App State nursing majors Gavin Christian, a senior from Lenoir, far left, and Delaury Then, a rising senior from Raleigh, center, utilize an advanced nursing simulation laboratory for clinical training in App State’s Levine Hall of Health Sciences. Photo by Troy Tuttle
BOONE, N.C. — Appalachian State University has received a $1 million commitment from the Bedford Falls Foundation in support of its pre-licensure Bachelor of Science in nursing (BSN) program in the Beaver College of Health Sciences.
The funds will provide significant scholarship support for more than 40 nursing students from North Carolina who demonstrate financial need, with the option for annual renewal. The selected students will be known as Conway Scholars, in recognition of Bedford Falls Foundation’s founder and trustee, Bill Conway Jr., and his late wife, Joanne Barkett Conway, who have committed millions of dollars to addressing the critical shortage of qualified nurses nationwide.
“App State is dedicated to advancing educational opportunities for practicing and prospective nurses — a commitment we know is shared by the Bedford Falls Foundation,” said App State Chancellor Heather Norris. “This generous gift will help remove financial barriers for aspiring nurses and strengthen the health care workforce across our state and region.”
Foundation funding has also been designated for multiple other nursing program components focused on improving student success, including mental health first aid training — teaching students how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illnesses and substance use disorders — peer mentor programs, conference travel and professional development.
Additionally, an allowance will be created to assist students with the cost of courses taken during the summer — for which other scholarship support and financial aid is limited.
“Our principal mission is to facilitate greater access to high-quality nursing education while removing financial barriers that will help prepare future generations of nurses for the health care system,” said Bill Conway. “We are proud to partner with Appalachian State University’s Beaver College of Health Sciences to support nurses as they enter into the workforce to support themselves, their families and their communities.”
App State nursing major Emma Cheek ’25, of Yadkinville, participates in a clinical rotation at UNC Health Appalachian’s Watauga Medical Center in Boone. Cheek graduated from App State on May 10, earning her bachelor’s degree in nursing. Photo by Chase Reynolds
Elevating health care in the High Country and beyond
Established in 2010 in response to the growing need for BSN-prepared nurses in the region, App State’s pre-licensure nursing program has experienced significant growth in recent years, with continued expansion on the horizon.
In 2024, 92 counties in North Carolina were designated as Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs), including multiple counties in Western North Carolina. To help address statewide needs, the University of North Carolina System awarded $29 million in grants last year to expand nursing programs at institutions across the System, including a nearly $2.2 million grant awarded to App State.
Thanks to this increased support from the UNC System, App State’s Department of Nursing is on track to increase the number of BSN graduates by 60% from 2022 to 2026, according to Dr. Tammy Haley, chair of the Department of Nursing.
“As we add more seats to our nursing program, the support provided by the Bedford Falls Foundation will play a critical role in helping us fill those seats with talented and deserving students,” said Haley. “The foundation’s generous contributions will help ensure that financial obstacles do not deter students from pursuing a meaningful career in nursing.”
Graduates of App State’s BSN program are eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) for registered nurse practice. For 2024 and 2023, the BSN program boasted a first-time NCLEX pass rate of 100%, with a seven-year average first-time pass rate of 97%.
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The program, launching in fall 2026, will develop the next generation of rural health care leaders
UNC System awards $29 million in grants to expand nursing education
About Bedford Falls Foundation
The Bedford Falls Foundation, a private foundation, and Bedford Falls Foundation-DAF, a donor-advised fund advised by the foundation, were each established by Bill Conway Jr., co-founder and co-chairman of the global investment firm the Carlyle Group, and his late wife, Joanne Barkett Conway. Since 2013, the shared mission of their nursing philanthropy is to remove financial barriers to a high-quality nursing education and support educational partners in addressing the critical nursing workforce shortage. To learn more about Bedford Falls and the areas that it supports, visit www.bedfordfallsfoundation.org.
About the Beaver College of Health Sciences
Appalachian State University’s Beaver College of Health Sciences (BCHS), opened in 2010, is transforming the health and quality of life for the communities it serves through interprofessional collaboration and innovation in teaching, scholarship, service and clinical outreach. The college enrolls more than 3,600 students and offers 10 undergraduate degree programs, nine graduate degree programs and four certificates across six departments: Nursing, Nutrition and Health Care Management, Public Health and Exercise Science, Recreation Management and Physical Education, Rehabilitation Sciences, and Social Work. The college’s academic programs are located in the Holmes Convocation Center on App State’s main campus and the Levine Hall of Health Sciences, a state-of-the-art, 203,000-square-foot facility that is the cornerstone of Boone’s Wellness District. In addition, the college supports the Appalachian Institute for Health and Wellness and has collaborative partnerships with the Wake Forest University School of Medicine’s Physician Assistant Program, UNC Health Appalachian and numerous other health agencies. Learn more at https://healthsciences.appstate.edu.
About University Advancement
Appalachian State University’s Division of University Advancement supports and encourages the university’s mission by engaging alumni, friends and the greater community. University Advancement staff help connect these constituents with Appalachian through one-on-one contact and special programming, thereby securing the resources necessary to create the best possible learning environment for Appalachian students and to positively impact the community, region and state. The division incorporates the offices of Alumni Affairs, Development and the Appalachian State University Foundation Inc. Learn more at http://give.appstate.edu.
About Appalachian State University
As a premier public institution, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives. App State is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System, with a national reputation for innovative teaching and opening access to a high-quality, affordable education for all. The university enrolls more than 21,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and 80 graduate majors at its Boone and Hickory campuses and through App State Online. Learn more at https://www.appstate.edu.
The program, launching in fall 2026, will develop the next generation of rural health care leaders
UNC System awards $29 million in grants to expand nursing education
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