Published on December 3, 2024 by Megan Winkler  
Joy Watson

It all began with prayer and a dream of leaving a lasting legacy.

Joy Watson, a 2023 alumna and current graduate student at Moffett & Sanders School of Nursing, used her perseverance and compassion to establish a scholarship for future nursing students. She is one of the youngest people to establish a scholarship at Samford.

Watson transferred to Samford in 2020, seeking hands-on nursing experience. Raised in a single-parent home and later by her grandparents, she balanced caring for her siblings, attending classes, and funding her education. At times, she worried that financial difficulties might derail her plans.

"One day, I dressed up to meet with a banker about a loan," Watson recalled. "My undergraduate nursing instructor, Lauren Jones, saw me and asked if I was OK. I explained my appointment, and she said she would pray for me."

The moment changed Watson’s view of being a student at Samford. The spiritual support from faculty and administration revealed Samford as more than an institution—it was a community of people who genuinely cared. This support reaffirmed her faith and motivated her to help future students, who, like her, would be seen as individuals, not just numbers.

Watson's vision became clearer after having a vivid dream the week before graduation.

"I dreamed I was in my white coat surrounded by students handing me papers marked declined, dropped out, denied or rejected. The stack was towering, and more students were waiting," Watson said. "I knew how it felt and realized I needed to act. That’s when I decided to start a scholarship."

Victoria Allen, executive director of development at Samford, worked with Watson to create the scholarship after she started as a cardiothoracic nurse at UAB Hospital. They arranged a system to donate a portion of each of her paychecks to support the scholarship.

In 2023, the Watson Annual Scholarship Fund was established to support full-time Samford nursing students facing financial, personal or family hardships.

Watson believes God will pave the way for them. She hopes this scholarship will give them the encouragement to remain on their career path. "I want future nursing students to see Samford not as an overwhelming challenge but as a meaningful journey,” Watson said. “Your effort will yield immense rewards, making you both a better nurse and a better person. It’s worth it, and I hope to continue that legacy.”

This story was first published in the fall 2024 issue of  Seasons magazine.

 
Samford is a leading Christian university offering undergraduate programs grounded in the liberal arts with an array of nationally recognized graduate and professional schools. Founded in 1841, Samford is the 87th-oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. Samford enrolls 6,101 students from 45 states, Puerto Rico and 16 countries in its 10 academic schools: arts, arts and sciences, business, divinity, education, health professions, law, nursing, pharmacy and public health. Samford fields 17 athletic teams that compete in the tradition-rich Southern Conference and ranks 6th nationally for its Graduation Success Rate among all NCAA Division I schools.