Helen M. Sims Memorial Health Professions Scholarship

The Helen M. Sims Memorial Health Professions Scholarship was established in 2006 through a bequest from Helen Sims. Helen was born in 1912 in Prairie Hill, Mo. Because her father was a country newspaper editor, the family moved about during Helen’s early childhood. She graduated from high school in Norman, Okla., and received a bachelor’s degree in journalism in 1936 from the University of Oklahoma. Helen’s first job was as a retail personnel manager and then regional training director for Montgomery Ward in Wichita and Kansas City. It was there that she met Frances Osborne, with whom she shared a home for more than 50 years. After leaving Montgomery Ward, Helen had a 28-year career with the KU Medical Center, where she was director of the public relations department, and then the medical and nursing alumni associations. She is the only person to receive Honorary Alumnus Awards from the alumni associations of both the School of Medicine and the School of Nursing. She also wrote several KU historical booklets and received publication awards from the Midwest Health Congress and Kansas Press Women. After they retired, Helen and Frances enjoyed traveling to Europe and throughout the United States. Both died in 2006.

This scholarship is for deserving students in the School of Health Professions.