California State University, Fresno

 With some 70 ethnic groups who speak 105 languages, Central California’s Joaquin Valley was extremely diverse and home to the largest concentration of Laotian and Hmong refugees in the United States. The Valley suffered from a severe nursing shortage, and its population had an urgent need for health care due to widespread poverty and poor health of many residents. The economic downturn affected accelerated nursing program students, many of whom either scaled back to part-time studies or dropped out of school altogether to seek work. For disadvantaged students, the NCIN scholarships provided peace of mind as well as financial and psychological support, helping make possible a future in nursing, nursing education, and health care.