The Mission Belles Nursing Education Fund honors the legacy of Mission Hospital’s Nursing School Alumni and supports students during the senior year of an associate or baccalaureate nursing program (first-time RN). The awards are sponsored by the WNC Bridge Foundation.
From 1893 to 1971, Mission Hospital’s School of Nursing prepared generations of dedicated nurses through a rigorous hospital-based diploma program. In the 1950s, students known as the “Mission Belles” trained around the clock, lived in the nurses’ residence, and provided essential patient care while helping shape specialized nursing programs during a defining era in healthcare education.
The Mission Belles believed in “Charting Our Future” by investing in future nurses through scholarships. Many benefited from scholarships themselves and shared a vision of supporting the next generation of nursing professionals. We are proud to continue that legacy today and extend our heartfelt congratulations to this year’s scholarship recipients as they carry forward the Mission Belles tradition of compassion, excellence, and service.
In 2026, the Mission Belles proudly expanded their long-standing commitment to nursing education by establishing the inaugural Legacy Mission Belles Scholarship. For the first time, eligibility was extended to direct family members of a Mission Belle, honoring the generations of compassion, service, and dedication inspired by these remarkable nurses.
This new scholarship reflects the enduring impact of the Mission Belles and their vision of “Charting Our Future” by supporting and encouraging future nurses within their own families and communities.
We are proud to continue that legacy today and extend our congratulations to this year’s scholarship recipients as they carry forward the Mission Belles tradition of compassion, excellence, and service.
