The Alumni Association of the Worcester City Hospital School of Nursing Annie Vigeant Scholarship

Criteria: (Two $1,000 Awards per Year) The Alumni Association of the Worcester City Hospital School of Nursing Annie Vigeant Scholarship will be awarded according to the following priorities:
A full or part-time nursing student who is:
a) a graduate of Worcester City Hospital School of Nursing;
b) a son, daughter, grandson, granddaughter, niece or nephew of a graduate of Worcester City Hospital School of Nursing;
c) a resident of Worcester or Worcester County;
d) any student holding good academic standing in the Nursing program.
Candidates should provide a short essay indicating their qualifications for this scholarship and submit it with the scholarship application. This scholarship will not be automatically renewed and applicants are encouraged to reapply each academic year. Note: Two $1,000 awards will be granted, but it should be noted that it is possible that this scholarship be awarded to one student in the amount of $2,000 if only one student meets the above criteria.

Worcester City Hospital School of Nursing, established in 1883, was one of the earliest nursing programs in the United States. This diploma program was dedicated to the preparation of registered nurses who could meet the needs of the sick and indigent locally, nationally, and throughout the world. Almost 3500 men and women graduated from “City” and many today continue to provide skilled nursing care in a wide variety of settings.

Annie Vigeant was born in Pawtucket, R.I., in 1884 and graduated from Worcester City Hospital School of Nursing in 1914. She devoted her entire life to the profession of nursing, often working in the Boston area. Upon retirement she returned to Pawtucket. When she died, she left a generous legacy to her Alumni Association in order to provide her school’s students and graduates with scholarships that would enable them to further their education in the field of nursing.

Although the school closed its doors in 1992, its Alumni Association remains active. Using funding provided by Annie Vigeant, scholarships are awarded annually to the school’s graduates who are pursuing advanced education. The Board of Directors of the Alumni has decided to share Annie’s generosity with nursing students at Worcester State University. For 109 years, Worcester City Hospital School of Nursing maintained its noble tradition of educating nurses who distinguished themselves all over the world as competent practitioners. The Alumni Association is proud to be able to assist in continuing the mission of its school and Annie Vigeant through the Worcester State University Nursing Department.