The 42 App State nursing students who compose the university’s inaugural class of Conway Scholars are pictured with Dr. Tammy Haley, professor in and chair of the Department of Nursing, far right in the first row, and Dr. Sarah Martin, assistant professor in the Department of Nursing and director of App State’s Bachelor of Science in nursing program, far left in the first row, in the Levine Hall of Health Sciences — home to App State’s Beaver College of Health Sciences. At a fall 2025 event hosted by the Beaver College to honor the scholars, each scholar received a special lapel pin from the Bedford Falls Foundation that identifies them as a Conway Scholar. Photo by Kyla Willoughby
BOONE, N.C. — This fall, 42 aspiring health care providers have been named as Appalachian State University’s inaugural class of Conway Scholars. The students, who are enrolled in App State’s pre-licensure Bachelor of Science in nursing (BSN) program, receive scholarship support funded by a significant commitment from the Bedford Falls Foundation.
The Conway Scholars are named in recognition of the Bedford Falls Foundation’s founder and trustee, Bill Conway Jr., and his late wife, Joanne Barkett Conway, who have dedicated millions of dollars to addressing the critical shortage of qualified nurses nationwide.
“Empowered by this scholarship, our inaugural Conway Scholars are poised to achieve their professional goals and make a lasting difference in communities across North Carolina — through the care they will provide to countless patients and families at health systems, physician practices, care facilities and community-based clinics,” said Dr. Marie Huff, dean of the Beaver College of Health Sciences.
2025–26 Conway Scholar Landon Johnson, an App State senior nursing major from Boone. Photo by Kyla Willoughby
Empowering future health care providers
App State’s Conway Scholarship is opening doors for nursing majors, providing students the support they need to advance their education, gain essential clinical experience and enter the field with confidence.
Landon Johnson, a senior nursing major from Boone, shared the impact the scholarship has had on his educational journey.
“When I was 7 years old, my father had a stroke that left him paralyzed and bedridden. Shortly after, my mother’s health began to decline as well, and finances have been tight ever since,” said Johnson.
By helping to alleviate the financial burden of his studies, Johnson said his Conway Scholarship has allowed him to more deeply immerse himself in the nursing program’s curriculum and clinical experiences.
Dr. Marie Huff, dean of App State’s Beaver College of Health Sciences, addresses the university’s inaugural class of Conway Scholars during a September event held in the Levine Hall of Health Sciences on App State’s Boone campus. Photo by Kyla Willoughby
The Conway Scholars program at App State offers support to students from North Carolina who demonstrate financial need, with the option for annual renewal.
In addition to providing scholarship funding for nursing students at App State, contributions from the Bedford Falls Foundation also underwrite 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.
“The support provided by the Bedford Falls Foundation goes far beyond assisting nursing students with the cost of tuition,” said Dr. Tammy Haley, chair of the Department of Nursing, at an event hosted by the Beaver College this fall to honor the inaugural class of Conway Scholars. “By funding opportunities across the program, the Bedford Falls Foundation is fostering the holistic development of our students, ensuring they are amply prepared to excel in their future careers.”
Dr. Tammy Haley, professor in and chair of App State’s Department of Nursing, speaks to the university’s inaugural class of Conway Scholars during a September event held in the Levine Hall of Health Sciences on App State’s Boone campus. Photo by Kyla Willoughby
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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, cost-effective education. 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.
