How It Works

Awards are made based on a competitive application process and the recommendations of an advisory committee. Funds are provided to participants after they complete their service obligation according to the terms of the contract. The recipient will receive half of the award after documented completion of half of the contract paid directly to the federal student loan servicer. The remaining award will be paid directly to the federal loan servicer after documented completion of the contract.

$30,000 for medical and dental students.

$15,000 for students training to become nurse educators, nurse midwives, nurse practitioners, occupational therapists, pharmacists, physical assistants, clinical psychologists, public health practitioners, and social workers.

To be eligible for the award, applicants must:

• Be enrolled in the last academic year of an accredited education program at a West Virginia institution leading to a degree or certification in one of the following eligible disciplines:
  • Physician (MD/DO) – Fourth-year medical students must be accepted into a West Virginia primary care or emergency medicine internship/residency program to accept the award. Primary care is the health care services provided by family practice physicians, general practice physicians, general internists, geriatricians, general pediatricians, obstetricians/gynecologists, and psychiatrists.
  • Nurse practitioner
  • Nurse educator
  • Nurse midwife
  • Physician Assistant
  • Dentist
  • Pharmacist
  • Physical therapist
  • Doctoral clinical psychologist
  • Licensed independent clinical social worker
  • Occupational Therapy
• Not be in default on any previous federal student loan.
• Be in good academic and professional standing.
• Certify they possess federal student loan debt equal to or exceeding the proposed award amount.

• Fourth-year medical students who are entering primary care or emergency medicine residency programs in West Virginia. Primary care residencies include family medicine, geriatrics, general internal medicine, internal medicine/pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, preventive medicine or psychiatry.
• Students in the final year of a graduate or doctoral program for nurse educators, nurse midwives, nurse practitioner, or occupational therapy
• Students who are in the final year of a graduate program for physician assistants or public health
• Students in the final year of a doctoral program in dentistry, pharmacy, or physical therapy
• Students in the final year of a graduate social work program, leading to a career as a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker
• Students in the final year of doctoral clinical psychology program who intend to enter a clinical internship in West Virginia

You may be eligible for other scholarship and loan repayment programs. Click HERE to learn more!