The Fund’s Story
The Billi Odegaard Scholarship Fund is a community-based educational fund established in Portland, Oregon to honor the life and legacy of public health leader Billi Odegaard.
Created to reflect Billi’s lifelong commitment to equity, service, and opportunity, the fund supports ethnically diverse students who aspire to careers in nursing. By removing financial barriers and providing mentorship, the scholarship helps future nurses begin their journey at Clackamas Community College and continue through Oregon Health & Science University, ensuring a full pathway to a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree.
Since its inception, the Billi Odegaard Scholarship Fund has helped open doors for students who reflect the communities they will one day serve. Guided by Billi’s belief that access to healthcare begins with access to education, the fund covers all costs of attendance—tuition, books, housing, and fees—and connects each scholar with mentors dedicated to their success.
Today, the Fund continues to grow through community partnerships, volunteer mentors, and alumni who carry forward Billi’s mission of compassion and inclusion in healthcare. While the program has evolved, its purpose remains the same: to honor Billi Odegaard’s legacy by empowering the next generation of diverse nursing leaders.
Mission
Improve the health and healthcare experiences of Oregonians by developing a professional nursing workforce that mirrors the ethnic composition of the individuals and communities being served.
Vision
Continues Billi Odegaard’s dream and life’s work of a well-educated, ethnically diverse nursing workforce that is dedicated to improving the health of all Oregonians. The Fund provides resources and removes barriers so that qualified ethnic minority students can achieve a world-class education.
Scholarship
The Billi Odegaard Scholarship supports Oregon students from underrepresented backgrounds throughout their nursing journey, providing full financial support, mentorship, and leadership development from Clackamas Community College through graduation at Oregon Health & Science University. More than a scholarship, it is a community invested in your success and future impact in nursing.
Our People
The Billi Odegaard Scholarship Fund is sustained by a caring community of volunteers, staff, mentors, and alumni who honor Billi’s legacy by expanding access to nursing education and uplifting diverse students as they serve their communities with compassion.”
Past and Present Students
The heart of the Billi Odegaard Scholarship is the students it supports. Our scholars, past and present, represent resilience, dedication, and a shared commitment to caring for their communities through nursing. Each journey is unique, yet all are connected by a supportive network that believes in their potential and celebrates their growth, from the classroom to the bedside.