Rutgers School of Nursing Receives $1 Million Gift for Scholarships and Student Emergency Support
Thanks to a generous gift from the Bedford Falls Foundation-DAF, students will benefit from scholarships and funding for unexpected financial emergencies.
The Rutgers University School of Nursing has received a $1 million gift from the Bedford Falls Foundation-DAF to provide scholarships and emergency support, including “resource rooms” that will offer life essentials like food and supplies for nursing students in need.
“These funds will help our future nurses in countless ways—everything from tuition to basic necessities to peace of mind,” says Angela Starkweather, dean and professor at the School of Nursing, which is part of Rutgers Health and has campuses in Newark, New Brunswick, and Blackwood, New Jersey. “At a time when our state and nation face a nursing shortage, we couldn’t be more grateful for this partnership which will enable more students to follow this important vocation.”
The gift, which is from a donor-advised fund that the Bedford Falls Foundation advises, will establish the Joanne and William Conway Nursing Scholarship and the Joanne Barkett Conway Fund. The funds honor the foundation’s cofounder and cochairman William “Bill” E. Conway Jr. and his late wife, Joanne.
Based in McLean, Virginia, the Bedford Falls Foundation focuses its philanthropy on nursing education, among other areas, seeking to “remove barriers to a high-quality nursing education and address the critical nursing workforce shortage.” Its name was inspired by the town in the movie It’s a Wonderful Life, a nod to the good luck the Conways experienced in their own lives. (Coincidentally, the movie was based on the short story “The Greatest Gift,” written by a 1924 Rutgers alumnus, Philip Van Doren Stern.)
“Nurses are essential to our nation’s health,” Bill Conway says. “We are honored to partner with Rutgers University’s School of Nursing and support students who go on to support our communities, their families, and the rest of us as nurses. We believe in them.”
The Joanne and William Conway Nursing Scholarship will support students from New Jersey pursuing bachelor of science degrees in nursing who will be known as “Conway Scholars.” Up to $5,000 will be awarded to more than 240 Conway scholars, who must be in academic good standing and have demonstrated financial need.
The Joanne Barkett Conway Fund provides emergency aid to students who have experienced significant life changes that negatively impact their financial situation, with the goal of helping them continue their studies. The School of Nursing also will use this fund to establish resource rooms at each of its campuses. These designated spaces will be equipped to meet essential student needs by offering food, school supplies, hygiene products, and a few loaner laptops.
“These rooms reflect our mission to support students holistically throughout their educational journey and promote their well-being and success,” Starkweather says.
As part of its three-fold mission of providing education, conducting research, and performing public service, Rutgers University also is committed to supporting students in emergency financial situations. This commitment reflects its core values of academic excellence that's accessible and affordable; building a community where every member of the university has a voice; and serving the common good while making a meaningful difference in the world.
In U.S. News & World Report rankings, the School of Nursing’s bachelor’s, master’s, and doctor of nursing practice programs are the highest ranked in New Jersey. Nationally, the doctoral program is No. 4 and the master’s program is No. 17, according to 2025 Best Graduate Schools. At number 39 out of 686 programs, its bachelor’s program places in the nation’s top 5 percent, according to Best Colleges 2024.
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