WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., Aug. 8, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Four exceptional nurses have been awarded 2018 March of Dimes Graduate Nursing Scholarships for post-graduate and doctoral studies in the field of maternal-child nursing.

"We congratulate these nurses for their dedication to improving the health of moms and babies in their communities," says Stacey D. Stewart, President of March of Dimes. "March of Dimes is proud to help these nurses continue their education at this critical stage of their careers. By doing so, we also help ensure that more moms and babies throughout the country get the best possible care."

Kristin DeArruda Wharton of Grand Marais, Minnesota, is a registered nurse pursuing a master of science in nursing at Frontier Nursing University in Hyden, Kentucky, to become a family nurse practitioner.

She is committed to improving maternal-child health in rural communities in northeastern Minnesota as well as throughout the United States. Ms. DeArruda Wharton has identified some of the challenges and risk factors facing rural women and their babies. For example, preterm birth rates and other poor health outcomes are disproportionately high in rural communities in the U.S. Family nurse practitioners play a crucial role in rural American communities that often have a shortage of primary care providers.

Ms. DeArruda Wharton was given the special designation as the March of Dimes Margaret C. Freda Scholarship Recipient as the highest-scoring applicant in 2018.

Qualified applicants for the March of Dimes graduate nursing scholarships are registered nurses currently enrolled in a graduate program in maternal-child nursing at the master's or doctoral level.  Applicants must be a member of the American College of Nurse-Midwives, the Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses, or the National Association of Neonatal Nurses. Applications for the 2019 scholarships will be available in September 2018 on the March of Dimes website, marchofdimes.org.

March of Dimes leads the fight for the health of all moms and babies. We support research, lead programs and provide education and advocacy so that every family can have the best possible start. Building on a successful 80-year legacy of impact and innovation, we stand up for every mom and every baby. Visit marchofdimes.org or nacersano.org for more information. Visit shareyourstory.org for comfort and support. Find us on Facebook and follow us on Instagram and Twitter.