The College of Southern Maryland Foundation has partnered with the Maryland Academy of Advanced Practice Clinicians to launch a new endowed scholarship aimed at supporting nursing students in Southern Maryland. On October 1, 2025, the Maryland Academy of Advanced Practice Clinicians presented the College of Southern Maryland Foundation with $57,500 to create the Future Nightingales Endowed Scholarship, which will assist students enrolled in the college’s nursing program. This initiative addresses the growing need for skilled healthcare workers in the region, where nursing vacancies remain a persistent challenge.
College of Southern Maryland President Dr. Yolanda Wilson stated that the scholarship reflects broad community backing for developing the next wave of healthcare professionals in Southern Maryland. “CSM is preparing future nurses to fill a critical need in our region’s skilled health care workforce,” said Dr. Wilson. “We’re proud to partner with MAACP to equip students with the support they need to succeed, so they can continue improving the health and wellness of the communities they serve.”
Eligibility for the Future Nightingales Endowed Scholarship requires applicants to hold a high school diploma or equivalent, reside in Maryland, and enroll in at least seven credit hours within the nursing program. Priority goes to those demonstrating financial need. The scholarship, managed by the College of Southern Maryland Foundation, will distribute two awards of $1,250 each year. Recipients may renew for a second year if they maintain a B grade or higher in all nursing courses. Funds can cover tuition, fees, books, and supplies, helping ease the financial burden for students pursuing careers in a field facing statewide shortages.
Maryland Academy of Advanced Practice Clinicians President Marie Tarleton emphasized the broader impact of such investments. “MAAPC recognizes that investing in nursing education through scholarships creates cascading benefits that extend far beyond individual recipients, generating substantial returns for improved patient outcomes, workforce sustainability, and healthier communities,” Tarleton said. “It is MAAPC’s great honor to establish the Future Nightingales Endowed Scholarship at CSM.”
The partnership aligns with ongoing efforts to bolster nursing education amid Maryland’s projected nursing shortages. By 2037, the state anticipates a 20 percent deficit in registered nurses, ranking among the highest in the nation, with demand for about 60,000 positions but only around 45,000 filled. In Southern Maryland, vacancy rates have hovered between 13 percent and 17 percent in recent years, exacerbating access to care in rural and underserved areas. Projections from the Maryland Hospital Association indicate that the nurse workforce will need to grow significantly to meet demands through 2035, with emphasis on regions like Southern Maryland where healthcare infrastructure serves smaller populations across Calvert, Charles, and St. Mary’s counties.
The College of Southern Maryland’s nursing program prepares students for this demand through a structured curriculum leading to an Associate of Science in Nursing degree. Students complete prerequisite courses before advancing to clinical training, which includes hands-on experience in local healthcare facilities. Graduates are eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses, with the program emphasizing evidence-based practice and patient-centered care. Enrollment typically requires a minimum GPA and completion of foundational science courses, aligning with state standards for nursing education. The college’s School of Science and Health oversees the program, which has produced hundreds of nurses contributing to area hospitals and clinics.
Established in 2005 by nurse practitioners in Southern Maryland, the Maryland Academy of Advanced Practice Clinicians began as the Maryland Coalition of Nurse Practitioners before renaming in 2011 to include physician assistants. The nonprofit organization focuses on addressing healthcare access issues, especially in rural communities, by advocating for advanced practice clinicians to operate at the full scope of their training. It develops educational programs and supports legislative efforts to expand roles for advanced practice registered nurses and physician assistants. This scholarship marks a continuation of its mission, rooted in Southern Maryland, to foster workforce development in underserved areas.
The College of Southern Maryland Foundation, which administers the scholarship, has a robust history of supporting student access to education. Over the past five years, it has distributed more than $5 million in scholarships, averaging 800 awards annually. In the last decade, the foundation has awarded $9 million overall and raised $11.5 million for scholarships and programs. Other recent initiatives include the Families in Motion Scholarship for students with family responsibilities and the Julia B. Wills Memorial Scholarship for those in health-related fields. Fundraising events, such as the annual Golf Classic, have raised over $80,000 in a single year for student aid, demonstrating community commitment to education in the region.
To apply for the Future Nightingales Endowed Scholarship, students must submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid and complete the general application through the college’s Scholarship Finder portal. The system automatically matches eligible applicants to opportunities, with additional supplemental questions for specific awards. Applications are managed via Academic Works, where donors like the Maryland Academy of Advanced Practice Clinicians are profiled. For contributions to the scholarship, individuals can visit the foundation’s webpage at https://www.csmd.edu/foundation/ways-to-give/scholarships/index.html, where options for endowed funds ensure long-term support.
This scholarship builds on a legacy of community investment in education. The College of Southern Maryland, serving about 15,000 students annually across its campuses in La Plata, Leonardtown, Prince Frederick, and Hughesville, plays a key role in workforce training for Southern Maryland’s economy. By focusing on nursing, the partnership helps mitigate shortages that affect local hospitals, such as MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital and CalvertHealth Medical Center, where demand for registered nurses continues to rise. Statewide efforts, including workforce planning by the Maryland Hospital Association, underscore the need for such programs to sustain healthcare delivery in areas with limited resources.
