SXU Nursing Student Awarded Scholarship
ºÚ¹Ï³ÔÁÏÍø (SXU) nursing student Liliana Martinez has been named a recipient of the new Ginny (Clancy) Kavanaugh '61 Scholarship. Qualifying students must be nursing majors and have a GPA of 3.0 or higher. The scholarship, which is administered by the OSF HealthCare Foundation and OSF HealthCare Little Company of Mary Medical Center in partnership with SXU, is intended to help remove financial barriers for dedicated nursing students wishing to serve their community on the South Side of Chicago. The scholarship is also designed to support students who would like to begin their nursing careers at OSF HealthCare Little Company of Mary Medical Center in Evergreen Park.
Martinez spent the majority of her time growing up helping to take care of her grandparents, which inspired her to pursue nursing as a career. She finds her nursing classes at SXU challenging, but she is excited for the journey. She has appreciated the high-impact learning opportunities and real-world, hands-on practice she is experiencing.
"SXU is close to home and had a reputation for its great nursing program, so it was an easy decision for my college choice. I'm building great techniques that will be very important when I am taking care of my own patients. I appreciate the high-impact learning opportunities such as working with cadavers to learn different structures," said Martinez.
While balancing the rigorous nursing program, Martinez is involved in other areas on campus, including the music programs. She is a member of the community choir and the Chamber Singers.
"My involvement in these programs has allowed me to take on more and figure out how to balance my creativity with learning all my course material. Some of my favorite memories with the choral ensembles include the time we spend during rehearsals and the joy I have while singing," said Martinez.
Martinez plans to work hard to pass the NCLEX and earn her licensing and looks forward to making a difference as a nurse.
"I will not see my patients as a sickness or a disease but as humans, and I hope to make a positive impact on them."