Isabelle Rowe Nursing Scholarship Grant

Isabelle Rowe Nursing Scholarship Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region
Amount: Up to US $2,000
Last Updated: December 02, 2025

Summary

The Isabelle Rowe Nursing Scholarship supports non-traditional students aged 21 and older from the Fox Valley and Waupaca areas pursuing nursing degrees. Established in 2007 by Julian Rowe in honor of his wife, Isabelle, this fund provides non-renewable scholarships of $2,000 for 4-year colleges and $1,000 for 2-year institutions. Applicants must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.5, have work experience in healthcare, and demonstrate financial need, with opportunities to reapply annually.

Overview

About Us We’re about connecting people with the needs of the community. We do this by connecting individual gifts to nonprofits through grants. Our knowledge about important issues facing the Fox Valley Region is based on strong relationships with nonprofits and our unwavering pursuit of understanding our community needs. Individual gifts, when joined with others given through the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region, ensure the impact lasts forever so that our community will always flourish. We are a tax-exempt, publicly supported nonprofit organization managing charitable funds — mostly permanent endowments — created by many families, businesses and organizations. These funds generate grants for the long-term benefit of the people of the Fox Valley region of Wisconsin. Isabelle Rowe Nursing Scholarship After more than sixty years of married life together, Julian did everything he could to care for his wife, Isabelle, at home when she was stricken with Alzheimer’s disease. Although he had his own health challenges and it was a struggle, even with the help of family and neighbors, he was certain that no one could care for her as lovingly and conscientiously as he could. Finally, he couldn’t anymore. Julian was heartbroken when Isabelle needed to go into a care facility in 2005. He rarely missed a day of sitting by her side in the cheerful room, furnished with two of their favorite chairs from home. Like a friendly and loyal watchdog, he was attentive to how she and the other residents were treated by the staff, and he was relieved to see the kindness and respect she was given by all. He was especially impressed by the gentle, patient care given by the certified nursing assistants, who have the most contact with these vulnerable but often difficult patients. As he got to know the staff at the care facility, his admiration for the nursing assistants grew. He learned that some of them were in school studying to advance their credentials toward a nursing degree. He also learned that some of them were single mothers, struggling to make ends meet on a CNA’s salary, and he decided to do something that could help. In 2007, Julian collaborated with Waupaca Area Community Foundation to establish the Isabelle Rowe Nursing Scholarship Fund. The scholarship has continued to grow beyond the initial gift with sound investment and contributions from family and friends. Since the scholarship was established, both Julian and Isabelle have passed, but their legacy continues as the Rowe family honors their memory through this scholarship. Award Amount: Number of awards may vary, for tuition and books, payable for the fall semester of college: $2,000 non-renewable scholarship award(s) for students planning to attend a 4-year college/university, or $1,000 non-renewable scholarship award(s) for students planning to attend a 2-year college or technical school.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Non-traditional students, age 21 or older, from the Fox Valley and Waupaca areas Planning to attend or is attending an accredited college, university, or technical school to pursue a degree in nursing as a part-time student (minimum 6 credits) or full-time student (minimum of 12 credits)Academic achievement, minimum cumulative 2.5 GPA Work experience in a healthcare-related field Financial need will be considered Students may re-apply each year they are eligible

Ineligibility

Loss of Eligibility: Failure to maintain good academic standing at an accredited college, university, or technical college pursuing a degree in nursing as a part-time or full-time student