The Jean School of Nursing & Health Sciences is proud to announce that Abigail Egan ’26 has been awarded the Brave of Heart Scholarship.
This award provides $10,000 in support of a student pursuing an associate or bachelor’s degree in nursing. The Brave of Heart Fund, established by the Cigna and New York Life Foundations and administered by E4E Relief, recognizes students who are dedicated to improving healthcare outcomes for the communities they serve. Professor Carrie E. MacLeod, director of Undergraduate Nursing, presented this scholarship opportunity to students in the Jean School, and the School is thrilled to celebrate Abigail’s exceptional achievement.
“The Brave of Heart scholarship has lightened some of the financial burden of a nursing education for myself and my family, says Egan. “It will give me more opportunities to pursue graduate school because of the assistance it has provided me.”
In her application for the Brave of Heart Scholarship, Egan shared her goal of becoming an emergency room nurse and, ultimately, a nursing professor. She reflected on how working in the emergency room offers a unique perspective on the strengths and weaknesses of the American healthcare system, which inspires providers to advocate for meaningful change. Egan also wrote passionately about the importance of preventing violence against nurses by empowering them to speak up for themselves. She emphasized the need for strong advocacy to address violence against healthcare workers, stating that standing up for oneself and for the profession is essential to the future of nursing.
The Brave of Heart Scholarship supports excellent nursing students to achieve their highest academic and future goals. According to Egan, “The scholarship gives more low-income students the option to pursue nursing and receive an education at whatever school they choose, because it can be applied to any nursing school. Consequently, this increases the amount of nurses who understand the experience that low-income families face in regard to healthcare and education, which creates a more well-rounded and inclusive nursing community.” Egan is grateful to have received this honor, and with her intelligence and kindness, she will continue to do great things in the nursing field.
“The Brave of Heart Scholarship is a prestigious and competitive award, and we are delighted to see one of our students recognized as an emerging leader in nursing,” says MacLeod. “We here at the Jean School of Nursing and health Sciences congratulate Abigail on this outstanding achievement.” This scholarship offers financial support to passionate future nurses like Abigail, whose dedication to the field will inspire and uplift the community for many years to come.
“I think this opportunity is so special because it can help so many students who may not have been able to pursue nursing otherwise,” says Egan.