The Foundation awards scholarships from several nursing funds each year. One application may be used to apply for all nursing scholarship opportunities.

Scholarship Award Details

Award amounts vary from $500 to $10,000. Applicants must reapply for scholarship renewals. Applicants must be either a Rhode Island resident or attending a nursing program in Rhode Island. 

Scholarship Criteria

Interested students must complete the Nursing Application, which may include essays, transcripts, a résumé worksheet, letters of recommendation, and other supporting documents.

For reference, in addition to completion of the Nursing Application, the information below highlights some of the criteria associated with the various nursing scholarship funds.

Alumnae Association of Newport Hospital School of Nursing Scholarship

• Rhode Island residents
• Pursuing nursing education

Albert E. and Florence W. Newton Nursing Scholarship  

• Rhode Island residents studying nursing in or out of state
• Non-Rhode Island residents studying nursing in Rhode Island
• Past recipients are eligible to reapply

John J. O'Connor Jr. Memorial Nursing Scholarship Fund

• Rhode Island resident attending a Rhode Island school
• Must be in pursuit of a CNA, Associates, or Bachelors Nursing Degree
• Academic excellence
• Financial need
• Past recipients are eligible to reapply

Edward J. and Virginia M. Routhier Nursing Scholarship

• Licensed RNs seeking baccalaureate or graduate nursing degree in Rhode Island
• Students enrolled in a baccalaureate nursing program in Rhode Island
• Financial need
• Past recipients are eligible to reapply

Willard and Marjorie Scheibe Nursing Scholarship

• Rhode Island residents
• Pursuing LPN, RN or advanced nursing degree
• Financial need
• Past recipients are eligible to reapply

Lillian Sparfven & Ethel Ferrara Fund Scholarship  

• Rhode Island residents
• Demonstrated financial need
• Attending an accredited nursing program in pursuit of an LPN, RN, or advanced nursing degree
• Preference for students who intend to practice in Rhode Island upon graduation
• Past recipients are eligible to reapply

Surti Family Scholarship  

• Students currently working in Rhode Island as Certified Nursing Assistants
• Preference for CNAs at Butler Hospital, then Care New England or its successor

Alan Edgar Wurdeman Scholarship Fund

• Rhode Island residents
• Pursuing LPN or RN nursing degrees
• Attending a school in Rhode Island or Northeastern University School of Nursing
• Maintain a GPA of 2.5 or better
• Preference given to students committed to staying in Rhode Island after graduation
• Past recipients are eligible to reapply

Deadline and Application Process

Application deadline: 11:59 p.m. (EST) on Monday, April 13, 2026.

Students must apply through the Rhode Island Foundation’s secure online scholarship platform.