1st Prize - Lauren Kucera - $1500

There are many reasons in which I believe I should be considered for the FFFCU Scholarship Program. As a first-time college student in my family attending nursing school, I have had to adapt to college life and finances on my own. I have applied for loans in which I will eventually have to pay off and have maintained a job even with the limited time I have with my busy schedule. Navigating this process and saving money has been difficult for me as I attend a private college with expenses beyond those of a typical college. Despite these financial challenges, I have persevered in many ways through my academic triumphs. Upon beginning college, I received a scholarship from my college because of my ACT score that has helped me pay off some of my student loans. I have maintained a 3.8 GPA throughout the duration of nursing school and always strive to do my best every day. I have been recognized by several of the professors and staff at my college for going beyond what was expected of me in several different areas. Due to these achievements, I have been asked by three different individuals from my college to be a tutor for the classes of Health Assessment, Pathophysiology, and Microbiology. This has helped me not only learn more within these areas but have also helped me develop communication skills I can utilize well into the future. As a future nurse, it is vital to develop these skills of helping others despite the challenges that may arise. I believe I should be considered for this scholarship due to the immediate and long-term financial goals I have for myself and for the success I have achieved thus far.  

2nd Prize - Rebecca Langel - $500

     I believe that I should be considered for the FFFCU Scholarship Program because of my hard work and dedication to my education that I have demonstrated thus far and will continue to prove. I have always had a strong drive for interests that I am passionate about, which has taken me extremely far thus far in my collegiate career and life journey. In High School, I took many college credits in order to start my schooling process early and get ahead. I then went to the University of Nebraska Omaha for a year and took sixteen credit hours each semester in order to finish my pre-nursing requisites in a year rather than the traditional two, allowing me to start my nursing school career as soon as possible. Following that, I applied and got into Clarkson College, which is where I am at now, and have managed to keep a cumulative GPA of a 3.693 while being a full-time student and holding different jobs. I am currently working two jobs, one being at a nursing home that specialized in Alzheimer's and Dementia where I try to give back to the amazing people who contributed so much of their lives to our society before the illness. This job is also teaching me the skills necessary to become a better nurse and advocate including empathy, compassion, authentic love, and patience.

     After I graduate from nursing school, I have a lot of aspirations and goals for my future career. I plan on being a nurse for a couple of years to get stronger on my skills and then applying to go back to school to get my doctorate degree to become a Nurse Practitioner. I then hope to work in a clinic that specializes in either family practice or critical care, I also hope to become a Hospice nurse, which stems from my current job in the Alzheimer's and Dementia home. I have found that being a positive presence for both the patient and family at the end of their life is an amazing way to provide support and love to the people in an oftentimes fearful time of their life.

     All in all, I believe that I should be considered for the FFCU Scholarship Program due to the hard work that I have done and will continue to do in my educational and occupational journey. My passions and life goals have gotten me where I am today and push me to be the best version of myself on a daily basis. The FFCU Scholarship Program is looking for an applicant who displays relentless effort and drive, and I believe that I model these characteristics well.