Published November 10, 2025
The University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing has established the Sharon M. Connelly Endowed Memorial Scholarship in Nursing to celebrate the life and legacy of an exceptional nurse, colleague and friend.
This scholarship will provide financial support for tuition and other education-related expenses to junior or senior students enrolled in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program within the School of Nursing. It is intended to recognize and encourage students who demonstrate the same dedication to compassionate care that Sharon M. Connelly exemplified throughout her career.
She devoted an extraordinary 46 years to the field of nursing, specializing in medical-surgical care and pediatric rehabilitation. Her work touched countless lives, and she was widely respected for her clinical excellence, mentorship and unwavering commitment to her patients. Over the course of her career, she received numerous awards and accolades, but it was her character—her empathy, compassion and selflessness—that left the deepest impression on those who knew her.
She was a nurse in every sense of the word: a healer, a listener, a leader and a source of comfort. Her legacy is one of kindness, initiative and collegiality, and her impact continues to resonate through the many lives she influenced.
The Sharon M. Connelly Endowed Memorial Scholarship in Nursing was established to honor her memory and inspire future generations of nurses to carry forward her values. Through this scholarship, Pitt Nursing hopes to empower students to pursue their calling with the same heart and dedication that she brought to her work every day.
Her spirit lives on in the care they will provide, the lives they will touch and the difference they will make.
Apply for the Sharon M. Connelly Endowed Memorial Scholarship in Nursing.
Make a gift to the Sharon M. Connelly Endowed Memorial Scholarship in Nursing.