Endowed Nursing Scholarship Gets $318,000 Gift
Nursing students at Empire State University will be able to draw on a permanent scholarship fund established by a dissolving foundation.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Scholarships
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Empire State University received a $318,000 gift from the Julia O. Wells Memorial Education Foundation, which is dissolving and distributing its assets to area colleges. The gift establishes an endowed nursing scholarship that will support nursing students in perpetuity.
Why it matters
The gift channels a dissolving foundation's assets into a permanent fund for nursing students at a time when New York hospitals report severe staffing gaps. Because the scholarship is endowed rather than one-time, it is designed to keep supporting future nursing students year after year.
The gift totals $318,000 and funds the Julia O. Wells Memorial Education Foundation Endowed Nursing Scholarship for nursing students. The Julia O. Wells Foundation has supported SUNY Empire nursing students since 2011, and the source does not list per-award amounts or eligibility criteria.
The players
Empire State University
A public university in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., formerly known as SUNY Empire State College, serving adult and nontraditional learners across the state.
Julia O. Wells Memorial Education Foundation
A New York foundation that funded nursing scholarships for SUNY Empire students since 2011 and is now dissolving to distribute its assets to area colleges.
Healthcare Association of New York State
The statewide trade association for hospitals and health systems, which reported the 2024 finding that 97% of New York hospitals faced nurse shortages.
New York State Department of Labor
The state agency that publishes workforce projections, including the forecast of more than 17,000 annual registered nurse openings through 2032.
The details
The Julia O. Wells Foundation chose to convert its support into an endowed fund rather than a one-time payment, so the scholarship can continue indefinitely. As the foundation dissolves, its remaining assets flow to area colleges, and this gift moves that legacy to Empire State University. Students who qualify under the scholarship's terms would receive support drawn from the endowment's ongoing earnings rather than from a single lump sum.
Timeline
2011: The Julia O. Wells Foundation began supporting SUNY Empire nursing scholarships.
2024: 97% of New York hospitals reported a nurse shortage.
2022-2032: New York projects more than 17,000 annual registered nurse openings.
- 2026-11-05
Empire State University announced the $318,000 gift.
Education Landscape
Scholarship funding for nursing programs is often tied to workforce demand, and state projections of more than 17,000 annual registered nurse openings through 2032 show why donors and institutions prioritize the field. Endowed scholarships like this one add a durable layer of support alongside tuition aid, which tends to be more variable year to year.
If you are a nursing student in New York, ask your school's financial-aid office whether endowed scholarships like this one are available and what their eligibility requirements are. Because the endowment is designed to last, applying early in your program and keeping your academic records current can help you stay in position for awards as they become available.
The takeaway
A dissolving foundation's assets can become a permanent source of nursing scholarships when they are placed in an endowment. Students interested in nursing support should ask their financial-aid office about endowed awards and how to be considered for them.
Further reading
Explore more on how Scholarships work for students pursuing nursing degrees in New York.
More information
Visit the SUNY Empire University general information site to learn about the institution and its financial-aid resources.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Saratogian.
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