The College of Southern Maryland unveiled the newly named Maryland Academy of Advanced Practice Clinicians Nursing Lab on February 12, 2026, at its Regional Hughesville Campus, honoring MAAPC’s ongoing support for nursing education and its $57,500 gift that established the Future Nightingales Endowed Scholarship in October 2025.
The ribbon-cutting event recognized MAAPC’s contributions to bolstering the region’s healthcare workforce pipeline amid persistent shortages. CSM President Dr. Yolanda Wilson highlighted the impact of the scholarship during the ceremony. “Your commitment reflects a clear understanding of both the urgency of today’s healthcare workforce needs and the long-term investment required to meet them,” she said. “Scholarships like the Future Nightingales Endowed Scholarship strengthen the healthcare workforce pipeline by removing financial barriers and allowing talented, dedicated students to focus on learning, training, and preparing for the demands of the profession.”
Credit: College of Southern Maryland
Administered by the CSM Foundation, the Future Nightingales Endowed Scholarship awards two $1,250 scholarships annually, renewable for a second year if recipients maintain a B or higher in all nursing courses. The endowment draws inspiration from Florence Nightingale, founder of modern nursing, to emphasize nursing as both a calling and a high-standard profession.
MAAPC Board Member Sabrina Sepulveda addressed the symbolic connection. “By connecting educational funding to Nightingale’s name, it reminds scholarship recipients that they are continuing the work of someone who proved that nursing is both a calling and a profession worthy of the highest educational standards,” she said. “Each scholarship recipient represents not just one nurse, but potentially thousands of patients who receive care throughout that nurse’s career.”
CSM Foundation Chair Samantha Stratchko underscored the partnership’s value. “We are honored to celebrate MAAPC’s generous investment and partnership with CSM, uniting hands-on nursing education with the Future Nightingales Endowed Scholarship to build a strong and compassionate healthcare workforce,” she said.
First-year nursing student Samantha Freeman, one of the scholarship’s inaugural recipients, shared her story. She initially enrolled in 2023 but paused her studies due to health issues. As a mother of three returning to school, she described the financial relief as transformative. “I am now able to show my children that although setbacks can be frustrating, there are resources available to help you achieve your dreams,” Freeman said. “Your investment is not only shaping my future, but also the future of the patients and communities I will one day serve.”
Founded in 2005 by nurse practitioners in Southern Maryland, MAAPC advocates for advanced practice clinicians—including nurse practitioners and physician assistants—through education, collaboration, and legislative efforts to address workforce shortages statewide.
The naming of the nursing lab follows MAAPC’s earlier gift and aligns with broader efforts to support CSM’s nursing program, which prepares students for Associate of Science in Nursing degrees through rigorous classroom, lab, and clinical training. Over the past decade, the CSM Foundation has raised $12 million in scholarships and program funds, awarding $9.7 million to advance student success in fields like nursing and allied health.
This collaboration strengthens Southern Maryland’s healthcare infrastructure by directly supporting local students in overcoming financial hurdles and entering the profession ready to serve regional hospitals, clinics, and communities facing ongoing staffing demands.
