By Sarah Morgan Johnson
On February 25, the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Nursing hosted the 2025 Jean Riley Tomlinson Scholarship Luncheon. This annual luncheon brings together scholarship donors and recipients, giving students the opportunity to express their gratitude for the ways their scholarship impacts their education and lives.
Dean and Fay B. Ireland Endowed Chair Maria R. Shirey, PhD, MBA, RN, NEA-BC, ANEF, FACHE, FNAP, FAAN, welcomed guests to the luncheon and thanked donors for their generosity.
“Our donors’ commitment to our students’ education ensures they receive the best possible nursing education, equipping them with the skills and knowledge they need to excel in their careers and make a lasting impact on the world,” Shirey said. “As Alabama’s demand for more highly educated nurses continues to rise, one of the School’s highest priorities is to ensure that we provide deserving students with the financial assistance they need to achieve their educational and career goals.”
During the 2024-2025 academic year, the School distributed more than $1 million in scholarships to more than 400 students. Since last year’s Scholarship Luncheon, 27 new scholarships have been established. To celebrate its 75th Anniversary, the School has set out to raise 75 new scholarships between October 1, 2024 and December 31, 2025.
Luncheon attendees also heard from two scholarship recipients, Connor Waddell and Tieraney White. Waddell and White thanked their donors and shared firsthand accounts of how receiving a scholarship has transformed their educational experiences.
Waddell is a fifth semester Bachelor of Science in Nursing student and the recipient of the Jernigan Endowed Nursing Scholarship and the Curry Bordelon and Christopher Hickman Endowed Nursing Scholarship. Support from scholarship donors has allowed Waddell to prioritize his academic success, and in turn, he hopes to one day give back to future nursing students.
“The scholarships I’ve received have not only alleviated financial pressure for my family and me but have also given me the invaluable opportunity to fully invest in my education. They have allowed me to dedicate more time to learning, engaging with my professors and peers and gaining the hands-on experience that will help me become the best nurse I can be,” Waddell said. “This support has encouraged me, and one day, I hope to create a scholarship for students like me to help them achieve their dreams too.”
For more information on giving to scholarships, contact the Office of Development at (205) 975-9419 or visit uab.edu/nursing/home/give.
White is a student in the Accelerated Master’s in Nursing Pathway and recipient of the Benjamin and Roberta Russell Nursing Scholarship. She is passionate about caring for Alabama’s mothers and babies and receiving a scholarship has allowed her to pursue her dream of one day becoming a Certified Nurse-Midwife.
“My experience at the UAB School of Nursing has been fast paced but nothing short of amazing. I am filled with gratitude for the donors and the exceptional faculty who have supported my journey. I entered this program expecting to rely solely on loans and savings, a risk I was willing to take, because I believed in my ability to succeed. But having a donor believe in me tells me that I am seen and valued, and that someone believes in my potential just as much as I do,” White said.
Click here to view photos from the luncheon.