The Foundation for Seacoast Health is committed to strengthening the healthcare workforce of New Hampshire’s Seacoast region. As part of this commitment, we are shifting from traditional scholarships to targeted career-pathway support that helps local students overcome practical barriers and successfully enter high-need healthcare fields.
Career Pathways
Overview
For more than four decades, the Foundation for Seacoast Health has proudly supported local students preparing for careers in health care. Since its founding, the Foundation has awarded more than 660 scholarships to 320 individuals, totaling over $2.2 million in educational support for residents of the Seacoast region. This longstanding commitment reflects our mission to advance the health and well-being of the communities we serve.
As the needs of the region have evolved, so too has our approach. Building on this history, the Foundation is transitioning from an individual scholarship model to more comprehensive career-pathway investments that address the real-world barriers faced by students pursuing healthcare careers. With this shift, we are deepening our investment in the future of healthcare on the Seacoast—supporting the individuals whose work keeps our communities healthy and thriving.
Career Pathways Initiatives
As the Foundation deepens its focus on healthcare career pathways, future initiatives will be shaped and directed in partnership with educators, employers, and community leaders across the region. Our aim is to build supports that help students enter and remain in healthcare careers, strengthen the local workforce, and enhance access to care for Seacoast residents. We welcome conversations with organizations interested in partnering to advance this work.
FFSH & Great Bay Community College Partner to Support Healthcare Students
The Foundation for Seacoast Health has launched a pilot initiative with Great Bay Community College and the Foundation for NH Community Colleges designed to reduce practical barriers for students pursuing healthcare careers. Through collaborative funding from FFSH and GBCC, the initiative will support students in the RN and Surgical Technology programs with essential expenses such as licensing exam fees, uniforms and equipment, and transportation — enabling more students to complete their training and enter the regional healthcare workforce.
History of our Scholarship Program
While our scholarship model is evolving, the Foundation for Seacoast Health’s long tradition of supporting healthcare education has been shaped by the contributions and spirit of two individuals whose dedication to the field continues to guide our work today. Their stories remain central to the evolution of our scholarship program and to our ongoing commitment to strengthening healthcare career pathways in the Seacoast region.
Edwina Foye Award
For Outstanding Graduate Student
The Edwina Foye scholarship was established in 1985 by colleagues, friends, and family to honor the memory of Edwina Foye, RN, a nurse who dedicated twenty-five years of service to Portsmouth Hospital (1952-1978).
Steven Cutter Award
For Outstanding Undergraduate Student
The Steven Scott Cutter scholarship was established by the Board of Trustees in 1999 in memory of Steven, son of Nancy L. Cutter, retired Foundation for Seacoast Health employee. Steven was a 1989 graduate of St. Thomas Aquinas High School and a 1994 graduate of the University of Connecticut College of Pharmacy.