Polly Godwin Welsh LTC Nurses Scholarship Program

2026 POLLY GODWIN WELSH LONG TERM CARE NURSES SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION

2026 Polly Godwin Welsh Long Term Care Nurses Scholarship Applicant Evaluation Form

The Polly Godwin Welsh Long Term Care Nurses Scholarship Program was created to honor Polly G. Welsh, a Registered Nurse with more than 40 years of service devoted to advancing quality care, regulatory excellence, and leadership in long-term care. As Executive Vice President of the North Carolina Health Care Facilities Association (NCHCFA), Polly has been instrumental in shaping policy and regulation, serving on numerous committees, and training healthcare professionals nationwide. Her career highlights include implementing OBRA ’87 for North Carolina’s Medicare/Medicaid Certification program and holding leadership positions across both acute and long-term care settings. 

Beginning in 2025, the FutureCare Foundation of North Carolina awarded up to four scholarships of $10,000 each to employees of NCHCFA member facilities pursuing Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) or Registered Nurse (RN) degrees, with two annual scholarships to follow starting in 2026.

Eligible applicants must have at least one year of employment at a member facility, submit a complete application by February 28 (each year), provide three professional references (including two from supervisors or nursing leadership), and an official transcript. Recipients must also commit to working at a NCHCFA member long-term care facility for at least one year following graduation. The application period will open each fall, with scholarship announcements made in early spring. 

The 2025 scholarship recipients were:  

• Kimbre Paige Archer, Kerr Lake Nursing and Rehabilitation Center 
• Patricia Norman, Woodbury Wellness Center 
• Samara Petty, Westfield Rehab 
• Tiajuana Stewart, Trinity Glen

About Polly Godwin Welsh

Polly was a Registered Nurse for more than 40 years and is the former NCHCFA Executive Vice President of Regulatory and Clinical Services. Prior to her retirement in September 2023, she focused on long term care policy, regulation, and quality issues. She served on many advisory committees, task forces, and other government policy collaboratives with the Division of Health Service Regulation, the Division of Medical Assistance, the Division of Aging, within the Department of Health and Human Services.

From 1993 – 2008, Polly was the NCHCFA Director of Regulatory Systems and Quality Initiatives and was responsible for all regulatory systems pertaining to long-term care, including monitoring and interpretation of regulatory activity and interaction with related agencies. Polly presented nationally and statewide on leadership, quality, and regulatory issues. From 1985 -1993, Polly worked for the NC Department of Human Resources, Division of Facility Services, Licensure and Certification Section as the Program Manager, Quality Assurance/Training. She was responsible for the implementation of OBRA ‘87 for NC’s Medicare/Medicaid Certification program. Prior to the quality assurance and training position, Polly was the Assistant Branch Head of the Medical Review Branch. From 1976 – 1985 Polly held administrative and staff positions in both acute and long-term care facilities.

She earned a Bachelor of Science in Health Occupations Education from North Carolina State University and a Master of Public Health, Long Term Care Training Continuum, from East Carolina University.