USC Upstate received a \$2 million gift from the Bedford Falls Foundation-DAF to create the Joanne and William Conway Nursing Scholarship Fund. This fund will provide 108 scholarships annually for four years, totaling 432 awards to support nursing students.
Starting in fall 2025, the fund will offer \$2,500 scholarships to 48 lower-division nursing majors and \$5,000 scholarships to 60 upper-division nursing majors each year. Eligible students must be U.S. citizens, South Carolina residents, maintain a GPA of 2.7 or higher, and complete at least three hours of peer mentoring or community service per semester.
Dr. Shirleatha Dunlap, dean of nursing at USC Upstate, said the gift will help students reduce work hours and debt, allowing them to focus more on their studies. The scholarships align with the college’s goals, encouraging mentoring and community service to support student success.
The donation also funds two new initiatives: the Joanne Barkett Conway Dean’s Emergency Fund, which helps nursing students facing unexpected financial hardship, and the Student Success Initiative Fund, which offers academic and social support, including tutoring and faculty training.
Bill Conway Jr., co-founder of Bedford Falls Foundation, said the gift will help reduce financial barriers and address South Carolina’s nursing workforce shortage. RJ Gimbl, USC Upstate’s vice chancellor for advancement, praised the partnership’s impact on nursing education and health care.
Chancellor Bennie L. Harris called the gift a commitment to students and the region’s future health care needs. Scholarship applications will open soon, and eligible students are encouraged to apply.
The Bedford Falls Foundation, founded by Bill Conway Jr. and his late wife Joanne Barkett Conway, aims to support nursing education and workforce needs. The gift was made through the USC Upstate Foundation, which manages private donations for the university.
