When Emily Zou began the BSN program at the University of Michigan School of Nursing, adjusting to the workload was overwhelming.
As a first-generation college student, Emily came from a high school with limited resources and quickly realized the study techniques she had relied on in the past were no longer enough. Through the Bill and Joanne Conway EPIC Scholarship program, she found financial assistance, academic support and a community that helped ease her transition to college.
“The Conway Scholars program has taught me many things about prioritizing my academics and well-being, which has helped me transition into college tremendously,” Emily said.
Emily is one of 27 students from the inaugural Conway Scholar cohort continuing in the program this fall. Another 73 scholars are beginning their first year at the U-M School of Nursing.
The program was established through a $2 million grant from the Bedford Falls Foundation in 2025. The grant established the Bill and Joanne Conway EPIC Scholarship and was expected to provide partial scholarships to more than 140 undergraduate students over four years, along with academic support for additional students.
The scholarships support BSN students with demonstrated financial need and include stipends and NCLEX preparation materials. The grant also funds peer tutoring and faculty-led academic support.
The Bedford Falls Foundation and the donor-advised fund it advises, were started by Carlyle Group co-founder and co-chairman Bill Conway Jr. and his late wife, Joanne, with a shared vision of removing barriers to nursing education and addressing the nursing workforce shortage. The U-M School of Nursing was the foundation’s first awardee in Michigan.
For students like Emily and fellow Conway Scholar Alexis Briceno, that financial support has made an immediate difference.
“The monetary aid allows me to focus on my academics rather than worrying about picking up another shift,” Emily said.
“A big part of choosing Michigan was because of the resources provided to students to help with the financial burden, and it's truly been life-changing,” she added.
Alexis said the scholarship has helped with tuition and flights home while allowing him to spend more time focused on his schoolwork.
“It has definitely taken a burden off my shoulders in terms of paying for tuition, paying for flights to go home, and has overall allowed me to focus more on schoolwork rather than worry about finances,” Alexis said.
But financial assistance is only one part of the Conway Scholars program.
This year, the grant supports 130 undergraduate students, including 100 scholars and 30 student peer leads. Beyond the financial awards, Conway Scholars enter the program as a cohort and receive coaching and academic support throughout their time in the program.
That support begins before classes through the Pre-BSN Institute, a two-day program designed to help incoming Conway Scholars prepare for the transition into nursing school. Students are introduced to academic resources and support systems while getting to know faculty, staff and fellow scholars before their first semester begins.
Building a Sense of Belonging From the Beginning
The newest Conway Scholars got their first look at that support during this year's Pre-BSN Institute in early September.
New Scholars joined returning sophomore scholars, faculty, staff and Dean Allison Webel for the second day of the two-day Institute, which included a Conway Scholar pinning ceremony and activities focused on preparing students for the semester ahead.
Students developed study plans, learned about coaching and academic resources, and heard from returning scholars about lessons from their first year. The Pre-BSN Institute also included opportunities for students to interact with faculty, staff and school leadership.
Beyond the Institute, the Conway Scholar Program uses a tiered academic support model based on exam performance. Support can increase when a student needs it rather than waiting until the student asks for help or reaches the end of a semester.
Scholar progress is tracked through a coordinated system so advisers and program staff can identify when additional support may be needed.
Alexis said one-on-one meetings with Dr. Elizabeth Brough, clinical assistant professor emerita, helped him recognize early that some of the study methods he had been using were not the right fit for certain courses.
“I've definitely become more aware of what forms of studying actually work for me and what doesn't,” he added.
Both students also pointed to the Nursing Learning Center as an important resource. Alexis said getting advice from upper-level students who had already taken his courses has been an important part of his experience. Emily said the emphasis on using the Nursing Learning Center encouraged her to seek help even when she was hesitant to ask for it.
Emily also added that the Conway Scholar meetings have helped her build relationships with classmates while developing new study and organizational habits.
“I have become much more organized now, using a Google Calendar to track my assignments, meetings, and classes, which has helped the feeling of being overwhelmed go away slowly,” Emily said.
Support Beyond the Scholarship
The impact of the Bedford Falls Foundation grant extends beyond students who receive financial awards.
Student-led tutoring and study groups supported by the grant are available to any U-M School of Nursing student. Conway Scholars also have access to faculty-led academic support.
Financial awards are directed to 100 BSN students based on FAFSA and academic information, but students can participate as Conway Scholars even if they do not receive a financial award.
“Hearing the story about the Conway family allowed me to see that I'm in the right field because seeing their empathy in helping nursing students only motivated me more to give empathy to my future patients and be the best nurse for them,” Emily said.
“Being a Conway Scholar has made me a more confident student in my abilities and has made me more academically successful,” Alexis said.