Scholarship
Communities across the United States are becoming more diverse—and the healthcare, STEM, and public health sciences sectors that serve them are still catching up. When the people in the room reflect the communities they serve, trust deepens, innovation expands, and outcomes improve for everyone. The Institute for Health and Social Equity invests in the talent that closes this distance—through scholarships, leadership development, and partnerships across sectors.
Who Should Apply?
Scholarship applicants must come from communities that have historically faced barriers to accessing higher education in nursing and healthcare, including but not limited to African American, Hispanic/Latino, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander students, and demonstrate a history of community service.
Scholarships are renewable each year, provided the criteria are met and funds are available.
Select a field you are interested in pursuing below to learn more about the scholarship and eligibility requirements.
The Alana Cueto Nursing Scholarship
About Alana Cueto
Alana has spent her professional career improving the health and well-being of vulnerable children and families living in distressed urban neighborhoods through service, scholarship, education and advocacy. Alana is a registered professional nurse, certified clinical nurse leader and Fellow at the New York Academy of Medicine. Currently an active member and co-Founder of the Society of Latinx Nurses (SOLN) where she chairs the Scholarship Committee.
Alana combined purpose and passion as the Founder and President of the National Association of Hispanic Nurses (NAHN) Garden State Chapter having led the chapter in cultivating healthier communities for all residents in the state of New Jersey. She also served on Governor Phil Murphy’s Healthcare Transition Advisory Board for the State of New Jersey and was appointed by the Honorable Mayor Wilda Diaz to the City of Perth Amboy Zoning & Planning Board (2018-2020).
As a nurse member of the Nightingale Initiative for Global Health (NIGH), she contributed to the survey for the development of the Sustainable Development Goals used at the United Nations (UN) were presented at the 62nd UN Commission on the Status of Women, Empowering Girls and Women through Innovative Nursing and Midwifery Interventions (2018) and later as panel presenter at the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) State of Latinx Health in America Summit (2019).
Alana has been recognized for her leadership, health advocacy, and volunteerism. Honors include: New Jersey State Nursing Association/Institute for Nursing Dons & Divas Award (2019), National Association Hispanic Nurses National (NAHN) Henrietta Villaescusa Community Service Award (2016), NAHN Ambassador Award (2016), Seton Hall University College of Nursing Elizabeth Ann Seton Young Alumni Award (2015), and the Hispanic Leadership of New Jersey Health Advocate Award (2015)—a three-part award that includes a Bronze Medal of Honor and Special Recognition from both the United States Congress and the State of New Jersey Joint Legislature. On September 28, 2019, The Wilson Initiative for Health & Social Equity, Inc. honored Alana as an “Unsung Hero” for her advocacy in addressing the social determinants of health and for working towards creating a more diverse workforce in acknowledgement, The Alana Cueto Nursing Scholarship was established by The Wilson Initiative to help pave the way for minority students pursuing careers in nursing.
Although a native New Yorker, Alana resides in New Jersey where in 2018 she demonstrated her commitment to servant leadership by running against the incumbent for a City Council position. Despite not being elected she continued her civic engagement and commitment to the community as an active member of the City’s Zoning and Planning Board, and through collaboration with community leaders and stakeholders in an effort to engage residents in initiatives related to health and wellness.
Alana is proud to share that of all her achievements—the greatest has been to be the mother of her two children: Wesley and Caryn.
Who Should Apply?
Awarded to college-bound high school students, recent high school graduates, or current undergraduate students from communities that have faced barriers to opportunity, who have been accepted into an accredited 2- or 4-year nursing program. This scholarship is open nationally to qualified candidates.
