University Of Phoenix and Odessa Chambliss Quality Of Life Fund collaborate to offer nursing scholarships

Aug 21 2009

University of Phoenix today announced a partnership with Odessa Chambliss Quality of Life Fund to provide access to nursing education and help ensure the future of quality healthcare. Through this partnership, two full-tuition scholarships will be offered to nurses pursuing advanced degrees in the state of Florida.

One scholarship will be awarded to an individual pursuing a RN to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN to BSN) and another will be awarded to an individual pursuing a Masters of Science in Nursing/Health Care Education (MSN/ED). Recipients may choose to either attend classes at one of University of Phoenix's Florida campuses or online.

Odessa Chambliss was the mother of Lucille O'Neal and grandmother of Shaquille O'Neal and Ayesha Harrison - all University of Phoenix graduates. The Odessa Chambliss Quality of Life Fund was established in 1998, after her death, to honor her commitment to the nursing profession for over 16 years. Despite receiving a cancer diagnosis in 1993, she loved her job and showed compassion for her patients while fighting a health care battle of her own. In her honor, Odessa's family hopes to improve the quality of someone else's life through this fund for nursing scholarships and cancer research.

"I'm extremely proud to celebrate my mother's life by helping nursing students advance in their careers in healthcare by providing them with access to higher education," said Lucille O'Neal. "Education and an improved quality of life for others are my primary focus in everything that I do."

University of Phoenix has been preparing students for a successful career in the nursing field for 25 years. The University's nursing programs not only prepare students to do clinical work, but also educate and train people interested in advancing their careers in the health care industry.

To download an application and for additional information on University of Phoenix Odessa Chambliss Quality of Life nursing scholarship, log onto phoenix.edu/scholarships. The deadline to submit scholarship applications is Sept. 5, 2009. Scholarship recipients will be announced in late September.

University of Phoenix established a ground presence in Florida more than a decade ago. Since the opening of the first campus in Orlando, the University has expanded to include 17 locations statewide including its four main Florida campuses and affiliated learning and resource centers. With a variety of degree programs, University of Phoenix - Florida currently serves more than 18,000 students. The state's four campuses include Central Florida, North Florida, South Florida and West Florida.