The Frances McHie Nursing Scholarship

The History

After graduating from Minneapolis South High School in 1929, Frances McHie attempted to enroll in the nursing program of the University of Minnesota; she was denied admission because of her color. W. Gertrude Brown, a local activist, and Sylvanus A. Stockwell, a Minnesota state senator, helped her to petition the legislature to become the first Black nursing student; she graduated in 1932 with a double major.

Upon graduating in 1932, Frances became the first Black woman to be employed by Minneapolis General Hospital (now Hennepin County Medical Center) as a supervisor of the outpatient clinic. She was also one of the twelve nurses to break the color barrier at Herman Kiefer Hospital in Detroit, Michigan. Frances began her role in higher education as an Associate Professor and Assistant to the Director of the School of Nursing at Tuskegee Institute. She was also an assistant professor at the School of Nursing at Meharry Medical College and the Director of the nursing service for Hubbard Hospital.

The Frances McHie Scholarship seeks to award small financial grants to individual University of Minnesota School of Nursing students interested in becoming nurses or advancing their nursing education. African American nursing students, non-white students, and first-generation college students are strongly encouraged to apply. Addressing racism in the healthcare field was a lifelong pursuit of Frances McHie. This scholarship is intended to continue her legacy.

Congratulations to our 2023 – 2024 University of Minnesota School of Nursing Frances McHie Scholar

Suleika Mohamed

For 2024 and beyond, consider submitting a tax-deductible donation to the University of Minnesota’s Frances McHie Scholarship HERE

Many Thanks to the Donors below who have contributed to this scholarship and the diverse future of healthcare:

  • Eric Eskola
  • Michele Fisher
  • Martha Lewis-Hunstiger
  • Susan Forstrom
  • Molly Goodyear
  • Hennepin Healthcare
  • Alexander Hines and Maria McLemore
  • Amy Hoelscherm
  • Huberty Performance Learning LLC
  • Marjorie Huebner
  • Jill Kane
  • Mary Koloroutis
  • Susan Lampe
  • Marie Manthey
  • Benjamin McHie
  • Leanne Meier
  • Teddie Potter
  • Beverly Propes
  • Yvonne RB-Banks
  • Joe Selvaggio
  • Elizabeth Sharpe
  • Tammy Sinkfield Fleming
  • Annette Smith
  • Tangri Marjeet
  • Terrence Troy
  • Elizabeth Tisel
  • Eric and Lois Hyde
  • Michael McHie
  • Angelina Caprella
  • Patricia Gessner
  • Sharon Ridgeway
  • Zoe Marquis-Kelly
  • Susan Forstrom
  • William Tilton
  • Marilyn Bach
  • Nargaret Artz
  • Park Avenue United Methodist Church
  • Edgar Walker
  • LB Murphy
  • Hennepin Avenue United
  • Methodist Church
  • Susan Lampe
  • Richard Brown
  • April Knutson
  • Heidi Kloempken
  • Elizabeth Sharpe
  • Manjeet Tangri
  • Sharon Ridgeway
  • Sandra and Phillip Edwardson
  • Marilyn Bach
  • Martha Lewis-Hunstiger
  • Katheren Koehn
  • Ann Rogers
  • Sarah Simons
  • JM Sinkfield Fleming
  • Beverly Propes
  • Network For Good
  • Thomas Nikundiwe
  • Jonathan Riehle
  • Antonia Wilcoxin
  • Anthony McHie