Our nation is facing a nursing shortage crisis — and UCF is stepping up. By 2035, Florida is projected to be short of more than 59,000 nurses, including 37,400 registered nurses (RNs), according to the Florida Hospital Association. To meet that demand, the state needs thousands of new nurses every year — and UCF is leading the way in preparing them.

A new transformational $2 million gift from the William R. Kenan Jr. Charitable Trust will help UCF further address this crisis by supporting individuals pursuing a career change to nursing. The gift will provide hundreds of UCF second degree Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) with much-needed scholarships and wrap-around services to support their success.

UCF’s accelerated second degree BSN program is designed to provide students with a non-nursing bachelor’s degree the opportunity to change careers to healthcare. To support these and other students in its rigorous programs, the College of Nursing’s Knight Nurse Academic Center for Success (KNACS) offers students tutoring and group study sessions, personalized coaching and academic wellness workshops. Although the center experienced a reduction in services due to budget constraints, the generosity of the William R. Kenan, Jr. Charitable Trust has made it possible to fully restore this valuable resource.

Through its academic excellence and commitment to student success, UCF graduates are in high demand and fuel a quality talent pipeline to alleviate the state’s nursing shortage. Of UCF’s 17,000 nursing alumni and growing, almost all of them, 85%, live and work in Florida.

Kris Hysler ’23BSN, a graduate of the second degree BSN program, is one of them. When her father became ill, Hysler recognized the profound importance of nursing care and felt compelled to pursue a career change. Today she works at the Orlando VA Medical Center, providing compassionate, clinical care to our community.

Eliminating Barriers, Increasing Access

Scholarships were critical to helping Hysler pursue her degree and a successful, fulfilling career in nursing. Students who pursue a second bachelor’s degree are not eligible for financial aid or federal grant funding at any level. Therefore, their financial aid options are very limited and often burdensome. Increasing financial support for second degree BSN students helps to eliminate barriers to entry, supports student success and makes a meaningful impact in addressing Florida’s critical nursing shortage. The generosity of the William R. Kenan Jr. Charitable Trust will fuel future career changers like Hysler by awarding $1.8 million in 360 scholarships to second degree BSN students over the next three years.

Beginning with the summer 2026 cohort and continuing through Summer 2028, each student will receive a $5,000 scholarship — fully covering tuition and educational expenses. In addition to the scholarships, the William R. KenanJr. Charitable Trust will allocate $200,000 to support student success by funding Student Nurse Association membership fees, conference travel and the Knight Nurses Academic Center for Success.

Empowering Human Potential

The William R. Kenan Jr. Charitable Trust was established in 1965 with a mission to “empower human potential through education and whole community investment.” Since that time, the Trust has awarded more than 2,250 grants totaling more than $860 million, establishing itself as a highly impactful philanthropic institution and revered partner in supporting education.

To learn more about how you can invest in the future of nursing, visit nursing.ucf.edu/alumni-friends/giving.

“We are extremely grateful to the William R. Kenan Jr. Charitable Trust for this incredible gift that will transform lives” says Sharon Tucker, dean of UCF’s College of Nursing. “By investing in much-needed future Knight nurses, this gift will ensure a brighter future for UCF students and a healthier future for our communities.”

This is the first time UCF has received funding from the William R. Kenan Jr. Charitable Trust and UCF’s College of Nursing was one of only eight nursing programs in the country to receive this distinguished award — a recognition that speaks to the college’s excellence in nursing education. UCF hopes to maintain a relationship with the William R. Kenan Jr. Charitable Trust as together, they can make a meaningful difference on nursing education and empower future healthcare professionals.

“Philanthropy has the power to be a catalyst for change and this gift from the William R. Kenan Jr. Charitable Trust is a shining example,” says Rod Grabowski, senior vice president for Advancement and Partnerships at UCF. “By investing in second-career nursing students, the Trust is not only transforming individual lives, but also helping to solve one of Florida’s most pressing healthcare challenges. We are deeply grateful for their partnership and vision in empowering the next generation of Knight nurses.”