Gifts that put goals within reach

Thanks to the Helene Fuld Health Trust, 22 outstanding UIC College of Nursing undergraduate and graduate students received financial relief during the 2022-2023 academic year.

Though their stories are different, these students have common goals. They are all seeking a fulfilling career, a chance to make a lasting impact on individual patients, and the opportunity to improve healthcare writ large. They believe in the power of nursing to change lives. The support of the Helene Fuld Health Trust has made positively impacted their ability to reach those goals.

Academic programs at the UIC College of Nursing are rigorous, and the Helene Fuld Health Trust Funds—for both baccalaureate and master’s students just entering the profession—means students can focus on their studies and clinical rotations instead of working a second job. It means they can afford to participate in meaningful extracurricular and volunteer opportunities. It means they will be able to graduate without drowning in student loan debt.

We greatly value our ongoing partnership with the Helene Fuld Health Trust, which allows us to support more students with scholarships. These are our future nurse leaders. We thank the trust for believing in them and giving them the confidence to lead us forward.

Meet UIC Nursing's most recent Fuld Scholars Heading link

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Isela Valencia

During my childhood, I traveled frequently to Mexico and I witnessed many people struggle to obtain the proper healthcare or medications to survive through their illness. This experience never left my mind. I have a goal to obtain a bachelor’s degree so I can become a nurse and provide the best possible care to my patients, potentially using my skills to help the less fortunate.

Nursing is not a career that fits everyone. It requires so much dedication, respect, and a genuinely good heart. I have always told myself that you never know what people are going through, and when they are in a hospital in their most vulnerable state, they are depending on you. If I am able to make someone’s last moments of care the best one’s they’ve had, I would do it over and over again.

With this scholarship I am able to breathe a little more and relieve some of the financial stress during the semester to focus on my education. As a first-generation college student, I have had to figure things out on my own in the college world. Being awarded the Helene Fuld Nursing Scholarship was a blessing, which I am more than grateful for.

I have always told myself that you never know what people are going through, and when they are in a hospital in their most vulnerable state, they are depending on you.

Isela Valencia
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Stephanie Smith

Thank you so much! Coming into a nursing program after a decade of working and building my professional life was both scary and exciting, but I can already see that this career is right for me. I hope to build a nursing practice here in Chicago that enriches our vibrant community and helps to make quality health care accessible to everyone.

It’s made a world of difference to have support from the Helene Fuld Health Trust Scholarship Fund. I am so grateful! Thank you for supporting future nurses!!

Sumaira Ishtiaq

“My name is Sumaira Ishtiaq and I am a Pakistani immigrant. As I complete my education at the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Nursing, I would like to thank you for selecting me as a recipient of the Helene Fuld Health Trust Scholarship. I am the vice president of Humanity First Student Organization at UIC, an international humanitarian relief and development non-profit organization.

Thank you for your generosity; it has helped me pay for my tuition and helped me save enough money to pay for my books and class materials. This scholarship has helped me to avoid taking any loans.

Julia Srama

“I am honored that you have chosen to help me in my nursing journey.

I am a child of Polish immigrants and will be the first to receive a bachelor’s degree in my family. It has been a dream of mine to become a nurse since I was young. As a child, when I had to go through surgery, there was a nurse anesthesiologist who managed to relax me before the procedure by imparting her positive energy. Even back then I admired her actions, and she inspired me to pursue nursing as a career. I want to become a nurse so that I can provide the same comfort and care to others that she once did to me.

After I graduate from the BSN program, I plan to continue my education and become a nurse anesthesiologist. I understand that this sort of education will be expensive, so my goal is to do everything I can to graduate with little to no debt. So far, I have succeeded in this because I chose to complete my first two years at a community college. Your generosity will greatly help me continue with this goal.”

David Pluta

“I received this scholarship in my first semester as a student in the Advanced Generalist Master of Science of Nursing program.

These funds helped me cover the full cost of my books for the semester.

Starting this program has been a significant period of transition in my life with various financial expenditures—receiving this assistance with my books has been a great help. Despite the challenges, I remain confident that I have set out towards pursuing the right career path for myself. The first few weeks of courses have already been exhilarating and I’m looking forward to learning as much as I can on my path towards becoming a nurse.

