Merit Scholarships
The 2013 Merit Scholarship Application will open July 1, 2013
The 2012 application is closed.
One of the major initiatives of the AHIMA Foundation is to attract and support new talent in the health information management (HIM) industry by improving educational opportunities for current and future HIM professionals through scholarships. The AHIMA Foundation annually offers merit scholarships to currently enrolled outstanding undergraduates in HIM and health information technology (HIT) as well as those professionals pursuing master's or doctoral degrees in areas related to health information.
There are four levels of scholarships offered:
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Associate's degree - $1,000 award for students pursuing a Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (
CAHIIM) accredited AA degree in HIM or HIT
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Bachelor's degree/Post-Baccalaureate certificate - $1,500 award for students pursuing a
CAHIIM accredited BA/BS degree or a Post-Baccalaureate certificate in HIM or HIT
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Master's degree - $2,000 award for students pursuing a Master's degree in areas related to HIM or health informatics
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Doctoral degree - $2,500 award for students pursuing a doctoral degree in an area related to health information
Eligibility
To be eligible for a merit scholarship, applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Current member of the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA)
- Actively enrolled in a minimum of six (6) credit hours towards pursuing a degree
- Completed 24 credit hours towards a degree (for graduate degree applicants, this can include undergraduate credit hours)
- Have at least six (6) credit hours remaining after the award date (December 30, 2013)
- Achieved a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5 (out of 4.0) or 4.5 (out of 5.0) based on the most recently completed 24 credit hours
- Submit a completed online application and all of its components
Additional requirements are listed on the online scholarship application
Application and Award Timeline
Online Application Opens: July 1, 2013
Online Application Closes: September 30, 2013
Award Notification Mailed: November 30, 2013
Awards Mailed: December 30, 2013
Online Application Process
The online application process will involve answering a number of essay questions, attaching transcripts, requesting recommendations and verifying enrollment. The application will cover topics such as: academic history, career objectives, professional and volunteer experience, and educational and professional goals. Please see our Frequently Asked Questions for additional information on the scholarship application process.
Note: Mailed applications will not be accepted.
Review Criteria
Each eligible application will be reviewed by the AHIMA Foundation Scholarship Committee. Applications will be evaluated based on the following:
- Grade point average and academic achievement
- Volunteer and work experience
- Commitment to the HIM profession
- Quality and relevance of references
- Completeness and clarity of thought
Available Scholarships
Some scholarships give preference to applicants in categories such as diversity, second-career students, and students residing in particular states. Click here to see a list of currently available scholarships.
Only one application needs to be completed in order for the applicant to be considered for all eligible award categories. Applicants are eligible to receive only one scholarship in a calendar year.
2012 Merit Scholarships
In 2012, 135 students submitted their applications for review; out of that pool, 61 qualified candidates received scholarships from the AHIMA Foundation for a total of $92,500 in awards. The 2012 award recipients included 2 doctoral candidates, 15 master's degree students, 27 bachelor's degree/post-baccalaureate certificate students and 17 associate's degree students. The scholarship recipients represent 26 Component State Associations (CSAs), and had an average GPA of 3.8 (out of 4.0).
Scholarship Support: Giving Back to the Future of the Profession
No donation is too small. Corporations, CSAs, AHIMA members (including former scholarship recipients), and other individuals are all encouraged to support student merit scholarships. This can be accomplished through donations to the Grace Whiting Myers general scholarship fund, or by establishing named or endowed scholarship (payment options for funding the scholarships are flexible). Acknowledgment of scholarship support comes in many forms: on the AHIMA Foundation website, in certain AHIMA Foundation and AHIMA electronic and mailed publications, and in select AHIMA convention materials. Donating to an AHIMA Foundation scholarship becomes a win-win situation, by supporting the HIM professionals of the future while extending company name recognition or honoring loved ones. To find out more about options to support the AHIMA Foundation with a charitable contribution, please click here or contact Mary Taylor-Blasi at (312) 233-1585 or mary.taylor-blasi@ahimafoundation.org for further details.