PORTSMOUTH- The Scioto Foundation has announced the creation of the new Sharon Musser Scott Nursing Scholarship Fund, established by the Portsmouth native who has served the local area as a nurse and nurse educator for many years.

To be eligible for the scholarship, a student must be a graduate of a Scioto County or neighboring county high school. Students must major in nursing (undergraduate only) and attend one of the following colleges: Shawnee State University, Ohio University or its branch campuses in Ironton or Chillicothe and Bellarmine University in Louisville, Ky. Preference is given to non-traditional students and students wishing to obtain a 2-year RN degree. This scholarship can be renewed for an additional year. The volunteer scholarship committee of the Scioto Foundation will make annual selections on behalf of the Board of Governors.

The daughter of Ernest Musser and Romona Chapman Musser, Sharon was born in Portsmouth in 1944. She is a 1962 graduate of Portsmouth High School and graduated from Ohio University in 1973 with an Associate Degree in Nursing. She earned a Bachelor of Nursing Degree from Ohio University- Athens in 1978 and a Master’s Degree in Education from OU in 1984. While attending Ohio University she was selected to the OU Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing. She went on to Bellarmine University in Louisville, Kentucky to earn a Master’s of Science Degree in Nursing in 1988.

Upon graduation from OU Portsmouth in 1973, she worked briefly as a Home Health Care Nurse through Scioto Memorial Hospital and later worked as an Industrial Nurse at the former Goodyear Atomic

Corporation from 1974-1978, a job she loved. She then began teaching at Shawnee State Community College and retired after more than 30 years as a Professor of Nursing at Shawnee State University. While at SSU she was active in the Shawnee Education Association and served as the Union Faculty President. She was also a member of the Promotion Review Board and traveled to Mexico to recruit for the university in conjunction with the Sister Cities Committee and SSU. Following retirement in 2008, she was honored with the distinction of Professor Emeritus.

She is a member and past president of the Down by the River Quilt Guild and involved in the Shawnee Nature Club and Connex. She is also skilled in knitting and sewing and likes to attend Bluegrass festivals.

“She taught non-traditional students and was a big advocate of her students. She wanted to make sure she could help the students obtain their nursing degrees,” said her daughter Dawn Scott. “and she now wants the scholarship to go to non-traditional students if possible, as she once was.”

“She is passionate about setting up this scholarship,” said Dawn. “She always advocated for her students. Long before the “empowerment for women” movement came along, she was empowering women.”

Contributions to the Sharon Musser Scott Nursing Scholarship Fund from family, friends or the general public may be made at any time. Donations may be in the form of cash, securities or properties. .

Additional information about the Sharon Scott Nursing Scholarship Fund or other planned giving opportunities at the Scioto Foundation may be obtained by contacting Patty Tennant, Program Office – Donor Services, or SF Executive Director Kim Cutlip at (740) 354-4612.