Thank you very much for your support of students such as myself. We appreciate all that you do.

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Lindsey Wolfe

This scholarship has allowed me to relieve some of the financial burden associated with attending an out-of-state school. I am now able to worry less about how to pay for school and focus more on my learning.

While I have a background in psychology, I am looking forward to studying nursing in hopes of someday becoming a nurse practitioner. I am really enjoying nursing school and am very excited for my future in this program.

I am the first person in my family to attend college, and the only person in my extended family to go into the medical field. Your contribution is allowing me to pave the way in my family toward higher education and is also allowing me to chase my dreams of becoming a nurse.

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Crystal Washington

“I sincerely thank you for your generous donation towards my nursing career at UIC Nursing at Urbana-Champaign. I truly feel that without this scholarship I would not have been able to obtain my education at this prestigious university.

Being able to attend this school will allow me to become a productive member of society and assist me in reaching my goals. Through my commitment towards my educational goals, I will strive to continue my success inside and outside of the classroom.

Lastly, I would like to reiterate my gratitude to you for your donation, which will allow me to reach my personal and educational potential.”

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Ramal Nadeem

“I would like to thank you for giving me this scholarship. It will help me take out fewer loans, and I can focus on my education rather than having to work during school.

After getting my degree I plan to work for a couple years and then go back to school to become a nurse practitioner.

I chose nursing as my career because I have always wanted to help people around me. In nursing, there are many opportunities for that. For example, I want to be able to mentor high school students who want to become a nurse. That is because when I was in high school, I didn’t have anyone to ask questions about nursing.

I would like to thank you again for this wonderful opportunity.”

Lucas Tassoni

“I am extremely grateful that I have been chosen to receive this scholarship. Your generosity is allowing me to continue to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree. I also aspire to become a nurse practitioner. I love interacting face to face with patients and seeing them progress to better health. As a nurse I will be able to improve the lives of thousands of people.

As a college student my financial situation is quite challenging. Being solely responsible for the cost of my schooling has put some financial strain on me. This scholarship has allowed me to decrease the amount of loans I need to take out. Alleviating some of my financial strain allows me to focus more on my education rather than my current employment. Thank you so much for awarding me this scholarship. It is very much appreciated.

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Natalia Bochnia

Nurses help patients through some of their most vulnerable moments, which I consider to be the most rewarding part of the job.

Receiving this scholarship has helped to lift part of a heavy weight off my shoulders. In 2012, my dad was bitten by a tick that infected him with Lyme Disease. He lost most of his vision and suffered severe cardiac and musculoskeletal complications due to the disease. His disability prevents him from being able to work and function independently in his day-to-day life.

While managing a part time job as a culinary services supervisor at Central Baptist Village Assisted Living Facility, I have also been working as his home health aide to accompany him to doctor visits, run his errands, help with grocery shopping, and perform daily tasks around the home.

This award has much more than just monetary value. It relieves a financial burden just as much as it relieves a burden of overall stress.

“Receiving this scholarship has helped to lift part of a heavy weight off my shoulders.”

Natalia Bochnia
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Kayla Lawrence

First, I want to say thank you because I am so grateful for the help that I have received from this scholarship committee. Going to college and graduating with my BSN is a big goal of mine, but also very expensive, and that is why I am so appreciative of the scholarship that I am getting. It takes a weight off my shoulders because I don’t have to worry so much about my financial issues when it comes to school. So, thank you so much for that.

Nursing school has been an eye opener for me. This is because I learned so much from the great professors and nursing instructors that I had. I cannot wait to put all of the things that I have learned in the classroom and in my clinical experience to use in the nursing field.

Overall, I am beyond excited for what my future holds for me and am forever grateful for the help that you all have given me.

 

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Jackson Gettinger

I am currently a junior in college, having transferred from Parkland College, and I am focusing on achieving my BSN. I hope to become a registered nurse with a specialization in oncology. The financial assistance this scholarship is providing is indispensable to me and will be of great help in allowing me to pay for my educational expenses and concentrate more of my time on studying for the coming semester.

Thank you again for the generosity you have given me. I am no stranger to hard work and in the coming semester, I will prove myself as deserving of this aid. I promise I will give back to my community as a registered nurse, and maybe one day pay it forward by sponsoring nursing school students as a donor.

