United Hospital Center hosts their summer 2025 Aspiring Nurse signing ceremony

Nineteen local nursing students received up to $25,000 each to support everyday expenses.

Bridgeport, W.Va. – WVU Medicine United Hospital Center (UHC) held a formal signing ceremony on Friday, August 22, for nursing students accepted into the WVU Medicine Aspiring Nurse Program. Because tuition support generally exists for nursing students in the form of student loans, grants, and scholarships, the Aspiring Nurse Program provides each student with funds to support their real needs: everyday expenses. A total of nineteen students were accepted into the summer 2025 cohort.

“United Hospital Center is known for excellence in providing healthcare. This commitment to excellence extends to our workplace, where we are dedicated to maintaining the best place to work in healthcare,” said David F. Hess, MD, president and CEO at UHC. “The Aspiring Nurse program is a reflection of our health system’s investment in our nursing staff and works to provide a foundation for a long and successful career.”

Each student accepted into the program will receive up to $25,000 over four semesters upon hire in exchange for a three-year work commitment following graduation. Students accepted to the program will also receive support from academic success coaches and complete clinical rotations at UHC to ensure they receive high-quality, hands-on clinical immersion experiences to assist them as they transition to professional nursing practice.

Davis and Elkins College, Fairmont State University, West Virginia University, and West Virginia Junior College were selected among local colleges to participate in the program. The partnership between UHC and nursing programs at these educational institutions demonstrates a commitment to collaborative education and workforce development.

“This initiative is innovative in that it aims to address financial challenges faced by nursing students while simultaneously creating a pipeline for them to excel in their career after school,” said Stephanie Smart, MSN, RN, vice president of Nursing/Chief Nursing Officer.

For more information on the WVU Medicine Aspiring Nurse Program, visit WVUMedicine.org/Aspiring-Nurse-Program.