Created in 2023 and fully funded in 2026, the Susan Bowar-Ferres Scholarship is devoted to nursing leadership in the Magnet Recognition Program, which recognizes healthcare organizations for quality patient care, nursing excellence and innovations in professional nursing practice. Consumers rely on Magnet designation as the ultimate credential for high-quality nursing.
While the Susan Bowar-Ferres Scholarship Fund was growing in 2024 and 2025 to become a permanent named scholarship, NEF awarded two exceptional graduate nursing students the scholarship for meeting the criteria of demonstrating leadership in aspiring or continuing to achieve Magnet designation, such as being a Magnet Program Director/Coordinator, or a leader of or actively involved in their quality council, clinical indicator council, or similar quality improvement program.
In 2024-2025, Quasha Morefield, a master's student attending Mercy University, received the first Susan Bowar-Ferres Scholarship. Ms. Morefield works in a Med-Surg/Oncology unit, has a nursing certification in Med-Surg accredited by ANCC, and is a Magnet Ambassador for Presbyterian-Westchester Hospital, pursuing its Magnet status. Read more about Quasha Morefield.
In 2025-2026, Laura Koke, a DNP student from Indiana University, received the second Susan Bowar-Ferres Scholarship for leading initiatives to achieve and maintain nursing excellence. As Riley Children’s Health’s Magnet Program Coordinator, she submitted successful Magnet documentation and supported a Magnet site visit, and Riley ultimately achieved its 5th Magnet designation. Read more about Laura Koke.
Susan Bowar-Ferres, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, is an Emeritus NEF Board Member who has dedicated many years of service to the NEF Board of Directors, as President of NEF as well as Chair of the Bylaws Committee. Under her leadership as the Chief Nursing Officer, NYU Langone Medical Center earned two successive Magnet designations. Dr. Bowar-Ferres is dedicated to excellence in practice and all that Magnet recognition means. The Susan Bowar-Ferres Scholar shares these values and aspirations.
(2021-2022 Winner)
BethAnn Nowak is the inaugural recipient of the Mary V. Insall Scholarship. She earned her first Master’s degree in Nursing from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee as a Clinical Nurse Leader in 2018 and her... read more.
NEF’s only purpose is to provide nursing scholarship assistance to make graduate level nursing education possible. NEF is one of the largest, national, private, professionally endorsed source of funds for advanced nursing study with over one hundred years of service to and for professional nursing.
NEF’s Board of Directors is comprised of leaders from nursing, education, technology, and business communities. Members donate their time and talent to the advancement of the nursing profession. NEF operates with exceptionally low overhead. NEF employs only one individual who serves in several capacities. NEF is a non-profit organization with 501(c) status; thus, your contributions are fully tax-deductible.
Nurses Educational Funds, Inc. Scholarship for Leadership 