University of the Pacific students studying health care, including social work, psychology and other health sciences, will receive help paying for their education with a $300,000 donation from the nonprofit HealthForce Partners Northern San Joaquin Valley.

“These scholarships go beyond easing financial burdens. They transform lives and open doors to meaningful, rewarding careers for students who are eager to serve their communities but may not otherwise have the resources to pursue their education,” said School of Health Sciences Dean Nicoleta Bugnariu. “We’re proud and committed to work alongside HealthForce Partners towards a shared vision of a healthier community with increased access to care for all.”

Scholarships will be awarded to 55 students over the next two years ranging from $2,500 to $10,000. The scholarships are for San Joaquin County residents pursuing their degrees in the School of Health Sciences’ Master of Social Work, Master of Speech Language Pathology, Master of Physician Assistant and Doctor of Physical Therapy programs as well as Benerd College’s Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology.

“I see every day how much this scholarship means to our students,” said Master of Social Work Chair and Program Director Amanda West. “Many of our students are from the very communities they are going to give back to, and through their education and clinical training, the HealthForce Partners scholarship not only reduces a financial burden for students, it directly acknowledges the vital lifeline that clinical social workers provide in community behavioral health settings­—it invests in the next generation of clinical social workers to come.”

University of the Pacific was a founding member of HealthForce Partners in 2018. The program was established to reduce the shortage of health care workers in the region and develop a workforce pipeline to serve the community.

“These scholarships will yield returns for generations because the recipients aren't just future health care professionals, they're community members who understand local needs and will practice right here where their skills are most needed,” said HealthForce Partners Executive Director Paul Lanning ’07, a Benerd College alumnus. “By removing financial barriers to these critical professions, we're building a health care ecosystem that truly reflects and responds to the unique challenges and strengths of our region.”

HealthForce Partners previously made a $200K gift to provide scholarships to social work and psychology students at Pacific in 2023.

“As a first-generation student pursuing a graduate degree, opportunities like this are not just helpful, they’re essential,” said Carley Morfey ’25, a current Master of Social Work student who received one of the previous scholarships. “The HealthForce Partners scholarship has made a world of difference in my life. It has given me the financial freedom to focus on becoming the best social worker I can be, without the constant weight of financial stress. This support means more time focusing in the classroom, more time learning in the field and more time building the tools I’ll need to serve my community.”

Scholarships will be awarded to the next round of students beginning in the fall semester.

“I truly believe that investing in the future of behavioral health starts with supporting those who are passionate about the work but may not have the means to get there on their own. Scholarships like this one have the power to change the trajectory of behavioral health in San Joaquin County by lifting up students who are ready to make a difference. We’re building a stronger, more compassionate system for everyone,” Morfey said.

To learn more about supporting scholarships for Pacific students, contact Molly Byrne, senior associate vice president for development, at 209.946.2780 or mbyrne1@pacific.edu.