Colorado Nurses Foundation scholarships awarded.

The Colorado Nurses Foundation (CNF) recently awarded thirty-four scholarships to assist nursing students in their education process. For the second year, the CNF worked with Friends of Nursing (FON) and Sigma Theta Tau (STT) utilizing the shared Colorado Nursing Collaborative Scholarship Application form. FON and STT will announce their scholarship recipients within a few months. While criteria for awarding the scholarships vary between the three organizations, they share a common goal of assisting Coloradoans who are enrolled in basic or advanced nursing education programs.

Founded in 1987, the CNF is dedicated to improving health care and nursing practice in Colorado. The scholarships awarded in 2006 totaled $33,500 and were increased to $48,500 in 2007. Scholarship donors include individuals and organizations. For more information about the CNF, membership, donation opportunities, the 2008 Nightingale Event, etc. visit the web site www.coloradonursesfoundation.org.

Abbreviations are used: BSN = Bachelors Degree in Nursing, MSN = Masters Degree in Nursing, PhD = Doctorate of Philosophy, Educational Programs are in Colorado unless otherwise noted. Dates of anticipated graduation are shown as (May 2008), etc.

CNF/Nightingale $1000.00 Scholarships were awarded to the following 19 students:

American Association of Critical Care Nurses: Elva Saint, MS/FNP student, (Dec.2008) CSUPueblo. She plans to work as a FNP in Canon City following graduation.

Banner Health: North Colorado Medical Center, Greeley: Anastasia Dilisio student (May 2009) UNC-Greeley. Her interest is in working in the ER, then graduate school.

Marcy & Bruce Benson: Monika Jaskowska Accelerated BSN student, Metropolitan State College, Denver. Her prior degree is a BS-Psychology from the University of Colorado-Denver. Her interest is in critical care and with a goal of earning a DNP degree.

Colorado Nurses Association: Jennifer Ehlers, MS/FNP graduate student (May 2009) Regis University. Her RN degree is from Methodist Medical Center of Illinois, School of Nursing, Peoria IL and her BSN from St. Joseph College of Nursing, Joliet IL. Currently a Flight Nurse, she looks forward to her new role as an Advanced Practice Nurse.

Lola & Red Fehr: Dana George El-Hajj, a first year Nursing PhD student (2010) University of Colorado-Denver,a completed her BSN and a MS-Population Studies at the American University of Beirut (Lebanon) and a MSN at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver. She is currently an Instructor at Trinidad State Junior College, Trinidad CO. She is interested in combining research and education.

Johnson & Johnson: Sarah Petrie, BSN student (August 2008) University of Northern Colorado, Greeley. She plans to utilize her minor in Spanish as she investigates positions working with the underserved.

LaFawn Biddle: Shawn Anderson, MS/ FNP student (May 2009) Regis University He is currently employed at Metropolitan State College, Denver as Simulation Laboratory Coordinator in the Department of Nursing. He earned his BSN at California State University Long Beach, Long Beach CA. His goal is to integrate his Graduate Degree/FNP to be a nursing leader, an educator and an advocate within the community.

Exempla Lutheran Medical Center, Wheat Ridge: Lane Looka, MS/FNP student (May 2009) Regis University, Denver. He earned his RN at Murray State College, Tishomingo OK and completed his BSN at the University of Phoenix, Lone Tree CO. He is employed at Regis University as an Affiliate Faculty, Instructor and as an ER Staff Nurse at Exempla Lutheran Medical Center. His goal is to work as a Nurse Practitioner in the Emergency Room.

Metropolitan State College of Denver, President's Office: David Scott Accelerated BSN student (May 2008) Metropolitan State College, Denver. He previously earned a B.A.-History at Fordham University, Bronx, NY and a M.A. Political Science at Northeastern University, Boston, MA. He plans to work with developmentally disabled adults or at-risk youth.

Poudre Valley Health Care System Medical Center of the Rockies, Loveland: Shaundra Slade, BSN student (August 2008) University of Northern Colorado, Greeley. She hopes to work on a Medical-Surgical Unit.

