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The Campaign for TCU has set a goal of $100 million for student
scholarships, and has received $80.8 million to date. Our mission,
our main reason for existing, is to edThere are many ways to share.
To find out more details on the campaign scholarship initiative,
contact Harris College’s development director DaVonna Tinney at
d.tinney@tcu.edu or visit the website at http://www.campaign.tcu.
edu/newsite/scholarship_initiative.asp.
Student Accolades
Amberle Durano
earns WHO
internship
Junior BSN student Amberle Durano
was in Geneva, Switzerland, this
summer working as an intern with
the World Health Organization
(WHO). With hopes of becoming a
missionary nurse, Durano believes
this internshipmay be a springboard
into a fulfilling, influential career.
The WHO is a specialized group
of the United Nations focused
on international public health matters. Intrigued and inspired by
its mission, Durano actively sought opportunities to work with
the organization.
WHO has offered long-standing distinguished internships for graduate
students, but fewer for undergraduates. Aware of Durano’s desire
for international opportunities, Diane Hawley, assistant professor
of professional practice, encouraged her to pursue an internship
with WHO, as Harris College had recently developed a relationship
with the organization.
After an affirmative review of her application by WHO, Durano was
accepted to work with the world-shaping organization, the first TCU
student to earn a position with the prestigious organization. An
exciting accomplishment in and of itself, the details of how she learned
the news made it an even more savory moment.
On March 16 preceding spring break, Durano was enjoying dinner at
fellow TCU BSN student Kelsey Williams’ house in anticipation of their
upcoming springbreak trip. DeanPauletteBurns, AssociateDeanSusan
Weeks, Kathy Baker, associate professor and director of the Doctor of
Nursing Practice Program, and Hawley paid a visit to Williams’ house,
knowing Durano would be present—a reconnaissance plan craftily
developed by Williams’ mother and the faculty. Surprising Durano
merely by their presence alone, the news they shared was even more
unexpected. The faculty foursome arrived to deliver the notification
to Durano personally: Durano would officially be going to Geneva in
summer 2012 for the WHO internship experience.
“I never thought faculty could be so supportive. The experience of
being accepted was made tha much more valu ble ith them th re,”
Duran said.
Durano was in Geneva at the WHO headquarters from June 1-July 28
assisting with research in equity of access to antiretroviral pediatric
medicine for HIV/AIDS patients in communities throughout the world.
Essentially, Durano will play a role in closing the gap between those
with access to these vital drugs and those without.
“This is incredibly beyond what I would have even considered to be
a possibility. I never would have pursued this without Dr. Hawley’s
encouragement and the support from Harris faculty as a whole,”
Durano exclaimed gratefully. She is grateful for the opportunity to
have an international impact on a global epidemic.
Sophomore Laura Posluszny
advocates on Capitol Hill
Sophomore BSN student Laura Posluszny was the recipient of a
scholarship to the American Association of College Nursing Student
Policy Summit. Sponsored by the Jonas Center for Nursing Excellence
and the Johnson & Johnson Campaign for Nursing’s Future, the summit
features a variety of presentations by policy experts, interactive
discussions with Washington insiders, lobbying visits to U.S. members
of Congress and strategic networking opportunities. This competitive
award allowed the winners to travel (all expenses paid) to Capitol Hill
this past March and lobby for improved nursing policy.
Encouragement from Justin Gerstenberger, ACE academic adviser,
inspired Posluszny to pursue the opportunity. One of only two students
selected nationwide for the scholarship, Posluszny’s accomplishment
is highly notable. Having yet to even begin clinicals, Posluszny was
among the youngest students at the summit, as the majority of those
in attendance were in pursuit of doctoral degrees.
The scholarship contest required applicants to submit an extensive
essay that detailed their personal vision for the future of nursing. It is
an opportunity that attracts the best and brightest nursing students
across the nation every year. To stand out among the masses, a student
must compose a compelling essay with a strong vision, and Posluszny
accomplished that.
Posluszny captured her hopes for the future of nursing in her essay,
and ultimately impressed the AACN committee that selected her
for the scholarship. Her vision displayed her ability to discern where
nursing will go, but more importantly, where it needs to go. Posluszny
believes that a few key progressions will greatly shape the growth of
the nursing profession. Education and removing the scope-of-practice
barriers need to be top priorities. Theremust be a tremendous increase
in the number of nurses with baccalaureate degrees, a growing
emphasis on preparing nurses for advocacy and a shift from the
bedside to the office setting, which will facilitate more primary care
and wellness promotion.
“With organized planning, receptive nurses and well-educated
leaders, I see my profession improving rapidly along the lines of the
recommendations in the Institute of Medicine’s seminal report (2010),”
Posluszny wrote.
accolades
Harris College of Nursing & Health Sciences ·
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