Applications Open for Nurse Practitioner Scholarships

Published on: June 1, 2026

Watertown, NY — Applications for the eighth annual Susan Peters Nursing Scholarship are being accepted now through July 15, 2026.

Susan Peters, a retired nurse from Samaritan Medical Center established a scholarship through the Samaritan Medical Center Foundation for Registered Nurses (RNs) looking to advance their careers as Nurse Practitioners (NPs). Sadly, Peters passed away in 2020, yet this scholarship remains part of her legacy and commitment to healthcare in the community.

The Susan Peters Nursing Scholarship was established in 2018 to assist with the educational costs for an RN continuing their education, specifically to pursue a Nurse Practitioner degree. Two scholarships of $2,000 are awarded each year.

Peters graduated from the former House of the Good Samaritan School of Nursing and retired from Samaritan Medical Center as a Certified Oncology Nurse. Prior to that, she served as a staff RN and for more than 20 years as a Nurse Manager of Medical/Surgical, Orthopedic, and alternate level of care units.

Beth Fipps, Vice President of Samaritan Foundation and Community Services, explained, “We are so grateful to Susan for leaving a legacy to a profession she was so committed to. Susan so generously established this scholarship to promote the Nurse Practitioner profession because she felt there is an increasing need for such a role due to the nationwide shortage of healthcare providers.”

Nurse Practitioners provide vital care to patients, including developing treatment plans for their patients, ordering tests, performing minor procedures, and prescribing medication.

The 2025 scholarships awardees were Olivia Marra and Courtney Sartwell. Oliva Marra, an RN in Samaritan’s Interventional Radiology, Progressive Care Unit (PCU), and Infusion Departments, is pursuing her Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner degree. Courtney Sartwell, also an RN at Samaritan in the PCU, is continuing her education to become a Nurse Practitioner.

Again, the application period for the Susan Peters Nursing Scholarship is June 1 – July 15, 2026, with the scholarship award announcement scheduled for August 2026.

To be eligible for this scholarship, candidates must meet the following criteria:

• Be an RN with a minimum of two full years’ working experience. RNs currently working for Samaritan Medical Center preferred, but not mandatory.
• Medical/Surgical experience preferred but not necessary.
• Must be a resident of either Jefferson or Lewis counties in New York.
• Eligible to apply after successful completion of the first semester in a Nurse Practitioner program with at least a B average.

As part of the application, RNs must describe why they are pursuing their Nurse Practitioner degree and where, as well as whether they have a financial need. Applicants should submit two letters of recommendation and the two most recent transcripts along with the application to support the RNs pursuit of a Nurse Practitioner degree.

For more information or to obtain a scholarship application, please visit www.samaritanhealth.com/scholarshipapplication, contact the SMC Foundation at 315-785-5785, or visit www.samaritanhealth.com/scholarships. The application can be completed online, emailed to [email protected] or mailed to Samaritan Foundation, Attn: Beth Fipps, 830 Washington Street, Watertown, NY 13601.