By providing Nightingale College learners with the resources needed to attend and complete their academic programs, Nightingale Foundation strives to improve the nation’s health outcomes and advance health equity by increasing access for underserved and underrepresented populations, helping address the nursing shortage. Through tuition assistance initiatives such as the Carolyn Johnson Scholarship Fund, the Foundation helps individuals facing financial hardship cover the cost of their nursing education without the burden of repayment.
For Carolyn Johnson, nursing was more than a profession; it was a life dedicated to caring. It was a calling rooted in compassion, service, and a lifelong commitment to caring for others. From an early age, Carolyn dreamed of becoming a healthcare provider. After attending nursing school in Michigan, she began her career soon after graduation. Throughout her career, she believed deeply in the value of personal and professional growth through education, took deep pride in being a nurse, and found fulfillment in her many years of caring for others. Carolyn passed away in 2002, but her commitment to nursing and education continues through the scholarship fund established in her name at Nightingale College by her daughter, Maureen Cook, and son-in-law, Charles Cook, former chair of Nightingale’s Board of Managers.
This perpetuating endowment fund, awarded twice annually, reflects the values Carolyn held dear, including her deep belief in personal and professional growth through education. This scholarship carries her legacy forward by supporting Nightingale College learners who demonstrate the same compassion, determination, perseverance, and dedication that defined her life.
Recipients of the fund are honored as Johnson scholars, carrying Carolyn’s name and legacy with them as they pursue a career in nursing. To date, four Johnson scholars have been named through this scholarship program. Carolyn would have recognized something special in Nightingale College: its unwavering commitment to creating opportunities for individuals who might not otherwise have a pathway into nursing. Through these scholars, her legacy lives on—not just in her name but in the nurses she inspired.
The Carolyn Johnson Scholarship Fund is open to any current, matriculated, or undergraduate learner at Nightingale College who demonstrates a need for gap funding. Funds can be used for tuition and fees, books, childcare, transportation, housing, and any other education-related needs. Two $10,000 scholarships are awarded to two learners twice a year. Learners can apply for the Carolyn Johnson Scholarship Fund starting on Friday, Sept. 11.