Scholarship Application

AKHIMA Scholarships are funded by generous donations by AKHIMA members and AKHIMA vendor partners. The total amount of scholarships to be awarded is determined annually by the AKHIMA Board of Directors and is based on available funds.

AKHIMA Scholarships 1) provide financial assistance to AKHIMA Student Members who are enrolled in accredited Health Information Administration or Health Information Technology programs and 2) provide financial assistance to AKHIMA Active Members who are enrolled in HIA or HIT programs pursuing a specialty credential or a higher credential than they currently hold (e.g., CCS or CCS-P pursuing RHIT or RHIA; or RHIT pursuing RHIA), or pursuing a master’s degree in HIM.

You must include the following for the application to be accepted:

1. Two recommendation letters from health information management professionals
2. Official transcripts with grades from your HIA, HIT, or HIM Master’s Degree program courses. (Unofficial transcripts with grades accepted if verified by Program director.)
3. Written essay of 500-550 words that responds to the following two questions:
   • Describe your educational and/or career goals in health information management.
   • Describe how receiving an AKHIMA scholarship will assist you to meet your educational and/or career goals in health information management.
4. Validation from program director that a minimum of 50% of HIA or HIT program curriculum or HIM Master’s Degree program has been completed.

Eligible applicants for AKHIMA scholarships:

1. Must hold AKHIMA Student or Active membership status at the time of the application
2. Have selected Alaska as their Component Association (CA) within their AHIMA membership
3. Be an Alaska resident for a year
4. Must be enrolled in an HIA or HIT program or HIM Master’s Degree program and have completed a minimum of 50% of that curriculum
5. Have an overall grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or better
6. Must not have received an AKHIMA scholarship at any time previously

The scholarship application deadline is February 28th and awards will be announced by April 15th. Scholarship presentations are made at the AKHIMA Annual Conference, but recipients do not need to be present.

Scholarship applications are evaluated based on 1) essay content and writing skill, 2) academic excellence, 3) content and suitability of recommendation letters provided, and 4) completeness and clarity of the application.