Alvernia University in Reading, Pennsylvania, has announced a $1 million grant from the Neag Foundation to bolster the university’s nursing scholarship fund.

The grant will expand the Carole Neag Nursing Scholarship Fund to meet the nursing workforce needs of Reading, Berks County, and the wider region. To that end, the university plans to more than double the minimum number of four-year scholarship recipients from four students per year to at least 10 by 2028.

The scholarships are focused on students from middle-class households who demonstrate financial need. Since its inception in 2016, the fund has provided scholarship support to 82 students enrolled in Alvernia’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing program.

“The impact of the Neag Nursing Scholarship Fund on our students has been remarkable,” said Alvernia University senior vice president and provost Leamor Kahanov. “It has not only provided financial assistance but has significantly contributed to increased retention and graduation rates, reinforcing our commitment to developing skilled and compassionate nursing professionals.”

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