Home Nonprofit & Education Education RIC School of Nursing receives $1M gift from Onanian family

RIC School of Nursing receives $1M gift from Onanian family

By

Veer Mudambi

-

04/13/2026

RIC school ofn ursing — THE RHODE ISLAND COLLEGE School of Nursing received a $1 million grant from Zvart Onanian. COURTESY RHODE ISLAND COLLEGE

PROVIDENCE – Rhode Island College on Monday received a $1 million gift to expand and sustain the Zvart Onanian School of Nursing’s new Student Success Coaching Program. The donation, one of the largest in the college’s history and second of its kind from a living donor, honors Zvart A. Onanian, a former licensed practical nurse

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PROVIDENCE – Rhode Island College on Monday received a $1 million gift to expand and sustain the Zvart Onanian School of Nursing’s new Student Success Coaching Program. The donation, one of the largest in the college's history and second of its kind from a living donor, honors Zvart A. Onanian, a former licensed practical nurse whose 90th birthday was recently celebrated at the School of Nursing, which bears her name following a $3 million family donation in 2022. The new funding is intended to strengthen support systems for students navigating required and highly sequenced coursework. “I was so pleased that my family chose to honor my special birthday by supporting our nursing students,” Onanian said in a statement. “This coaching program has proven to ensure their success and help further their careers.” The Student Success Coaching Program provides individualized academic guidance for students at the Zvart Onanian School of Nursing that at risk of failing or leaving the program. The coaching initiative began in spring 2025 and targets students who previously failed a course or were identified by faculty as being at high risk academically. Participants receive weekly one-on-one coaching from trained nursing faculty, coordinated through a dedicated program administrator. “We are deeply grateful to Mrs. Onanian and her family for this generous gift,” said Justin DiLibero, dean of the Zvart Onanian School of Nursing. “Their support ensures the Student Success Coaching program will be sustained into the future, helping our students thrive, remain on track to graduate and achieve their dreams of becoming nurses.” College officials said early results show improved academic outcomes. Eight of the nine students who initially participated passed their courses, according to the college. In one course, officials reported a reduction of failing exam grades, and overall course failure rates declined compared with the previous semester. “Nursing school can be incredibly challenging and having someone who genuinely wants to support you and see you succeed makes a huge difference,” said junior Mackenzie Medeiros, who participated in the program. “I’m really grateful that the program exists because it provides support to students during moments when they might feel like giving up.” Rhode Island College enrolls about 6,500 students and is the state’s first public institution of higher education, established in 1854. Officials said expanding student retention and graduation in health care fields is a priority as workforce demand continues to grow. Veer Mudambi is the special projects editor for the Providence Business News. He can be reached at mudambi@pbn.com.