Jennifer Dowdy Sullivan

The Jennifer Dowdy Sullivan Memorial Nursing
Scholarship Foundation Inc.

J.D.S.M. Nursing Scholarship was formed in memory of a dear friend, Jennifer Dowdy Sullivan.Jennifer was a single parent of modest means, when she entered Paducah Community College nursing program. She graduated and began working at Lourdes Hospital as a floor nurse. She was dedicated to excellence in care and true concern for her patients. Jennifer was promoted to charge nurse and was an effective leader. During her 14th year of nursing, she was diagnosed with A.L.S. (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis), but continued to work, even from her wheel chair up until just a few weeks before her death. It was because of this determination and dedication that this scholarship was created. This was done in the hopes of assisting in the education of other determined and dedicated nursing students. Jennifer was also a person who loved to have FUN! She enjoyed music and especially live music. She and friends traveled many miles to see live bands perform, and the Blues Bands were high on the "to-see" list. Thus, the Blues Festival idea. (a.k.a. Jenn Jam 2000)

Scholarship Criteria

Applicant must be accepted into the Nursing Program at one of the accredited participating colleges. We began offering one scholarship to "Paducah Community College" in Paducah, Kentucky. At the present time, because of our Jenn Jam Blues Festival in June of 2000, we are now able to offer three more scholarships. In Illinois our scholarship goes to "Shawnee Community College" in Ullin, in Missouri; to "Southeast Missouri College of Nursing & Health Sciences" in Cape Girardeau and in Tennessee; to "University of Tennessee At Martin" in Martin. Applicants at these four colleges must have a 3.0 or better GPA, and show a financial need for the scholarship. They are asked to complete the application form and submit an essay stating why they chose the nursing field. Applications are processed by the participating schools to determine their eligibility before they are passed on to the JDSM Nursing Scholarship Foundation.

The Recipients

32 students have been chosen to date. We know that they will be dedicated to the nursing profession as was Jennifer Sullivan.

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