State Fair Community College (SFCC), a member of the Missouri Health Professionals Consortium, has received a $20,000 grant from Healthy Blue to support scholarships for students pursuing careers in healthcare and committed to serving rural Missouri communities.
The funding is part of a broader investment by Healthy Blue benefiting all five community colleges that make up the Missouri Health Professionals Consortium. Through the initiative, each consortium member is receiving $20,000 to support scholarships for students enrolled in high-demand healthcare programs.
At SFCC, scholarship support will be available to students enrolled in programs such as Medical Lab Technician, Occupational Therapy Assistant and Respiratory Care programs.
“We appreciate Healthy Blue’s investment in expanding healthcare opportunities across rural Missouri,” said SFCC President Dr. Brent Bates. “These scholarships will help remove financial barriers for students pursuing in-demand healthcare careers while strengthening the workforce that serves our communities.”
The Missouri Health Professionals Consortium includes North Central Missouri College Foundation, Moberly Area Community College, State Fair Community College Foundation, East Central College Foundation and Three Rivers College. Together, the institutions work to expand healthcare education opportunities and strengthen the healthcare workforce serving rural Missouri communities.
Rural communities across Missouri continue to face healthcare workforce shortages that can limit access to care. Through its partnership with the Missouri Health Professionals Consortium, Healthy Blue is investing in students who are preparing for careers in healthcare while helping reduce financial barriers to education.
“At Healthy Blue, we believe where someone lives should never determine their access to quality healthcare,” said Jeff Davis, President of Healthy Blue in Missouri. “These scholarships help create opportunities for students while strengthening the pipeline of healthcare professionals who will serve rural and underserved communities across Missouri. We are proud to partner with the Missouri Health Professionals Consortium and its member colleges to invest in Missouri’s future healthcare workforce.”
Over the past five years, Healthy Blue has invested more than $500,000 in rural healthcare scholarship initiatives designed to help address workforce shortages and improve access to care in underserved communities throughout Missouri.
The scholarships are expected to increase the number of healthcare professionals serving rural Missouri communities and improve access to culturally competent care for residents across the state.
For more information about healthcare programs and scholarship opportunities at SFCC, visit sfccmo.edu.
About State Fair Community College
State Fair Community College is a comprehensive community college serving students and communities across 14 counties in west central Missouri. With its main campus in Sedalia and additional locations in Boonville, Clinton, Jefferson City, Lake of the Ozarks and Whiteman Air Force Base, SFCC provides accessible, affordable education through a wide variety of degree and certificate programs. The college also offers on-campus housing, student life opportunities, NJCAA athletics, workforce training and transfer pathways, helping students achieve their educational and career goals while supporting regional workforce and economic development.
About Healthy Blue
Healthy Blue is a care management organization serving Missouri Medicaid participants through a statewide network of healthcare providers and community partners. Healthy Blue is committed to improving the health and well-being of Missourians by expanding access to quality, affordable care and supporting initiatives that strengthen healthcare delivery in communities across the state. For more information, visit www.healthybluemo.com.
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Contact:
Sam Schleicher
State Fair Community College
sschleicher@sfccmo.edu
660.596.7250
Jim Turner
Healthy Blue jim.turner@elevancehealth.com
502.974.4847
