Frequently Asked Questions

• Annual Timeline

  The Volunteer Scholarship will be available twice each year during a winter and summer cycle to align application opening periods with most school breaks.  

  

• Who Can Apply?

  Current and former volunteers with at least 30 hours of service at the hospital campus, Bellevue Clinic and Surgery Center, South Clinic (Federal Way), or North Clinic (Everett)

  • Applicants must upload a transcript and a picture/screenshot of their intended institution's minimum academic requirements to demonstrate that they are currently meeting them
  • Scholarship funds need to be paid to educational organization within one year of being awarded
  • Applicants can apply once each cycle (two times each year)
  • Winners can only be awarded once
  • This scholarship is only available to current and former volunteers with at least 30 documented hours who have onboarding through the Volunteer Services program.  It is not available to Seattle Children's Research Institute (SCRI), Bargain Boutiques (Retail), Foundation and Guild Association, event and group volunteers, playroom or special guests, interns, Family Advisors, anyone receiving a stipend or school credit for their service, or other volunteers not listed.
  • Applicants must be currently enrolled in an educational course or organization related to healthcare
• How Much Will Be Awarded?

  One winner will be awarded $2500 during each winter and summer cycle annually, for a total of two awards per year.

  This money needs to be paid to the awardee's educational organization within one year of being awarded and can only be used to cover the cost of tuition, class fees, books, and/or other required materials.

  Each May we will review available endowment funds and may adjust scholarship amount for the following 12 months (summer and winter cycles) to ensure that the scholarship remains available in perpetuity. If the amount changes, we will update the website at that time.

• How Do I Apply?
  1. Review eligibility requirements and resources for support
  2. When applications are open, click on link at top of page to apply
  3. Selection committee reviews applications and invites 3-5 top candidates to an individual 30-minute virtual interview with committee members.
  4. Winner is announced by phone, email and mailed letter. All applicants who were not selected will be notified by email.
  5. Seattle Children's will pay the award amount to the educational institution for the cost of tuition, books, class fees, and/or other required course materials.
• Selection

  Applications will be rated based on the applicant's interest in health care or a related field, commitment to health equity and antiracism, academic potential (as demonstrated by initiative and follow-through), and leadership ability (in community, school, volunteer, work or lived experience).

  4-5 top-rated applicants will be invited to a 30-minute virtual interview with the scholarship committee. Interviewees will be asked and rated on what they are most proud of, an obstacle they have overcome, when they ensured inclusion in an activity, and demonstrating the values of Seattle Children's.

  The scholarship committee will include five Seattle Children's workforce members representing Volunteer Services, Talent Acquisition, Inclusion Networks, and Volunteers. Volunteer Services' goal is to build a pipeline to education and employment in healthcare for volunteers who identify as being from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups.

• History and 2023 Redesign

  E. Nannette Strahl was a devoted member of the Seattle Children's Interlaken Guild and proponent of continuing education. She crocheted blankets for babies to take home from the hospital and opened her home to board college students in healthcare. Her daughter, Bernice Strahl Caverly, established the E. Nannette Strahl Scholarship in 1968 and a second scholarship known as the Bernice Strahl Caverly Scholarship in 1986. These were eventually combined to become the E. Nannette Strahl and Bernice Strahl Caverly Scholarship, referred to as the Volunteer Scholarship.

  The volunteer scholarship was paused in 2020 due to COVID-19 and Volunteer Services partnered with the Workforce Development and Planning team in 2022 to redesign it. It was relaunched in 2024 in alignment with Seattle Children's values and commitment to anti-racism, as well as Volunteer Services' goal of building a pathway to careers in healthcare for individuals from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups.

  These updates include:

  • Offering awards twice each year (instead of once)
  • Expanding availability to former and regional clinic volunteers (in addition to currently active hospital volunteers). See the Who Can Apply section for more detail about eligibility requirements
  • Lowering hours requirements to 30 (from 80 or 100)
  • Rating applicants on their demonstrated commitment to advancing health equity and anti-racism
  • Recruiting a diverse selection committee of five workforce members representing Volunteers, Talent Acquisition, Inclusion Networks and Volunteer Services.

  We invite all individuals who are underrepresented in healthcare, including Black, Latina/o/e/x, Hispanic, American Indian, Alaskan Native, Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander applicants to contact us for support with or questions about your application. Learn more about Seattle Childrens commitment to health equity and anti-racism here.

• Past Award Winners

  Maya Chavez, Summer 2024 Volunteer Scholarship Winner

  Maya clearly demonstrated her sense of self and her passion for healthcare. She shared strong examples of her inspiring commitment to equitable and family-centered care.

  "My experience volunteering in the Emergency Department at Seattle Children's taught me the importance of compassion, cultural humility, and teamwork when caring for our communities. These lessons now guide my values as a student of occupational therapy. I am committed to a collaborative, client-centered, and culturally responsive practice that advocates for equal access to quality care."

  

  Jessica Kent, Winter 2024 Volunteer Scholarship Winner

  Jessica shined among a very competitive group of Seattle Children's volunteer applicants by demonstrating how her personal experiences have helped her become a resilient, motivated, and equity-focused leader who is actively working to reduce health disparities.

  "While volunteering at Seattle Children's Bellevue Clinic and Surgery Center, I learned the importance of embracing and celebrating each patient's individuality, acknowledging their unique backgrounds, needs, and values, while amplifying their voices in every decision. As a medical student, I carry forward these principles, striving to ensure every patient feels understood, respected, and truly cared for."