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For Immediate Release
September 10, 2004
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White: Deadline Extended for Nursing Loan
Forgiveness Program
Harrisburg – The
application deadline for a program that helps
nursing school students pay for their education has
been extended to October 31, 2004, according to Sen.
Mary Jo White (R-21).
The deadline
applies to students scheduled to graduate in 2004,
she said.
White said the
Nursing Loan Forgiveness for Healthier Futures
Program allows eligible applicants to have up to 25
percent or $12,500 of their student loan debt
forgiven over the first three years of employment in
the nursing field.
In addition to the
deadline extension, qualifying Stafford loans that
have been consolidated are now eligible for
forgiveness, White noted.
White said the
Healthier Futures Program is designed to encourage
commonwealth citizens to enter the nursing
profession. The self-funded program was established
by the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance
Agency and is jointly administered by the
Pennsylvania Higher Education Foundation.
"In return for loan
forgiveness, the nurses agree to practice in
Pennsylvania," said White. "This is one of several
initiatives the General Assembly has undertaken to
address the serious shortage of nurses in
Pennsylvania."
Participants must
maintain employer-verified, full-time continuous
employment with a participating employer as a direct
care nurse, or nurse educator, at an approved,
participating Pennsylvania health care facility or
an approved, participating Pennsylvania
postsecondary educational institution for a minimum
of one year.
Program
applications and complete eligibility requirements
are available online at
www.pheaa.org ,
www.FuturesInNursing.org or by calling
1-800-859-5442.
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