Last Updated on February 24, 2026 11:07 am
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.
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.
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.”
App State’s 2025–26 Conway Scholars
Adekemi Adekanle, a senior from Greensboro
Chelsey Arney, a junior from Taylorsville
Tiffany Baity, a senior from Davie County
Mallory Blevins, a senior from High Point
Scarlett Browne, a junior from Winston-Salem
Stephanie Bueno-Chiquito, a junior from Mocksville
Alexandra Butters, a senior from Charlotte
Gavin Christian, a senior from Sanford
Avery Collins, a junior from Advance
Maggie Ruth Combs, a junior from Boone
Rylee Councill, a junior from Boone
Eric Danner, a senior from Lexington
Carter Diggs, a senior from Gastonia
Abby Everhart, a senior from Lexington
Tatum Forbis, a senior from Raleigh
Natalie Fox, a junior from Wilmington
Peyton Francis, a junior from Camden
Jazmine George, a senior from Garner
Abigail Greene, a junior from Rutherford County
Daxton Greer, a junior from Morganton
Emma Greffeuille, a senior from Pittsboro
Colt Henderson, a senior from Elkin
Grace Hill, a senior from Morganton
Ella Irving, a senior from Boone
Landon Johnson, a senior from Boone
Kevin Lenh, a junior from Raleigh
Ella McSwain, a senior from Shelby
Hannah Meeks, a junior from Concord
Miriam Middlesworth, a junior from Charlotte
Brianna Montanez, a junior from Winston-Salem
Alexis Ponce, a senior from Charlotte
Leslye Resendiz-Muñoz, a junior from Kenly
Lila Rhodes, a senior from Browns Summit
Elise Richards, a senior from Forest City
Addison Sharpe, a junior from Mount Pleasant
Bronwyn Sloop, a junior from Elkin
Makayla Stillwell, a junior from Mooresville
Leilani Tolliver, a senior from Sneads Ferry
Olivia Whitley, a senior from Monroe
Lilly Wyland, a junior from Laurinburg
Maggie Zheng, a senior from Raleigh
Anna Wai, a junior from Charlotte
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