Give to the Roy W. Johnson Memorial Endowed Scholarship

Established by his loving wife Lyne Chamberlain, a nursing professor at Seminole State, this scholarship honors the life of Roy W. Johnson, a veteran of the Vietnam War. 

Roy W. Johnson was a wonderful, kind, human being who loved life and had a quick sense of humor.  Roy loved helping others.  He drove seniors to doctor appointments or shopping, helped neighbors, and encouraged those going through difficult times. He loved sports and fishing, playing golf, and spending time by water and nature. His final days were mostly spent sitting on the porch watching the birds in the wild garden he created in the back yard. 

Roy was married to Lyne Chamberlain, a professor in the Nursing Program, and he treated her like a queen.  He supported her always, including through her doctoral studies. In turn, his wife adored him, and they were a loving, happy couple who enjoyed being together. They were married for 18 years and still celebrated their anniversary each month. His wife often said that Roy was a gift from God. Roy had two beautiful daughters from a previous marriage. He loved them and was so proud of them, as well as his son-in-law and three grandchildren. He worked as a standardized simulation patient for the Seminole State College Nursing Program. He played a patient having a heart attack, or a psychiatrist, or an obstetrician delivering a baby in laboratory simulations used to help train student nurses.  He loved working with both the students and the nursing faculty. Just two weeks before his death, he was recruiting his chemo nurses for Seminole State's RN-to-BSN program. 

Originally from Chicago, Roy loved playing hockey. He served with the U.S. Army Infantry -the Big Red One- in Vietnam, where he was repeatedly exposed to Agent Orange – most likely the cause of his death from lung cancer. Roy leaves a legacy of joy for life and helping others to achieve their goals. This donation will help nursing students complete their education.

This scholarship will provide financial assistance to students enrolled in Nursing (RN or RN-to-BSN). Students must have a minimum 3.0 GPA and attend either full-time or part-time. Preference will be given to military veterans or to students who provide a demonstrated record of community service.

Success Stories

Marissa Torres

"Hi! My name is Marissa Torres and I am a first-generation BSN student. I dream of serving in the military as a nurse to honor my grandfather who passed away from serving our country. He passed away from unsanitary conditions in a healthcare setting after being shot. Hepatitis C took a toll on his health.  My goal is to travel around the world to provide the best healthcare for those who risk their lives every day to serve us. I want to care and advocate for veterans and their healthcare. I am thankful for this scholarship because it allows me to spend more time studying and less reliance on student loans."  

Natalie Torres

"Thank you so much for the support and the belief in my capabilities as a student. My goal is to become a nurse and eventually join the military to help those in need and to continue to learn and grow. This scholarship has given me much hope for the bright future that will follow and will help me focus on school. Thank you again for your generosity as the scholarship has greatly affected me and pushes me to strive to be constantly better in all aspects of life. "

Nitke Mica

Thank you for your selfless contribution to my education. It has been an interesting year, to say the least, with my only child graduating high school, and entering her freshman year of college. I decided to take a leap of faith and enroll at Seminole State College to earn my very first degree. This donation will go a long way in helping me continue toward a nursing degree. When I graduate, I hope to travel to where the need for nurses is the greatest."

Ana Asuncion

The financial assistance you’ve provided is a tremendous help, but it’s the belief you have in my potential that truly inspires me. Knowing that there are individuals like you who are invested in my education gives me the motivation to overcome any obstacles that come my way. Being a first-generation student and navigating life as an immigrant can be challenging, but your support makes those challenges seem conquerable. You’ve given me the opportunity not only to pursue my dreams but also to shape a better future for myself and my family."

Additional Information

Thank you to the following donors who support this scholarship:

• Marguerite Abel
• Sandi Barry
• Jamie Brickley
• Paul Cappetta
• Dorothy Chamberlain
• Lyne Chamberlain
• Kevin Chambers
• Cheryl Cicotti
• Michelle Cox
• Mary Ernst
• Evelyn Fisher
• Nancy Gasper
• Monica Hand
• Bill Horton
• Nancy Johnson
• Lisa Kendall
• Molly Kostenbauder
• Gloria Lockridge
• Mary Lovewell
• Beth Maingot
• Jane Muszynski
• Cynthia Niemiec
• Sharla Rabin
• Laura Reich
• Patti Riva
• Elisa Rohr
• Brandon Ronca
• Richard W. Rowe
• Leslie Sammarco
• Elise Schilowitz
• Ted Schwitzner
• Audrey Shaw
• Dorothy Stangl
• Lori Theodore
• Sandra Todd-Atkinson
• Graciela Way
• Marilyn Wells