Steve Mendenhall, RRT Memorial Scholarship

The NMC Steve Mendenhall, RRT Memorial Scholarship provides a renewable award for Respiratory Care students interested in working in rural Nebraska after graduation.

This scholarship is available to students pursing:

  • An Associate in Respiratory Care degree at NMC
  • Participating in the 3+1 Respiratory Therapy Program available to UNK, WSC, CSC, and Hastings College students.

Scholarship Awards:

Associate Program in Respiratory Care at NMC:

  • Full-time students: $4,000 per term
  • Part-time students: $2,000 per term
    (Maximum award of $24,000 total)

Bachelor's Program, 3+1 Respiratory Therapy:

  • $8,000 per term for three terms (summer, fall and spring).

Application Criteria:

  • Scholarship applicants must be admitted to Nebraska Methodist College's Respiratory Care by the posted scholarship application deadline. 
  • Complete the NMC Steve Mendenhall, RRT Memorial Scholarship Application form and submit your essay.

Submission Deadlines:

April 23, 2027 (summer start deadline)

July 1, 2027 (fall start deadline)


Applicants must meet the following criteria to apply:

  • Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5
  • Success in previous math and science coursework
  • Respiratory Care required prerequisite courses must be on track for completion by the start of the summer 2026 term.
  • Scholarship applicants must be interested in working in rural Nebraska as a Respiratory Therapist upon graduation.

Steve Mendenhall, RRT Memorial Scholarship writing prompt: Please answer each of the following questions in 300-600 words. Applicants are encouraged to provide examples to support your responses when appropriate. Your essay should be submitted as a DOCX or PDF file type.

  1. Please tell us about yourself and why you want to become a respiratory therapist.
  2. How would this scholarship positively impact your future as a respiratory therapist?
  3. Please write about your desire to pursue respiratory therapy and how you will use your degree to serve rural Nebraska.

Scholarship essay submission instructions:

  1. Place your first and last name in the header of your file.
  2. Include the question number and question above each of your responses.
  3. Use APA writing format
  4. Save your file as: SCHOLARSHIP NAME_FIRST NAME_LAST NAME_DATE