NEWS RELEASE
Nursing Foundation of Rhode Island Awards
Record Number of Student Nurse Scholarships
Nineteen nursing students representing all five of Rhode Island’s nursing education programs have been awarded scholarships by the Nursing Foundation of Rhode Island as part of its 2004 Undergraduate Student Nurse Scholarship program. The scholarships, which range from $500 to $1,000, are awarded to students in good academic standing who demonstrate financial need.
This is the largest number of students to date to receive the scholarships which included a new $1,000 Elsie Drew Memorial Scholarship established by the Drew family upon Ms. Drew’s death this year to honor her many years of service to the Rhode Island nursing community including faculty positions and membership on many nursing boards. Yolanda Murphy, a Rhode Island College student nurse, was selected to receive the first Elsie Drew Scholarship
"I am delighted the Foundation was able to provide this tremendous level of scholarship support this year," said NFRI President Trudy Mulvey in announcing the scholarship awards. "The nursing shortage continues and is projected to worsen as the baby boomers age. An adequate supply of nurses is vital to our continued ability to provide quality health care. It is important for us to provide financial aid to students who choose nursing as a career. Many of these students are working and may also be supporting families. These scholarships provide critical funds needed by these students to successfully complete their courses."
Other scholarship awardees include: from CCRI, Dierdre Blais, Christine Bonin, John Cunningham, Jamie Edwards, Gillian Grant (Practical Nurse program), Jennifer Mooney, Susan Pedulla, and Cerena Williams; from Rhode Island College, Dorothy Burleson, Lisa Catalano, Desiree Kasmira DesVergnes, John Downing, Cheryl Garvin and Yolanda Murphy; from Salve Regina University: Sara Laniewski; from St. Joseph’s Hospital Nursing School, Meg Ivers; and from the University of Rhode Island, Caroline Freeman, Auren Pope and Rebecca Russo.
The Nursing Foundation of Rhode Island was founded in 1991 to promote nursing and to foster its advancement through the awarding of scholarships and research grants.