The Conway School of Nursing at The Catholic University of America has been awarded funding from the William Randolph Hearst Foundation to support the launch of Take Flight Nursing, a new student success initiative designed to strengthen academic achievement and retention among first-generation, low-income undergraduate nursing students.
Rooted in the University’s mission to foster dialogue between faith and reason and to advance excellence in teaching, research, and service, the program addresses the unique academic and professional challenges faced by students who are the first in their families to pursue a college degree. First-generation students currently represent approximately 25 percent of admitted undergraduate nursing students at the Conway School of Nursing.
Take Flight Nursing builds upon the University’s broader Take Flight initiative, first introduced in 2019 to support first-generation students during their transition to college life. The nursing-focused pilot adapts this successful framework to meet the rigorous demands of nursing education and clinical training.
Led by Kim Walsh, Director of Undergraduate Academic Programs, in collaboration with Martha Scheckel, Vice Dean of the Conway School of Nursing, the program extends structured support across all four years of the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) curriculum. Students receive discipline-specific academic assistance, preparation for the Health Education Systems Incorporated (HESI) entrance examination, clinical readiness support, licensure preparation, peer mentoring, and targeted financial assistance.
By integrating academic guidance with professional formation, Take Flight Nursing aims to strengthen student persistence, promote timely progression to graduation, and prepare future nurses to serve with clinical competence, compassion, and cultural humility.
The Hearst Foundation’s support enables the Conway School of Nursing to advance its commitment to educational access and student success while forming nurses equipped to meet the evolving needs of patients, families, and communities. Through initiatives such as Take Flight Nursing, the University continues to expand pathways for talented students to thrive and to contribute meaningfully to the health care workforce.