Section 593.220  Criteria for Selecting Scholarship Recipients

a)         The Department shall allocate podiatric scholarship monies to podiatric medical schools for scholarship award.  Such podiatric medical schools shall utilize the following criteria in the selection of scholarship recipients.  Preference shall be given to those scholarship applicants who, in written narratives and personal interviews, can demonstrate the following:

1)         interest in pursuing podiatric medicine;

2)         previous experience with medically underserved populations;

3)         previous experience in the health care delivery system, with preference given to those whose experience has involved one of the primary care specialty areas;

4)         academic capabilities as reported by the applicant's podiatric medical school;

5)         financial need as reported by standard financial analysis documentation supplied by the applicant's podiatric medical school on the student's behalf;

6)         greater number of years of podiatric medical school remaining;

7)         stated interest in providing podiatric care to Illinois citizens residing in designated shortage areas of Illinois;

8)         greatest number of years of residence in Illinois; and

9)         United States citizens, or those granted permanent residence in the United States by the Immigration and Naturalization Service.

b)         Of all applicants, priority is given to those individuals who have previously received a Podiatric Student Scholarship, providing that:

1)         recipient requests, in a format determined by the Department, a continuation of scholarship funds;

2)         recipient would not be repeating the same year of school for the second consecutive year because of poor academic performance; and

3)         recipient has not voluntarily withdrawn from podiatric medical school.

c)         Minority students as defined in Section 593.10 shall be given preference in selection for scholarships. (Section 5 of the Act)