Bethesda Alumni Association awarded $90,000 in scholarships to Nursing students
Thirty Cincinnati State Nursing students each received a scholarship for the 2026-27 academic year thanks to contributions by the Bethesda Alumni Association.
At an event in July 2026, Joyce Fugate, President of the Bethesda Alumni Association, presented a check for $90,000 to President Monica Posey and some of the scholarship recipients, including students seeking the associate degree in Nursing as well as students in Cincinnati State’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program.
Dr. Bonnie Smith, Dean of the Health & Public Safety Division, said the scholarships provide support for tuition, books, and other expenses, and also give Nursing students “encouragement, confidence, and reassurance that others believe in their potential and are willing to invest in their success.”
“For many of our students, scholarship support is the difference between struggling to continue their education and confidently moving forward toward graduation,” Dean Smith added.
Dean Smith also thanked the Bethesda Foundation for its contributions to the region’s workforce. “By supporting nursing education, the Bethesda Foundation is helping to strengthen the healthcare workforce and improve the lives of countless patients for years to come.”
The Bethesda Alumni Association has awarded scholarships to Cincinnati State nursing students since 2011.
Bethesda Hospital and Cincinnati State have deep ties in nursing. In 1989, the two institutions agreed to transfer the Bethesda School of Nursing to Cincinnati State, establishing the Cincinnati State Bethesda School of Nursing.
The Bethesda Alumni Association includes over 4,000 members, all graduates of the Bethesda School of Nursing or the Cincinnati State Bethesda School of Nursing.
The Bethesda Foundation administers the scholarship funds raised by the Bethesda Alumni Association and awards the funds to the Cincinnati State Foundation for distribution to Nursing students.
Nursing students are eligible for a Bethesda Alumni Association scholarship if they have a GPA of 3.0 or higher and have completed a course that includes a hospital clinical experience.