Growing up in Nigeria and then New Jersey, Triumphant Ayodele would hear stories from his mother about her dreams of becoming a nurse.

She would tell him about the heroism of nursing, of saving lives and helping others in their most vulnerable time of need.

Ayodele’s mom, Aderonke, who works as a home health aide, never had the opportunity to go to college to become a registered nurse. But her stories stuck with him, and Ayodele is now pursuing the career his mother couldn’t have, entering the Rutgers School of Nursing in Newark this fall. He is following his older sister, Comfort, to Rutgers. She’s studying mechanical engineering at School of Engineering in New Brunswick.

“My mom, she’s my biggest supporter,” said Ayodele, who will be 18 this month. “She gives me the motivation and support that I need.”

Ayodele comes to Rutgers on the Evelyn Marguiles Endowed Scholarship, which means that if he maintains the required GPA all four years, tuition and fees for his undergraduate degree in nursing will be covered. Marguiles established the scholarship in 2022 to address nursing shortages, which had been particularly dire in Newark after the COVID-19 pandemic. The scholarship program gives priority to first-generation nursing students who graduate from Marguiles’s alma mater, Weequahic High School in Newark.

“It will provide me with the financial support needed to alleviate the burden of tuition and other expenses, allowing me to focus more on my studies and less on financial worries,” Ayodele wrote in his essay application.  

He learned he had received the scholarship during his graduation ceremony in June via a surprise announcement from Kyle D. Warren, PhD, senior vice dean, Rutgers School of Nursing, and associate vice chancellor for student affairs, Rutgers Health.

Ayodele’s classmate, Aiyanna Stephens, was equally surprised when Warren announced that she would also receive the Marguiles scholarship to support her studies at Rutgers School of Nursing. Stephens, who dreams of becoming a neonatal nurse, said “To successfully obtain a career in nursing would bring me such joy.”

“As a first-generation student, the significance of this scholarship extends far beyond the monetary value,” Ayodele wrote in his essay. “It symbolizes breaking barriers and defying odds, showing that with dedication and perseverance, anything is achievable. Growing up, I witnessed the struggles my family faced, especially when it came to accessing higher education.”

His mom’s adoration for the profession put him on the path to nursing, but Ayodele said he always had an instinct to take care of others. He was the kid who watched his younger cousins at family gatherings or the middle-schooler who wanted to ensure his classmates stayed safe during COVID-19.

“Helping someone – it’s the best feeling ever,” he said.