When Emily Spearin graduated from Worcester State University’s nursing program in spring 2026, she took with her more than memories, friendships, and a hard-earned degree. She also left something behind: a legacy of support that will empower future nursing students for years to come.
A nontraditional student, Emily’s path to becoming a nurse was anything but straightforward. She became a mother at 17 and waited five years before beginning her college education. After earning an associate degree in Health Sciences from Dean College, she transferred to Worcester State’s nursing program in 2021. Balancing coursework, clinical rotations, work, and family responsibilities, it took her nearly a decade to complete her bachelor’s degree.
Yet despite the challenges, Worcester State became an important part of her life.
Over five years, Emily immersed herself in the nursing community, serving as a peer mentor, volunteering at blood drives, helping with Welcome Days, and supporting nursing pinning ceremonies. Along the way, she witnessed firsthand the financial burdens many nursing students face—expenses that often extend far beyond tuition and fees.
“Nursing students have so many hidden costs,” Emily said. “Clinical uniforms, shoes, transportation, books, online learning platforms, and supplies all add up. Financial aid doesn’t always cover those things.”
As a first-generation college student, Emily understood those struggles personally. There were times when every extra dollar went toward school expenses, leaving little for anything else. She knew many of her classmates were facing similar challenges.
Then, Emily experienced a devastating loss when her father passed away in February. But, rather than allowing grief to overwhelm her, she channeled her energy into helping others.
“I needed to do something with that emotion,” she said. “I wanted to create something positive.”
What began as a simple idea for a senior class gift quickly evolved into something much larger. After learning about the Nursing Student Support Fund, Emily recognized an opportunity to create meaningful change for current and future students.
Working largely on her own while managing clinicals, coursework, and family responsibilities, she launched a grassroots fundraising effort to strengthen the fund. She organized a scrub drive that collected dozens of gently used uniforms for students in need. She gathered donated textbooks, lab supplies, and clinical equipment that could be reused by future nursing students. She promoted online giving opportunities, reached out to family and community members, and encouraged classmates to get involved.
Perhaps most impressively, Emily organized a bake sale featuring 11 different homemade treats. From nursing faculty and students to members of her late father’s community, supporters showed up to contribute.
The effort required countless hours outside the classroom, but the results exceeded expectations.
Through donations, fundraising events, and a matching gift, Emily helped grow the Nursing Student Support Fund to nearly $4,000—resources that can now help students cover unexpected expenses, purchase required supplies, and remain focused on their education.
For Emily, the impact is about more than dollars.
She hopes the fund will help ensure that financial barriers do not prevent aspiring nurses from achieving their goals.
“The world needs more nurses,” she said. “If one student needs $50 and another needs $600, I want there to be support available. I want students to know they’re not alone.”
Today, Emily is beginning the next chapter of her career as a nurse in the Burn Trauma Intensive Care Unit at Rhode Island Hospital. Looking ahead, she hopes fellow alumni and future graduates will continue building on the foundation she helped strengthen.
Emily Spearin, at left, volunteering with Remote Area Medical, a nonprofit provider of mobile medical clinics that deliver care to underserved and uninsured individuals.
“There are people who follow a family legacy, and there are people who create one,” Emily said. “I want this fund to help create opportunities for students who are building that legacy for themselves and their families.”
In addition to continuing to champion the Nursing Student Support Fund, Emily hopes to one day establish her own scholarship at Worcester State—one dedicated to nursing students who are walking the same path she once did.
“One day, I’d love to create a scholarship at Worcester State for a nursing student who’s in a situation similar to mine,” Emily said. “Being a single mom while earning my degree wasn’t easy, and I know how much financial support can make a difference.”
Thanks to Emily’s determination—and the generosity of donors who support Worcester State students—future nursing majors will have access to the resources they need to persist, graduate, and ultimately care for others. Her story is a powerful reminder that one person’s compassion can create opportunities that ripple far beyond a single graduation day.
This story appeared in the 2026 Donor Impact Statement.
