Teaching & Nursing
Scholarship

up to $5,000 each year for teachers & nurses

Overview

Throughout the COVID-19 Pandemic, our teachers and nurses have been placed on the frontlines of our community. Nurses have cared our sick, comforted their families, endured long shifts, and continually put service over self. Teachers were faced with reconstructing their lesson plans to accommodate virtual classwork and managing the difficult return to in-person learning, addressing many challenging issues faced by students throughout the difficult period.

The Will County HEROES Teaching and Nursing Grant ignites a new generation of heroes. Students willing to enter their fields and take on the challenges of these noble professions. Both current and potential Nursing and Teaching students are eligible to apply for up to $2,500 a semester of scholarship money towards their education. The program also provides a pathway for employment after graduation, connecting students with local partners who can support their continued education and ensure a working environment that will foster positive career development.

Now is the time to become an Education and Healthcare Hero! Learn how to apply today!

To apply,

please get in touch with the representative from your school listed below.

For questions and to learn more, contact the Academic Intervention and Support department at  sbraun@jjc.edu

Total Funds Expended to Date

$833,326

Total Students Enrolled to Date

334

Total Students Graduated to Date

14

For questions and to learn more, contact the Admissions Office at eruiz@stfrancis.edu

Department Information:
Nursing
College of Education

Total Funds Expended to Date

$85,000

For questions and to learn more, contact the emails listed below.
Nursing: llewis8@govst.edu
Elementary Education: pperdue@govst.edu
Secondary Education: ncoleman3@govst.edu

Department Information:
Nursing
College of Education

Total Funds Expended to Date

$40,214.00

For questions and to learn more, contact the Admissions Office at  finaid@lewisu.edu

Department Information:
Nursing
College of Education

Total Funds Expended to Date

$132,354

Total Students Enrolled to Date

54

Total Students Graduated to Date

3

$10 million

of Will County’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding will be used to “prime the pipeline” for teaching and nursing students who live in Will County and expect to work at a Will County education or healthcare institution, respectively, after graduation. Will County has awarded four higher education partners, Governors State University, University of St. Francis, Lewis University, Joliet Junior College, funds to generate a pathway for enrollment, education, and employment. 

This Monetary Award Program-like (MAP) approach – will award participants $2,500 per semester or $5,000 per academic year as an education and employment incentive for professionals to stay and work in Will County – beginning with students enrolled as early as Summer 2023! 

Will County Heroes will provide assistance to students, including financial aid and connection with employment partners, at the four higher education partners pursuing careers in:

Teaching

Students pursuing teacher certification for elementary education, special education, and secondary education who are interested in teaching in Will County after graduation.

Nursing

Students interested in becoming a Registered Nurse, either through a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN-RN) or an Associates Degree in Nursing (AND-RN) who are interested in working in Will County after graduation.

Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant

Will County is proud to be empowering the next generation of heroes within our schools and hospitals. This program will create quality education opportunities and long-term career success for students throughout Will County. I urge students to consider this scholarship opportunity as they look towards their future.”

Partners

In conjunction with Ascension St. Joseph, Silver Cross, Center for Economic Development, and Workforce Services, the program will foster a pipeline for students seeking employment after graduation in teaching and nursing. The pipeline partners will support students as they grow their career after graduation, connecting them with a working environment that will foster positive career development.

Goal

This incentive addresses shortages in critical sectors which were exacerbated by the pandemic resulting in unemployed or underemployed workers seeking job training, subsidized employment, or employment incentives. 

This program is available to impacted students which must qualify and attest to one of the following: 

Low or Moderate Income Households

Income at or below 300% of the Federal Poverty Guideline for the size of the household. Refer to the chart at the bottom of this page.

Households that experienced unemployment

Professionals seeking a career change as a result of losing their employment through the pandemic

Households that qualify for certain federal benefits

Which includes Medicaid, Pell, SNAP, WIC

To apply,

please get in touch with the representative from your school listed below.

Impacted Households

U.S. Treasury states that income at or below 300 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines for the size of the household based on the most recently published poverty guidelines meets the definition of “impacted”. Please reference the income table to the right.

A household is defined as all the people who occupy a housing unit at their legal permanent residence. 

A household includes the related family members and all the unrelated people, if any, such as lodgers, foster children, wards, or employees who share the housing unit. A person living alone in a housing unit, or a group of unrelated people sharing a housing unit such as partners or roomers, is also counted as a household. 

A recipient may have experienced unemployment and can qualify as an individual. 

A recipient may qualify for assistance based on their household’s qualifications or receipt of other qualified federal benefits. 

Household
Size
Gross Annual Income
1 $40,770
2 $54,930
3 $69,090
4 $83,250
5 $97,410
6 $111,570
guidelines-2022-.pdf (hhs.gov)