Minnie L. Maffett Scholarship
Scholarship Sponsored by Texas Business and Professional Women's Foundation
Purpose
To offer financial support that encourages and advances medical and nursing education for women.
Background / History
The scholarship honors Dr. Minnie Lee Maffett (1882–1964), an educator-turned-physician who dedicated her life to public service. After years in teaching and school administration, she earned her medical degree from the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston in 1914. Dr. Maffett established and led the health center at Southern Methodist University from 1915 until 1949 and served on the medical staffs of several Texas hospitals.
Dr. Maffett was instrumental in professional women’s organizations. She was the founding president of the Texas Federation of Business & Professional Women (1919–1920) and served two terms as president of the National Federation (1939–1944). Under her leadership, the Federation fought restrictive state and federal measures that sought to bar married women from employment and persuaded the U.S. War Department to grant commissions to female physicians during World War II. She also led a national fundraising effort that secured more than $250,000 to establish a training school and residence in Taiwan for Chinese nurses.
Affectionately called the “Flying Doctor” for her frequent service trips abroad, Dr. Maffett fell ill and died in Honolulu while returning to Texas from the dedication of the Taiwanese nurses’ facility that was named in her honor.
Award
Amount: $5,000 per recipient, per calendar year.
Who May Apply (Eligibility)
- Applicants must be female.
- Funds must be applied toward enrollment at an accredited college, university, or certification program located in Texas.
- Degree candidates must have completed at least two semesters of college-level study.
- Certificate candidates must be registered in the certification program and have paid the associated fees prior to applying.
- Applicants may reapply in subsequent years if not restricted by other funding rules.
- Application materials and all required documentation must be received by March 31.
Qualifying Fields (degree or certification must be in one of the following)
M.D., D.O., O.D., BSN, MSN, DNP, Master of Science in Medical Sciences, Bachelor or Master of Science in Nursing, or certification/degree in areas such as: Cardiovascular Technologist; Cytotechnologist; Emergency Medical Technician; Medical Assistant; Medical Sonographer; Nuclear Medicine Technologist; Nurse Anesthetist; Nurse Midwife; Nurse Practitioner; Occupational Therapist; Orthotic & Prosthetic Professional; Pharmacy Technician; Phlebotomist; Physical Therapist; Physician Assistant; Registered Nurse; Respiratory Therapist; Surgical Technician; Community Health Education; Kinesiology; Nuclear Medicine Science; Rehabilitative Sciences; Sport Management; or other related medical fields.
Application Requirements
If applying for a degree:
- Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0.
- Official (certified) transcripts for all college coursework.
- Essay (maximum two pages) addressing one of the following prompts: “The Importance of Women in Nursing/Medicine” or “Why I Chose Nursing/Medicine as My Career Path.”
- Two letters of reference (examples: professors, academic advisors, employers, or professional colleagues).
- Name of the institution, student ID number, and the mailing address where the scholarship check should be sent.
If applying for a certification:
- Proof of payment for the certification program fees (copy of receipt).
- Statement of the total program cost and program length.
- Short essay outlining your goals related to obtaining the certification.
Award Disbursement
- Scholarship funds will normally be sent directly to the registrar or bursar’s office of the recipient’s accredited college or university.
- For certificate recipients, funds will be paid to the applicant only after receipt of proof that the applicant has already paid the program fees.
Reporting and Publicity
- Recipients must supply the Texas Business and Professional Women’s Foundation, Inc. with a digital photograph suitable for publication.
- Recipients are expected to provide at least one update or narrative during the year describing their experience with the scholarship and its impact.
Submission Deadline
All application materials and supporting documents must be submitted by March 31.