Poudre Valley Health Care System Poudre Valley Hospital, Ft. Collins: Dana Garvey, BSN student (May 2009) University of Northern Colorado, Greeley. She previously earned a BS, Apparel and Merchandising degree from Colorado State University, Ft. Collins, CO. She is interested in working in an acute care setting and in becoming a Diabetes Educator.

Rose Medical Center, Denver, provided two scholarships: (1) Leah Schichtel is a BSN student (August 2008), University of Northern Colorado, Greeley, CO. She plans to apply to graduate school to pursue a Doctorate in Nursing Practice to prepare her to work in a clinic for underserved populations. (2) Christie Schernecke, MS/NNP student (May 2009), Regis University, Denver. She earned her RN at Del Mar College-Corpus Christi, TX and her BSN at the University of Texas, Arlington TX. She is currently employed at The Children's Hospital, Aurora, CO as a Clinical Nurse in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. She plans to work as a NNP and is interested in research and education.

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Seedworks Fund: Jana Mischlich, BSN student (May 2009), University of Colorado-Denver. She works part-time as a Bilingual translator (Spanish) for the Mountain Board for Educational Services. Previous education includes an A.A. from Colorado Community College, Steamboat Springs, CO and a B.S.-History from Colorado State University, Ft. Collins, CO. She served two years as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Bolivia. She plans to utilize her experience and bilingual skills in her professional nursing practice.

St. Anthony Hospital, Denver--Three scholarships were awarded: (1) Laura Armstrong, BSN student (May 2008), University of Colorado-Denver. Her interest is in Social Justice and working with children , especially those who have been neglected and/or abused. (2) Carlene Shade Accelerated BSN (May 2008), Regis University, Denver. She previously served two terms with AmeriCorps (as a Health Educator and as a Medical Assistant) and earned a B.S. in Biology at Trinity University, San Antonio TX. Following initial practice as a staff nurse, her goal is to become a nurse practitioner. (3) Rachel Worley, MS/FNP student (May 2009), Regis University. She completed both an AA- Nursing and a BSN at Southwestern Adventist University, Keene, TX. Her goal is to become a Primary Care Provider for underserved populations.

St. Mary's Hospital and Medical Center, Grand Junction, CO: Cynthia Thomas with her dissertation in progress and having completed her Comprehensive Examination completed, plans to receive her PhD in Nursing at the University of Colorado-Denver in May 2008. She is currently an Associate Professor at Mesa State College, Grand Junction, CO. Her prior education includes a B.S. in Physical Education, Biology, Minor Education from Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem NC, a B.S.N. at the University of Utah, Salt Lake City UT and her M.S. (Adult Medical/Surgical Nursing) at the University of Colorado, Denver. Her goals include applying for a promotion to full professorship at Mesa State College where she would be involved with bringing a Master's level degree program to Mesa State/the Western Slope of Colorado.

National Jewish Medical & Research Center, Denver: Leah Borgman BSN student (May 2008),University of Northern Colorado, Greeley. She spent ten weeks in Sub-Saharan Africa working with AIDS orphans, six weeks working with at risk youth in Scotland plus three mission trips to Mexico working with orphans. Her immediate goal is to work in an inpatient unit, then consider working with Relief Organizations in Africa.

CNF/Nightingale $2000 Scholarships were awarded to 5 students: (1) Marion Richmond-Haygood, BSN student (May 2009), Beth-El College of Nursing and Health Sciences University of Colorado at Colorado Springs. Areas of interest for practice include Public Health and Hospice. (2) Brenda Barnard, BSN student (Dec. 2008), University of Colorado-Denver. She received a BS degree in Behavioral Science from Metropolitan State College, Denver. Her long-range goal is to complete a graduate program to become a nurse practitioner. (3) Michael Ryan, BSN student (August 2008) University of Northern Colorado, Greeley. His goal is to practice as an Adult Oncology nurse. (4) Hebah Refaat, BSN student (May 2008), University of Northern Colorado. She has earned an Associate of Science Degree from Aims Community College, Greeley, CO. She plans to return to school to receive a doctorate/ become a DNP. (5) Andrea Anderson MSN/FNP student (May 2009), Regis University. Prior education includes an Associates of Applied Science, Early Childhood Education from Mesa State College, Grand Junction, an Associates in Science in Nursing from Arapahoe Community College, Littleton and her RN to BSN degree from Metropolitan State College, Denver. She currently works in the Intensive Care Unit and Telemetry at Exempla St. Joseph Hospital, Denver. She is interested in working as a FNP with underserved populations.

