Sturdy Health Nursing Scholarship Awarded to Wheaton Student Ava Audette
Wheaton College nursing student Ava Audette holds up her Sturdy Health Nursing Scholarship certificate, which was presented by Sturdy Health Vice President and Chief Advancement Officer Coleen P. Resnick
Attleboro, MA (October 20, 2025) – The Sturdy Health Foundation, Inc. has awarded the Sturdy Health Nursing Scholarship to Wheaton College sophomore Ava Audette from Essex Junction, Vt. Her selection was announced at the college nursing program’s White Coat ceremony for the Class of 2028, which marks students’ transition to clinical training.
The $5,000 scholarship is renewable for Audette’s junior and senior years and also includes an offer of paid summer employment, internship support, and full-time employment after graduation. In addition to her nursing studies, Audette is a Division III scholar-athlete, playing on the college’s field hockey team.
“We are honored to award this nursing scholarship to Ava, whose passion for nursing shines through,” said Lisa Salameh, Chief Nursing Officer at Sturdy Health. “Exceptional hospitals are built by exceptional caregivers, and this scholarship allows us to invest in a nursing student with remarkable potential—someone we hope will one day join our Sturdy Health team.”
The Sturdy Health Nursing Scholarship was created in 2023 and is awarded annually to a sophomore nursing student with high academic achievement and strong dedication to preparation for a career in nursing.
“Hearing my name called, I was just shocked, completely surprised,” said Audette. “The financial assistance is welcome but it’s not just the dollar amount that matters, it’s also the opportunities that come with it. This just means the world to me.”
About Sturdy Health
Established on April 14, 1913, Sturdy Health is an independent, nonprofit health system comprised of a 142-bed acute care hospital, 25 primary and specialty care medical offices and an Urgent Care Center dedicated to providing a broad range of health care services to the residents of communities in Southeastern Massachusetts and neighboring Rhode Island. Sturdy’s mission is to improve the health and well-being of the people in our communities through kindness, compassion, and convenient access to the highest quality care.
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Media Contact:
David Ball, Ball Consulting Group, LLC
