Major gift creates full-cost nursing scholarship at Fisher

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St. John Fisher University has received a landmark philanthropic gift that will fully fund the education of dozens of aspiring nurses over the next five years—an investment expected to significantly strengthen the region’s health care workforce. 

A major donation from alumnus and trustee Daniel J. Boyce and his wife, Shelley L. Boyce, will establish the Boyce Family Nursing Scholarship, covering full tuition — and room and board for residential students — for eight first-year nursing undergraduates annually.  

Renewable for four years, the scholarship will support 40 students in total, enabling recipients to graduate debt-free. 

University President Dr. Gerard J. Rooney called the commitment “extraordinary,” noting that it reflects the Boyces’ long-standing dedication to expanding access to a Fisher education.  

“Their generosity ensures that our nursing students can pursue their calling without financial barriers,” Rooney said. 

For the Boyce family, the gift reflects a shared belief that financial constraints should never limit promising students.  

“Talent should never be wasted because of a lack of opportunity,” Dan Boyce said. “We are proud to make a Fisher education attainable for students with a passion for nursing.” 

The Boyces are well known within the Fisher community for their philanthropic leadership.  

In addition to being inaugural members of the university’s Spire Society, this marks their third major gift to Fisher. In 2023, they funded significant renovations to what is now the Boyce Family Varsity Weight Room and in 2020 they established the Boyce Family Endowed Scholarship, supporting undergraduates with financial need. 

Both bring deep professional ties to health care and education. Dan Boyce, a general practice attorney specializing in maritime and civil litigation, founded his law practice in 1998 and has served on Fisher’s Board of Trustees since 2021.  

Shelley Boyce, a University of Virginia–trained nurse, built a national reputation as the founder and longtime CEO of MedRisk, LLC, a leading managed-care provider for physical medicine services in the workers’ compensation industry. 

Her experiences in nursing and health care entrepreneurship inspired the family’s latest gift. 

“This scholarship ensures that students can focus fully on their coursework and clinical training,” said Dr. Tricia Gatlin, dean of Fisher’s Wegmans School of Nursing. “The impact of the Boyces’ generosity will extend far beyond campus—into every community and every patient our graduates will serve.” 

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