For nurses, the work does not always end at the hospital bedside. Some eventually find themselves drawn toward teaching, research, leadership, or finding new ways to improve the delivery of healthcare.For Valerie Anne C. Nicolas, a staff nurse at Cruzado Medical Hospital since 2018, that next step now leads to graduate education.
Nicolas is the first recipient of the HFI Graduate Nursing Scholarship at Wesleyan University-Philippines (WUP), a new scholarship pathway made possible through the partnership between the WUP Graduate School and Health Futures Foundation, Inc. (HFI).
The scholarship is supporting incoming students of WUP’s Master of Arts in Nursing (MAN) program for Academic Year 2026–2027. WUP was allocated two scholarship slots, with one awarded to Nicolas and one slot remaining available for another qualified Filipino nurse.
Making Graduate Education More Accessible
Pursuing a master’s degree can be a significant commitment for working professionals, particularly when tuition, learning materials, research requirements, and other academic expenses are considered.
The HFI scholarship seeks to ease these financial demands by assisting with tuition and miscellaneous fees, books and learning resources, internet allowance, thesis and graduation fees, and other approved scholarship support.
For nurses considering graduate studies, this assistance can make continuing their education more attainable.
Beyond financial support, the scholarship reflects the growing need for nurses who can contribute beyond direct patient care. Advanced nursing education can prepare professionals for roles in nursing education, research, leadership, and healthcare service—areas that help shape both the profession and the communities it serves.
From Practice to Further Learning
Nicolas’s selection comes after years of experience in clinical practice, having worked as a staff nurse at Cruzado Medical Hospital since December 16, 2018.
Her journey represents one of the pathways available to practicing nurses who choose to build on their experience through graduate education.
Through the MAN program, working nurses can continue developing their professional knowledge while preparing for responsibilities that extend beyond the hospital floor.
For WUP, the partnership with HFI adds another avenue for the Graduate School to connect professional experience with advanced learning.
With one more scholarship slot still available, the opportunity remains open for another qualified Filipino nurse or nurse educator to take the next step—from professional practice toward further learning, leadership, and service.
The HFI Graduate Nursing Scholarship thus offers more than assistance for a degree. It opens a door for nurses who are ready to expand what they can contribute to the profession and to the communities they serve.
Article by Emily G. Agumbay (PIO)
Information and photos courtesy of the Graduate School
