Nacogdoches Medical Center (NMC) is pleased to announce its five nursing scholarship award recipients for 2025/2026. Beginning this year NMC will select five incoming nursing students who will each receive $20,000 scholarships, $5,000 per semester for two years, to assist future nurses with their tuition. Upon graduation, these recipients will join NMC as nurses, continuing the tradition of excellence that the Lucille Dewitt School of Nursing has consistently brought to our hospital throughout the years.

“NMC’s partnership with the SFA nursing program is a foundational part of the care that we provide,” said Jeff Patterson, CEO for Nacogdoches Medical Center. “We are thrilled to be able to offer these scholarships to support this community’s future nurses as well as the patients they will care for when they graduate.”

This year’s inaugural nurse scholarship recipients are:

• Caitlin Neeley
• Shelby Wright
• Morgan Smith
• Heather Minter
• Gracie Duncan

“Our continued strong relationship with the SFA nursing program allows us to continue to keep talented nurse graduates in the Nacogdoches area,” said Patti Bennett, RN BSN MS, Nacogdoches Medical Center Chief Nursing Officer. “The SFA nursing program offers a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree program, which provides students with the essential knowledge and skills to provide high-quality, safe care.”

Nacogdoches Medical Center offers SFA nursing students a Nurse Residency program that provides hands on experience, strong mentorship and clinical training opportunities to meet the needs of all graduates and ensures that they are prepared when they start their career.

“Nacogdoches Medical Center has long served as a valued clinical partner for the DeWitt School of Nursing, and we are thrilled to expand that partnership through a new scholarship opportunity for our students,” said Katy Trotty, Ed.D., MSN, RN, IBCLC, CNE, Interim Assistant Director & BSN Program Coordinator and Assistant Professor at the DeWitt School of Nursing. “This initiative not only supports future nurses as they complete their education but also strengthens our local workforce by helping retain talented graduates right here in our community. We are excited for what this means for our school, our students, and the future of healthcare in East Texas.”