Eligibility Requirements
- Show a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above through an official transcript
- Demonstrate a history of community service
- Submit a personal statement (300 words or fewer) describing solutions you would propose to improve a critical issue in healthcare
- Complete an interview with the selection committee
- Maintain a 3.0 GPA or above during college matriculation for continued scholarship funding
The Marion L. Johnson “Hidden Figure” Scholarship for Science, Technology, Engineering & Math
About Marion L. Johnson
Marion Lee Johnson made history as a Boeing engineer whose data contributed to the first successful manned lunar landing on July 20, 1969. After graduating from Talladega College with a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics, she began her career in 1967 as an Associate Engineer at The Boeing Company in Huntsville, Alabama. Boeing was a leader in building the Apollo Saturn V rocket. Marion Lee Johnson was assigned to the Launch Systems Branch at Boeing and worked on the NASA project for the Marshall Space Flight Center, under the direction of the legendary Wernher von Braun and Arthur Rudolph. While working on the Boeing/NASA team in 1967, Marion Lee Johnson was responsible for preparing data inputs for simulation of vehicle piece impact trajectories.
Marion received significant commendations in March of 1969 for an incredible perfect score of 20 successful missions in 20 attempts. Boeing also recognized Marion for her dedication, technical competence, and high standards of achievements in contributing to America’s successful First Manned Lunar Landing Mission on July 20, 1969, where Neil Armstrong said, “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” Marion’s name is enshrined in the Apollo/Saturn V Roll of Honor. A copy of this historic roll is in the Library of Congress, as well as the Smithsonian Institution, both in Washington, D.C. The historic achievements of Marion Johnson, and others like her were made famous by the award-winning book and film, Hidden Figures, and underscores the benefits of diversity in STEM.
Click here for more information.
Who Should Apply?
Awarded to college-bound high school students, recent high school graduates, or current undergraduate students from communities that have faced barriers to opportunity, who have been accepted into an accredited STEM program. This scholarship is open nationally to qualified candidates.
Eligibility Requirements
- Show a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above through an official transcript
- Demonstrate a history of community service
- Submit a personal statement (300 words or fewer) describing solutions you would propose to improve a critical issue in STEM
- Complete an interview with the selection committee
- Maintain a 3.0 GPA or above during college matriculation for continued scholarship funding
The Gloria Addo-Ayensu Public Health Sciences Scholarship
About Gloria Addo-Ayensu
Gloria Addo-Ayensu, MD, MPH is the Director of Health for Fairfax County. In this capacity, she provides overall leadership and direction for public health programs in the county and serves as the official health advisor to the Fairfax Board of Supervisors, Health Care Advisory Board, and Human Services Council.
Throughout her public health career, Dr. Addo-Ayensu has advanced health equity and community resiliency through partnerships, and successfully leveraged community assets to create innovative, practical, and sustainable community-based solutions to complex public health challenges. She led Fairfax County’s responses to the 2001 anthrax attacks, the H1N1 and COVID-19 pandemics, which has earned the department national recognition for its impactful approaches to contact tracing, mass vaccination and vaccine equity.
Dr. Addo-Ayensu is a visionary leader. She has served on national committees and spearheaded local, regional, and statewide public health initiatives in the areas of emergency preparedness, health promotion, and transformative community engagement and capacity building. In 2016, she was a recipient of the A. Heath Onthank Memorial Award, the highest honor Fairfax County bestows upon its employees. Dr. Addo-Ayensu received her medical degree from Tulane University School of Medicine and her residency training in preventive medicine from the Loma Linda University Medical Center.
Who Should Apply?
Awarded to college-bound high school students, recent high school graduates, or current undergraduate students from communities that have faced barriers to opportunity, who have been accepted into an accredited program preparing them for a career in public health services. This includes a broad range of fields—such as public health, epidemiology, social work, human services, health policy, public administration, laboratory science, and related disciplines—within local, state, or federal government or the nonprofit sector. Applicants must articulate an explicit health focus in their personal statement. This scholarship is open nationally to qualified candidates.
Eligibility Requirements
- Show a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above through an official transcript
- Demonstrate a history of community service
- Submit a personal statement (300 words or fewer) describing a critical issue at the intersection of public health and science, the solutions you would propose, and how your intended field of study connects to that work
- Complete an interview with the selection committee
- Maintain a 3.0 GPA or above during college matriculation for continued scholarship funding
The 2026 application deadline has passed. Stay tuned for the 2027 application details.