CNF Scholarships were awarded to the following ten students:

Colorado Organization of Nurse Leaders ($1000): Kimberly Starr, a first year PhD Nursing Education student, University of Northern Colorado (2010). Her prior education includes a BS in Nursing at the University of Southern Colorado, Pueblo CO, A MS in Nursing Education, University of Wyoming, Laramie WY, Post Masters certificates in Healthcare Informatics from the University of Arizona, Tucson AZ and in Nursing Education, University of Northern CO, Greeley CO. She is currently working part-time as an Assistant Clinical Professor at the University of Northern AZ in Flagstaff AZ and as Nursing Faculty at the Grand Canyon University, Phoenix AZ, the Thomas Edison State College, Trenton, NJ and at Otero Junior College in La Junta, CO. She plans to include research in the area human/technology interfaces with her PhD to continue her role as a Nurse Educator.

DNA#16 (of the Colorado Nurses Association) Eleanor Bent Scholarship ($1000): Chad Koerlin BSN student (May 2009), University of Northern Colorado, Greeley, CO. After an initial period in the inpatient clinical setting, he is interested in becoming a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist.

University of Colorado-Denver (School of Nursing) ($1250): Oksana Henn, a BSN student (August 2008), UC-D (SON), is in the BSN Worksite program. Having completed an AAS (pre-nursing), Community College of Aurora, Aurora CO, she is employed as a Certified Nursing Assistant at the University of Colorado Hospital, Aurora CO. She is undecided about what area of practice she will choose.

Virginia Paulson Fund ($1250) (Colorado Nurses Association): Darlene Page BSN student (Dec.2008), UC-D (SON). Prior education includes a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Biochemistry and Philosophy from Hastings College, Hastings NE. She is currently in two Work-Study programs (part-time) at the University of Colorado-Denver. She hopes to work at the VA hospital in Denver CO, then in the future to obtain a graduate degree to teach nursing.

Roy Anderson Fund ($3000) Scholarships were awarded to three students. (1) Bret Lyman is in year 3 of the PhD program in Nursing Education at the University of Northern Colorado, Greeley CO. His anticipated completion date for this program is May 2009. He is currently employed as a Lecturer and as the First Semester Coordinator at the University of Northern Colorado, Greeley CO as well as being a NCELX Review Instructor. His educational preparation includes a Certificate in Practical Nursing, Bridgerland Applied Technology College, Logan UT, an Associate of Science in Nursing and a BSN from Weber State University, Ogden UT, and a MSN-Nursing Education from the University of Northern Colorado, Greeley CO. While his short term goal is to address the shortage of nurse educators through research, his long-term goal is to facilitate the utilization of research-based leadership development strategies at the international level. (2) Amber Sansaver, BSN student (2010),UC-D (SON). Her long-term goal is to work in Public Health. (3) Brittanie Moos, BSN student (May 2009), University of Northern Colorado, Greeley CO. Her current area of interest is Women's Health.

MufflyFund ($2500) Scholarships were awarded to two students: (1) Kristin Rupp, BSN student (May 2009), University of Northern Colorado, Greeley CO. Her area of interest is in Obstetrics and Pediatrics and she plans to become a Certified Lactation Consultant. (2) Jillian Brakovec BSN student (May 2009), University of Northern Colorado. She is interested in working with underserved women in a community setting and hope to someday become a Neonatal Nurse Practitioner.

Patty Walter Scholarship ($1000): Autumn Martin, MS/FNP student (May 2009),University of Northern Colorado, Greeley CO. Her BSN was earned at the University of Northern Colorado, Greeley CO. She is interested in a broad spectrum Family Practice position and eventually would like to complete a Doctorate in Nursing Education.

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Eve Hoygaard, MS, RN-C. WHNP