Mary Ann and Jack Mihok Scholarship supports a Messiah University Nutrition and Dietetics student who is in her/his last year of undergraduate nutrition and dietetics coursework and is planning to pursue the Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist credential after graduation. Students apply for this scholarship the spring semester prior to the year in which the scholarship will be applied. The award is based on academic ability, evidence of a strong work and volunteer ethic, and financial need.

Applicants must:

Be a full time student with senior status at Messiah University.
Plan to pursue the Master of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics/Dietetic Internship at Messiah University.
Submit a completed application by March 1, 2025
Complete a FAFSA form prior to application for the upcoming academic year
Have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.6 at the time of application.

Amount: Amount varies and is not a cash award. One scholarship recipient will be selected and funds will be applied directly to the recipients’ tuition bill for the upcoming academic year.

Deadline: March 1, 2025, for 2025-2026 scholarships

Contact: School of Graduate & Professional Studies, gradschool@messiah.edu

The application will request the following:

Your permission for the dean to view academic transcript to assess scholastic ability.
A short statement of financial need.
An essay (max 1,000 words) that describes your professional goals and discusses how your work and volunteer experiences have helped to prepare you for your career. Preference will be given to applicants whose essays show evidence of commitment to community service.
A letter of recommendation. The recommender should be a professional in the health care field who has been a supervisor in a practicum, internship, or paid position which in some way relates to the Nutrition and Dietetics profession; or a professor (other than Dr. Porto or Professor Gill). The letter of recommendation should address how long the writer has known and worked with the student and in what capacity. The student’s potential for success in the Nutrition and Dietetics field should be discussed and documented.
A resume showing details on your employment, volunteer activities and extracurricular activities while in college.

Soccer Shots Applied Health Sciences Scholarship

This Scholarship was established by Soccer Shots (Harrisburg/York) with the goal to provide financial assistance to Soccer Shots (Harrisburg/York) employees who are Messiah University graduate and graduate-bound students in the applied health sciences (occupational therapy and physical therapy).

Recipients of this fund shall be selected through the committee(s) or individuals generally charged with awarding financial aid to students at Messiah University.

Applicants must:

Be full-time Messiah University students in one of the following programs: graduate physical therapy, graduate occupational therapy, undergraduate juniors and seniors in either an early assurance or accelerated physical therapy or occupational therapy program.
Have completed a minimum of one season of Soccer Shots (Harrisburg/York) coaching as defined by Soccer Shots. Fall applicants must have coached in the spring or summer of the year of their application. Spring applicants must have coached in the fall of the prior year of their application. Preference will be given to those who are actively planning to continue to work in the upcoming spring or fall season. Coaching commitment will be verified by Soccer Shots.
Complete an application
- Granting permission to the dean to view their academic transcript to assess academic ability and standing.
- Essay demonstrating the applicant's dedication to servant leadership and their local community while reflecting on how Soccer Shots has impacted their growth.
- Demonstrated and documented financial need via a completed FAFSA.

Amount: The award amount varies and it is not a cash award. Scholarship will be applied directly to the recipients' tuition bill for the upcoming academic year. Up to five recipients may be awarded for each of the two awards per year. Recipients are eligible for additional scholarships if they coach more than one season.

Deadline: The award is granted two times a year; application deadlines are as follows: July 1 for fall semester awards and December 1 for spring semester awards.

Contact: School of Graduate & Professional Studies, gradschool@messiah.edu