Avila University Singled Out To Receive Radiologic Science Grant

Avila is the only institution in Missouri or Kansas to receive scholarship; $250,000 over next four years will go to disadvantaged rad tech students

Kansas City, Mo. (I-Newswire) October 24, 2012 - Avila University was awarded a grant of $250,000 over four years by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The grant is to be used to help full-time disadvantaged students in the University’s Radiologic Science major.

Avila was the only institution of higher education in Missouri or Kansas to receive this award for radiologic science and one of three to receive HRSA grants. The other two were for nursing.

HRSA’s Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students program promotes diversity among health profession students and practitioners by providing scholarships to full-time students with financial need from disadvantaged backgrounds enrolled in health professions and nursing programs. About 42 percent of Avila students come from disadvantaged backgrounds.

“What I’m excited about is, this is the only HRSA grant that’s actually being awarded for Missouri and Kansas for radiologic science, which is big because it pertains to another part of health care,” said Larry Sullivan, Ph.D., dean of the School of Science and Health. “What this does for students is permit under-represented individuals to be able to access the high quality education we provide at Avila for radiologic technology students. That will make a huge difference for the work force as well as have a direct impact in these individuals’ lives.”

Receiving this grant comes at an especially exciting time for Avila’s School of Science and Health.
There are plans to establish a new Science and Health Complex in O’Rielly Hall that includes a new microbiology/cell biology lab, chemistry lab, instrumentation lab and a general biology lab. The project expands research space for faculty and students.

“The Science and Health Complex is an exciting venture,” Sullivan said. “It’s creating new learning spaces for students and further enhancing access to the latest technology, preparing students for successful careers.”

The anatomy and physiology lab in O’Rielly Hall was refurbished during Avila’s recent $13.5 million capital improvements plan that also included a new residence hall (Avila Hall), athletic pavilion, dining hall renovation and campus entry signage.

The School also is preparing to host its 22nd Annual Science & Mathematics Challenge for Young Women from 8:30 a.m.-noon Nov. 3 in Whitfield Center. More than 10 high schools from around the Kansas City metropolitan area – with teams comprised of up to eight students each – will compete against each other and test their knowledge in subjects that include biology, chemistry, computer technology, physics and earth/space science.