The Nurses Educational Funds Centennial Celebration
Honoring our Past - Funding our Future
October 24, 2012, board members and friends of the Nurses Educational Funds Organization celebrated NEF’s centennial with an elegant occasion at the Griffis Faculty Club at Cornell Weill Medical College.
Board Member, Dr. Louise Fitzpatrick, who was also a Nurse Scholar recipient many years ago, paid tribute to the first 2 scholarship recipients in 1912 and traced the highlights of NEF’s growth to the current awarding of 19 Master’s and Doctoral scholarships in 2012. Lovely Thelma Schorr, the editor of the American Journal of Nursing for decades, shared comments about housing and supporting NEF on West 57th in the Journal offices for years. Dr. Cynthia Sculco, NEF Vice President, spoke about the importance of giving, as nurses, as professionals, and as people who need to support each other. The best part of all was that we raised more than $30,000 for future scholars with this event.
With over 50 in attendance, old friends and colleagues hugged and greeted each other, and new colleagues and board members had the opportunity to meet those nurse scholars they had only known by name.
As your President, I see the centennial celebration as symbolizing the promise and energy for a great year ahead and renewed support for NEF’s commitment to significantly promote graduate nursing scholarship. We thank all of those who have donated and who came to enjoy the celebration.
Susan Bowar-Ferres
FEATURED SCHOLAR

Jennifer Dillon
(2018-2019 Winner)
Jennifer Dillon MPA, RN-BC is the recipient of the 2018 Mathy Mezey Scholarship. Following a six-year enlistment in the U.S. Air Force, Jennifer made the decision to pursue nursing as she has a passion for both... read more.
Support Graduate Nursing Education
Nurses Educational Funds, Inc. (NEF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established by nurses for nurses in 1912, and since then, the organization has awarded over 1,500 scholarships to support the pursuit of advanced degrees in nursing.
NEF’s named scholarships, created with a minimum donation of $50,000, honor and memorialize nurse leaders, from Isabel Hampton Robb to Thelma Schorr to Susan Bowar-Ferres. 100% of donations help to keep NEF scholarships funded in perpetuity; organization expenses are covered by prudent management of NEF’s investments.