Scholarships and Awards
Held Family Endowment for Nursing Excellence
Award: $2,500
The Held Family Endowment for Nursing Excellence recognizes, with a monetary award, a Cooley Dickinson Registered Nurse (RN) or Nurse Practitioner (NP), who has gone “above and beyond” and shows outstanding dedication and compassion in patient care. We encourage patients, families, caregivers, and colleagues to nominate a nurse or nurse practitioner who exemplifies exceptional care and puts patients first.
If you know a nurse or nurse practitioner whose dedication and compassion stand out, nominate them for an award that highlights their extraordinary contributions to patient care.
Cooley Dickinson Hospital 2026 Nursing Scholarships
Two Awards Given: $2,500
The intent of the “Edward Moss Memorial Scholarship”, established by late U.S. Senator Edward M. Kennedy and endowed in 1966, is to provide financial assistance to a current Cooley Dickinson employee who is either currently accepted or enrolled full time in an accredited school of nursing, working to complete an associate’s degree, a three-year diploma, a bachelor’s degree or a master’s degree in nursing.
Two Awards Given: $2,500
This fund is named in memory of Therese Connor, a nurse at the hospital for many year. Financial assistance is available on an annual basis to registered nurses at Cooley Dickinson through the “Therese Connor Nursing Education Fund” as follows:
- The nursing professional must currently be certified in the Oncology area to renew his/her certification (first preference), or to continue further education in the Oncology area.
- The nursing professional must be beginning, engaged in or completing course work for certification in Oncology.
Award: $500
In its 22nd year, the 2026 Cooley Dickinson School of Nursing Alumni Association Scholarship will once again be awarded to a deserving senior attending either Northampton High School or Smith Vocational and Agricultural High School, who is pursuing a degree in nursing.
Award: $1,000
The Zucker Family Scholarship for Advanced Nursing Education was created in 2019 by Dr. Geoffrey and Donna Zucker to honor the work of nurses in the Pioneer Valley and support advanced education. This scholarship is directed to part- and full-time CDHC nurses (working more than 3o hours per week) at Cooley Dickinson Hospital, Cooley Dickinson Medical Group, and Cooley Dickinson VNA & Hospice who are pursuing an advanced degree (such as MSN, NP, DNP, etc.) and enrolled at six or more credits/semester at an accredited university.
Award: $1,000
This scholarship is named in memory of Heidi Sheehan, a nurse at the hospital for many years, and was established by her husband, Greg Sheehan. It is directed to part-time, full-time, and per diem CDHC nurses at Cooley Dickinson Hospital, Cooley Dickinson Medical Group, and Cooley Dickinson VNA & Hospice who are pursuing an advanced degree (such as MSN, NP, DNP, etc.) and enrolled at six or more credits/semester at an accredited university. Financial awards may be used for tuition, fees, required books, materials, school transportation.