Dr. William Kennett Memorial Nursing Scholarship Program

In memory of her husband, Dr. William Kennett - a respected physician at Sequoia Hospital and a founding member of the Sequoia Hospital Foundation - Gloria Kennett established a scholarship program to honor his legacy and help cultivate the next generation of compassionate healthcare professionals. The Kennett Scholarship Endowment now honors both Dr. Kennett (June 28, 1918 – August 6, 2004) and Gloria (March 11, 1922 – September 16, 2023), ensuring their shared commitment to nursing excellence continues for generations to come.

The Dr. William Kennett Memorial Nursing Scholarship Program offers vital financial assistance to students enrolled in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program at San Francisco State University. Funded through a Sequoia Hospital Foundation annual donor campaign, these scholarships help alleviate the financial burden of nursing education while addressing the growing global nursing shortage.

Since its inception in 2005, the program has awarded 151 scholarships totaling $1,752,000 to exceptional nursing students.

Many recipients are individuals pursuing nursing as a second career fulfilling a lifelong dream to care for others and make a difference in their communities. We are proud that numerous scholarship recipients have gone on to serve at Sequoia Hospital, within the Dignity Health system, and at other healthcare facilities throughout the region.

The Kennett Scholarship Program not only honors a legacy—it builds one, nurse by nurse.

Congratulations to the 2025 recipients and appreciation to the generous donors:

  • Paw K'Lu Taw, Gloria Kennett Founders
  • Nancy Bentivegna, Jernigan Scholarship
  • Daisy Cabrera-Jaime, Uccelli Scholarship
  • Nathaniel Challis, Have a Ball Scholarship
  • Israel Garcia, Dr. William Kennett Scholarship
  • Sydney Grech, Susan Bullis Scholarship
  • Evelyn Jimenez Martinez, Hannig Sail It Forward Scholarship
  •  Dawit Reta, Hannig Sail It Forward Scholarship
  • Rylie Schmerer, Lavonne and Greg Memorial Scholarship
  • Gary Snider, O'Donnell Scholarship
  • Misa Yamamoto, Anonymous Scholarship

Scholarship Applications

Thank you for your interest in the Dr. William Kennett Memorial Nursing Scholarship Program. Applications open in late summer, with scholarship recipients announced in November.

Questions about the application process?

We’re here to help! Contact the Sequoia Hospital Foundation at (650) 367-5657 or email us at Sequoia.Foundation@CommonSpirit.org