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Ceira Boyle Student Nursing ONS Congress® Scholarship

Debi Boyle, RN, MSN, AOCN®, FAAN long-time member of ONS and past member of the Oncology Nursing  Foundation Board Trustees tragically lost her beloved daughter Ceira Boyle on February 4, 2010. Ceira filled a room with her presence – her smile, outgoing personality, laughter, and compassion. To honor her memory Ms. Boyle teamed up with the Oncology Nursing Foundation to offer the Ceira Boyle Student Nursing ONS Congress® Scholarship.


“I am a nursing student going into my senior year at Oakland University. I have a passion for the world of oncology and a desire to work specifically with children. This scholarship will give me the opportunity to expand my knowledge and dive deeper into what it means to be a passionate, striving, and dedicated oncology nurse. A scholarship for such an amazing, and unique, event is something I am eternally thankful for.” 
Emily Wise, 2024 Ceira Boyle Student Nursing ONS Congress® Scholarship Recipient 

“I'm thrilled to express my gratitude for being awarded the scholarship to attend the ONS Conference. Without this generous support, attending this invaluable event wouldn't have been possible for me. I'm genuinely excited to deepen my knowledge, connect with fellow nurses, and share in our commitment to providing compassionate, holistic care to patients and their families during challenging times.” 
Gurwant Khabra, 2024 Ceira Boyle Student Nursing ONS Congress® Scholarship Recipient 


Important Dates:

Applications Open: September 15, 2024
Applications Due: December 1, 2024
Applicants Notified: End of January 2025


Purpose: To support a student nurse who is pursuing a career in oncology nursing by providing the funding to attend ONS Congress®. ONS Congress offers robust learning and networking among the oncology nursing community practicing across the United States and beyond. Preference for this award is given to student nurses who are based within a 30-mile radius of the location where ONS Congress is being held.  However, because funding may vary from year to year for this award, the Foundation encourages applications from outside of the 30-mile radius for consideration by our review panel.

Scholarship: Registration to attend the 2025 ONS Congress April 9-13, 2025 in Denver, Colorado. Reimbursement for meals and transportation expenses during the conference and 1-year membership to the Oncology Nursing Society (ONS). For those outside the 30-mile radius, consideration will be given for reimbursement of meals, transportation, and accommodations during the ONS Congress period.

Selection Criteria:

  • BSN students currently enrolled in their junior or senior year and interested in pursuing a career in cancer nursing
  • Applicant must be committed to attending the ONS Congress in its entirety April 9-13, 2025  (this obligation may be fulfilled, in part, through limited virtual and On-Demand sessions).
  • Agree to complete a 3-question report after the conference.

Scoring: You will be scored based on the following criteria: Your ability to clearly describe why you are pursing becoming an oncology nurse, identifying at least one characteristic of an exemplary cancer nurse, and clearly addressing one event or session you are looking forward to and why.

 Points to Consider:

  • Do not wait until the last day to start an application as a quality and competitive application will take time to complete.
  • We suggest that you use your time wisely by getting a head start and collecting any additional required items such as the name and email address of someone writing your letter of recommendation before you begin.
  • Your essay responses should be of good quality, in terms of grammar, punctuation, syntax, conciseness, and ability to answer the question. Ensure you submit a detailed response and use the word count to your advantage. 
  • To strengthen your application, use free online tools such as Grammarly and have someone read over your application to ensure accurate spelling, punctuation, and grammar.

How To Apply:

  • Applications currently open, use the link below to apply. 
  • Email grants@onfgivesback.org with any questions. 
  • All questions must be submitted to the Foundation prior to 4:30 pm Eastern Time on the day of the application due date in order to receive a response prior to the deadline.
  • No late applications will be accepted, and all applications must be submitted through the application platform.

Application deadline: 2024-12-01

Apply Online

2024 Ceira Boyle Student Nursing ONS Congress Scholarships

Emily Wise

Macomb, MI

Gurwant Khabra

Hayward, CA