Granite Edvance Provides Support for NH Nursing Students Through the Granite State P.A.R.T.N.E.R.S. Program

Recognizing that the healthcare worker shortage in New Hampshire will require collaborative, creative solutions, Granite Edvance has established a new scholarship fund to support students in the state who are completing prerequisite courses needed for a nursing degree. The fund is offered to students who are participating in Granite State P.A.R.T.N.E.R.S., a federally funded statewide program led by Elliot Health System in cooperation with multiple state, educational, and community partners, designed to tackle the healthcare staffing shortage and strengthen the future of healthcare in New Hampshire. 

Granite Edvance, a statewide nonprofit that supports NH students in navigating their education and career goals, provided $25,000 in one-time seed funding after learning that some students who are accepted into the program may not have the funds to complete necessary prerequisites, which are unable to be covered by the P.A.R.T.N.E.R.S. (People Aligning Resources Towards Nursing Expansion and Retention Strategies) grant. These students can now apply for awards of up to $1,050 to cover tuition for prerequisite courses at schools within the Community College System of New Hampshire.

“We’re excited to help students take that first, crucial step toward a career in nursing, including students who, for any number of reasons, have never had a chance to explore that pathway,” said Granite Edvance President and CEO Christiana Thornton. “We’re also excited to develop another partnership that will benefit New Hampshire’s students and workforce. This fund truly aligns with our goal of supporting students of all ages and backgrounds.”

The fund, which will be administered by the Foundation for New Hampshire Community Colleges, will expand resources that are available to individuals through Granite State P.A.R.T.N.E.R.S. 

“The future of our healthcare industry in New Hampshire depends on the availability of prepared nurses,” said Elliot Health System Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer Martha Dodge, R.N.. “We are grateful to Granite Edvance for their part in supporting our shared goal of expanding and diversifying the nursing professional pipeline.”

“The P.A.R.T.N.E.R.S. program is free for participants who are accepted and provides financial and other supports to pave the way to reaching a nursing career,” said Elliot Health System Workforce Development Specialist & Granite State P.A.R.T.N.E.R.S. Project Manager Sarah Vlasich. “We are here to support aspiring nurses of all backgrounds who are committed to pursuing a career in the nursing field.”

To date, 140 students are receiving support from Granite State P.A.R.T.N.E.R.S., which includes help with funding, transportation, and navigating educational registration and enrollment, among other supports.

For Alberta Aliu, who came to the United States as a refugee from the Kosovo war in 1999, the program is offering a chance to pursue a dream she’d put on hold while raising her children. 

“My husband and I work hard to take care of our family. I completed an apprenticeship to become a pharmacy technician, but my dream was always to be a nurse,” said Aliu, who learned about the program through her manager at the Elliot at River’s Edge pharmacy. “I can actually work towards having a better career for my family. I am so thankful for this opportunity that came my way!”

To apply for the Granite State P.A.R.T.N.E.R.S. program or to learn more, visit https://www.elliothospital.org/nursingexpansion. 

About Granite State P.A.R.T.N.E.R.S program
The Granite State P.A.R.T.N.E.R.S. program is designed to tackle the staffing shortage and strengthen the future of healthcare in New Hampshire. The program is working to enroll 300 new, diverse, underserved, and underrepresented individuals in the New Hampshire nursing pipeline. The total funding of the Granite State P.A.R.T.N.E.R.S. Nursing Expansion Project is $3.75 million with 80% funded through a U.S. Department of Labor- Employment and Training, Nursing Expansion Grant. ($3M). Additional support of 20% is provided by non-governmental resources.

About Granite Edvance 
Granite Edvance (formerly the New Hampshire Higher Education Assistance Foundation, or the NHHEAF Network) is a New Hampshire nonprofit that uses its earnings to support New Hampshire students and their families through free career and higher-education counseling and resources, as well as funding assistance including scholarships and competitive private student loans. Established in 1962, the organization rebranded as Granite Edvance in November 2023. The Granite Edvance Student Loan, as well as the EdvestinU Private Student Loan and the EdvestinU Refinance Loan, are loan products offered by Granite Edvance Corporation and may be funded by Granite Edvance Corporation or Bank of Lake Mills, member FDIC.