Nursing Careers at Career High School
Though not natives of New Haven, four YSN students -- Carrie Szejk, Molly Steele, Kipp Bovey, and Mica Muskat -- have established a scholarship fund at Hill Regional Career High School to help graduates go on to nursing school.
The four YSN students, who call themselves the Mountaingales after the pioneer nurse, Florence Nightingale, spent several weeks in the summer 2002 hiking the Long Trail. The nearly 300 mile trail extends from Vermont' border with Massachusetts to it's border with Canada, covering 54 mountains in the process. The Mountaingales carried 30-40 pound backpacks, toting sleeping bags, stoves, food, tents, and first aid supplies. Thanks to the generous contributions of all the Mountaingales' supporters in the Yale and the Greater New Haven communities, these "hiking nurses" have far surpassed their scholarship goal of $5,000 for a total of more than $7,000.
Career High School graduate DawnMarie L. Onofrio (featured above, center), was chosen as the 2003 YSN Mountaingales Scholar. On June 4, 2003, the Mountaingales awarded Dawn a $4,000 scholarship that will go toward defraying the cost of her college tuition. Dawn will also be mentored by Professor Alison Moriarty-Daley, a member of YSN faculty, throughout her academic years.
The Mountaingales intend to institutionalize this initiative. They plan to identify incoming YSN students who will maintain this scholarship fund and continue the strong tradition of collaboration between YSN and the New Haven community.
In addition to aiding local students, by venturing on their trip, the Mountaingales helped to increase awareness about the need to promote nursing careers in a time of a great nursing shortage in the Greater New Haven community and in communities nationwide.
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In June of 2005, YSN awarded a $250 Florence S. Wald Scholarship to Samantha Stronk, a Career High School senior and graduate from Career's, Certified Nursing Assistant (CAN) Program. The funds will go toward defraying the cost of Samantha's college tuition during her first semester.
According to Minna Kaufman, instructor in the CAN Program, "Samantha has consistently demonstrated an excellent work ethic and a high level of motivation. Her work is always completed in an accurate and thorough manner and her overall performance is outstanding in both the classroom and clinical settling. She puts 100% effort into all she does, and it shows."
Samantha has worked during her junior year with Yale medical students, gaining valuable experience studying human anatomy and physiology. She is a member of "Who's Who Among American High School Students". She is a CAPT Scholar, a member of the National Honor Society, the Society of High School Scholars, and the United States Achievement Academy. Her outstanding qualities have earned her the Rotary Youth Leadership Award as well as the Kodak Young Leader's Award. . She is a compassionate, intelligent, and insightful young lady who can always be counted on to lend a helping hand.
Last summer, having been nominated by her high school, she attended the National Youth Leadership Forum on Medicine in Phoenix Arizona. Samantha will attend Palm Beach Atlantic University in the fall where she will major in Nursing. Congratulations Samantha!!
In the photo above, Samantha (middle) is featured with Minna Kaufman and Ilya Sverdlov, Director of Communications at YSN.
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