‘Truly life-changing’: Bedford Falls Foundation – DAF’s $2M grant opens door to UMMC School of Nursing for students in need
Published on Monday, August 18, 2025
By: Annie Oeth, aoeth@umc.edu
Photos By: Melanie Thortis/UMMC Communications
The University of Mississippi Medical Center School of Nursing received a $2 million grant from the Bedford Falls Foundation – DAF to support undergraduate programs through the establishment of the Joanne and William Conway Nursing Scholarship.
This gift will create 167 full scholarships for traditional and accelerated BSN programs at the School of Nursing’s locations in Jackson and Oxford over the next three years.
“At Bedford Falls Foundation, our principal mission is to facilitate greater access to high-quality nursing education by removing the financial barrier, so students can focus on entering the nursing workforce with less stress,” said Bill Conway Jr., founder and trustee of the Bedford Falls Foundation and founder of Bedford Falls Foundation – DAF. “Together, through our shared missions and goals, our hope is to create an opportunity where students can continue to fulfill their dreams and succeed.”
The grant comes as the state and country face a need for more nurses.
“Nurses are the heart of every health care team,” said Dr. LouAnn Woodward, vice chancellor for health affairs. “Their expertise, compassion and dedication not only save lives but also shape the future of health care. We cannot achieve our vision of a healthier Mississippi without increasing the number of nurses in our state.”
Dr. Tina Martin, dean of the School of Nursing, said the scholarships have the power to be life-changing for nursing students as well as for their future patients.
“Because they’re need-based, they will open the door for students who might not otherwise be able to pursue a nursing degree without taking on student loan debt,” she said. “These scholarships will not only lead to nursing careers for our students, but they will ensure that nurses are there when care is needed.”
The traditional BSN program is a four-year degree program, with two years of nursing curriculum completed at UMMC School of Nursing, while the accelerated BSN track, for students who have a baccalaureate degree in another discipline, is completed in a year.
The need for nurses nationally is projected to increase, with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicting an additional 197,200 registered nursing positions by 2033. In a 2017 U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration report, it is projected that Mississippi could see a 16.9% shortfall in the number of nurses by 2030, making nursing education critical for meeting the state’s future health care needs.
Dr. Sharon McElwain, professor and associate dean for academic affairs, said the scholarships will transform lives.
“Students who receive these scholarships will be able to shift their focus from financial concerns to what truly matters – excelling in their clinical training and academic studies,” she said. “How exciting for our students to move through nursing school and into the workforce with their attention fully on patient care rather than the burden of student loans.”
Meredith Aldridge, executive director of Development and Alumni Engagement, said the scholarships will also inspire.
“We are deeply grateful to the Bedford Falls Foundation - DAF for their generous investment in nursing scholarships,” she said. “This gift is more than financial support — it’s a powerful vote of confidence in our students and their futures. The impact will be felt not only in the lives of these aspiring nurses, but in the communities they will serve for generations to come.”
The School of Nursing will let eligible students know how to apply for the scholarships, Martin said.
To support the School of Nursing, please contact Harold Brewer, major gifts officer, at 601-815-3738 or hbrewer@umc.edu.