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Clarissa Frayn

One of the reasons I chose the nursing profession is a long-held belief I have that everyone I meet has something to teach me. Working as a nurse gives me the opportunity to meet many people and hear about their life experiences while helping them navigate challenging health journeys.

Outside of my desire to work with people on their health as a nurse, I am also interested in Electronic Medical Records (EMRs). For the last 5 years I have been working in IT project management and I would like to bring my IT experience into nursing to help my peers become confident users of EMRs and collaborate with hospitals on optimizing nurse EMR usage.

This scholarship award allows me to focus on mastering pathophysiology instead of focusing on the dollars remaining in my bank account. Thank you.

Ivy-Zhang

“This scholarship will assist me in finishing my senior year and obtaining my BSN degree at the University of Illinois at Chicago on the Urbana-Champaign campus.

This past summer, I had the opportunity to obtain a nursing student internship at the renowned rehabilitation hospital, Shirley Ryan Ability Lab. Here, I’ve learned and gained many practical skills in both patient care and for workplace success, such as communication and professionalism.

The financial assistance this scholarship has provided will assist me in paying for my education expenses such as tuition and books. It has lightened a significant financial burden on both my parents and me. This will allow me to focus more on finishing my degree, continuing my passions, and meeting the goals I’ve set for myself this academic year. Thank you again for your support and generosity.

Rebekah Rayas

“I was very happy to learn that I was selected as one of the recipients of your scholarship. I plan to pursue a career in nursing, serving the underserved. I would love to serve the Hispanic community and the immigrant population. As a daughter of Mexican immigrants, I came to realize that there aren’t enough Latinx nurses who know the culture and speak the language. I hope that after I graduate, I can use my education and skills to bridge the gap between the health care system and the Hispanic community.

The scholarship will help with educational expenses and allow me to concentrate on my studies. I don’t have to take out as many loans or work as much, instead focusing on studying. Thank you again for your generosity and support. I can’t wait to soon be a nurse and give back to my community.”

Christoffer Mathis

“I was very honored to learn of my selection for this honor, and I am deeply appreciative of your support. I have been working with UIC’s Outbreak Response Team to facilitate vaccination clinics for COVID-19, influenza and monkeypox, as well as testing services for COVID-19 and multi-drug resistant organisms.

I will be working in the Emergency Department at the University of Chicago Medical Center this upcoming summer as a nurse extern and plan to continue working in the ED thereafter. The financial assistance you have provided me has allowed me to comfortably afford school supplies and daily resources. Also, the fund has been pivotal in allowing me to pursue the opportunities that interest me and pass my upcoming board exams.

Thank you again for your generosity and support. I assure you that I will continue working hard as a proud student of UIC with the hope of one day giving back to the college as a leader in the health care field.”

Alexandra Vassilyeva

“I chose nursing after getting a job on a labor and delivery unit during the first year of my undergraduate program, where I still work today. As I began working closely with the nurses on my unit, I realized that nursing was the profession I always envisioned for myself.

After learning about the AGMS program at UIC, I knew it was the perfect fit for my educational and professional goals. As an immigrant and the first in my family to pursue higher education in the United States, I am extremely grateful for the financial assistance this scholarship is providing me. This not only lightens my financial burden but also gives me the opportunity to worry less about educational expenses and place all my focus on my studies.

Thank you for your support, without which my continued pursuit for higher education would not be possible. I hope that one day I will be able to provide the same financial support for future nursing students.”

2022-23 Helene Fuld Health Trust Scholars Heading link

The Helene Fuld Health Trust provided financial relief to 22 outstanding UIC College of Nursing graduate and undergraduate students during the 2022-2023 academic year.

Lindsey Wolfe
Stephanie Smith
Alexandra Vassilyeva
Clarissa Frayn
Christoffer Mathis
David Pluta
Rebekah Rayas
James DiFonso
Gabrielle Smith
Falak Javaid

Natalia Bochnia
Isela Valencia
Jackson Gettinger
Sumaira Ishtiaq
Kayla Lawrence
Julia Srama
Lucas Tassoni
Crystal Washington
Ivy Zhang
Ramal Nadeem
DeAnna James
Christian Giron