Julie Eckard RN Nursing Scholarship
Fall 2025
To honor the memory of Julie C. Eckard, RN (CFK Program, 1987). She was completing her A.S in Nursing at CFK when she was diagnosed with HIV/AIDS at 23 years old. She overcame physical and social barriers to become a registered nurse. Over the next 3 years before she succumbed to AIDS, Julie provided excellent clinical care to persons living with HIV and was an ardent advocate for the rights of those facing stigma and discrimination. One of Julie’s nursing classmates, R. Kevin Mallinson (CFK, 1987), and his husband (Robert C. Hansen) established this scholarship to honor Julie’s love of the nursing profession and to remind us of her unwavering strength, tenacity, and sense of humor.
The Julie Eckard RN Nursing Scholarship is awarded to one Monroe County resident accepted in the AS/BS/BSN nursing programs at CFK and demonstrates a passion about advocating for patients challenged by adversity, stigma, and or discrimination. Students must have successfully completed Nursing Fundamentals to be eligible. The award is $2,000 for the Fall semester; student must satisfy a minimum of 9 credit hours for the award term and maintain a GPA of 2.75. Eligible students must also have a completed 2025-26 FAFSA. Awards are subject to satisfactory academic progress and requirements as stipulated in the student handbook. Scholarship monies can be used toward tuition and fees at The College of the Florida Keys.
Scholarship recipients are also required to:
1. Confirm registration in courses at The College of the Florida Keys in the term in which the scholarship is to be used.
2. Complete a minimum of 4 hours of volunteer service with the donor and/or The College of the Florida Keys Foundation if requested. (Details will be sent separately if/when applicable.)
3. Attend the Annual College of the Florida Keys Scholarship Recipient & Donor Social at the Tennessee Williams Theatre on the William A. Seeker Campus in Key West during the Fall semester. The event will occur on Tuesday, September 30th, 2025. Invitations will be distributed closer to the event.
4. Attend other scholarship recipient recognition event(s) and/or activities as requested by the scholarship donor if applicable.
5. Demonstrate and maintain the scholarship criteria and requirements.
The Foundation reserves the right to withdraw or modify the student’s award based on the student’s fulfillment of required scholarship criteria.
- Donor
- Kevin Mallinson
- Award
- $2000
- Scopes
- Internal Scholarships
- Deadline
- 06/01/2025
- Supplemental Questions
- Julie Eckard, RN (CFK Nursing, class of 1987; died 1991) was a young woman living with HIV/AIDS. She exemplified the very best of the nursing profession; she was brave, compassionate, and an ardent patient advocate. In the few years after her diagnosis, Julie worked in the clinic and volunteered in the community to ensure that persons with HIV disease were respected and received excellent care. This scholarship honors her memory. As a Registered Nurse (RN), you will be caring for persons who are stigmatized, disenfranchised, or vulnerable. Persons may be a high risk for health inequities due to their condition (e.g., HIV), racial or ethnic identity, sexual orientation/gender identity, physical or mental disability, or language spoken, among others. Consequently, these populations experience limited access to healthcare services or receive substandard care. Tragically, this often results in poorer clinical outcomes and widening health disparities. When working with at-risk individuals and communities, please describe how your personal values will guide your nursing actions to reduce health disparities and ensure optimal outcomes. (please limit to 600 words)