The University of Tennessee, College of Nursing recently received a $1 million award from the Bedford Falls Foundation-DAF to support undergraduate nursing programs. The award will establish the Joanne and William Conway Nursing Scholarship, and the Joanne Barkett Conway Angel’s Wings Emergency Fund.
The Bedford Falls Foundation, a private foundation, and the Bedford Falls Foundation-DAF, its associated donor advised fund, were each established by Carlyle Group co-founder and co-chairman Bill Conway, Jr. and his late wife, Joanne Barkett Conway, focuses its philanthropy on nursing education.
“We are committed in providing support to high-quality nursing education at institutions like the University of Tennessee,” said Bill Conway. “Our goal is help reduce the financial burden and provide an opportunity for the next generation of nurses to enter the field without the weight of student debt.”
The Joanne and William Conway Nursing Scholarship will provide scholarships to 60 Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing students over the course of three years. These students will be referred to as the Conway Scholars. Each student will receive $8,750 on average each year.
The Joanne Barkett Conway Angel’s Wings Emergency Fund will provide emergency assistance to nursing students facing financial hardship.
The gift will also support a new full-time Student Success Coach in the college. This full-time employee will support BSN students during their educational journey. The Student Success Coach will help students progress successfully through the BSN program through time management techniques, nursing-specific “study smarter” skills, goal-setting exercises, connections to barrier-reducing resources, and more student-tailored coaching services.
“This incredible gift from the Bedford Falls Foundation will have a profound impact on our nursing students,” said Victoria Niederhauser, dean of the college. “The scholarship and emergency fund will provide much-needed financial support, while the addition of a full-time Student Success Coach will ensure our students receive the guidance they need to thrive. This investment in nursing education comes at a crucial time as we work to address the growing nursing workforce shortage.”
The United States is projected to experience a shortage of Registered Nurses (RNs) that is expected to intensify as Baby Boomers age and the need for health care grows. Compounding the problem is the fact that nursing schools across the country are struggling to expand capacity to meet the rising demand for care.
The Bedford Falls Foundation focuses primarily on access to high-quality nursing education and supports nursing schools in addressing the critical nursing workforce shortage.
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CONTACT:
Kara Clark (865-974-9498, [email protected])