Scholarship Recipients Reconnect and Share Your Stories

This year marks the 50th Anniversary of the Foundation of the National Student Nurses' Association (FNSNA). Receiving a scholarship from the FNSNA can be a life changing experience allowing students to achieve their dreams of becoming registered nurses. Now we want to know what's happened in your career since receiving a FNSNA scholarship. 
​As we celebrate this momentous occasion in FNSNA history, reconnect with the FNSNA by answering thie question "Where are you now?" The FNSNA will be featuring stories from scholars who reconnected with us!

Scholars Share Thanks! 

Jessica Chan, BSN
Allegheny General Hospital ​
The scholarship from the FNSNA helped me in so many ways. As I come from a family of seven, my college tuition was fully my own responsibility. Receiving the scholarship allowed me to worry less about financial burdens. In addition, it has pushed me to work harder in my academics and I graduated with honors from my university.

What are you doing now in your nursing career?
I accepted a job as a transplant nurse and I am very excited for this new adventure in my life. My goals are to become certified in this field and provide quality care to all of my future patients.
Receiving this scholarship changed the quality of my life during nursing school tremendously. The amount of financial stress relieved by this generous gift is unspeakable. Instead of driving over one hour each way to the hospital I worked at part time as a CNA to squeeze in as many extra shifts as possible to pay my way, I was able to adequately take care of myself and focus my attention to my studies. In doing this, my grades improved and for the first time I truly felt that I could survive the treacherous journey of nursing school.

What are you doing now in your nursing career?
I am studying for the NCLEX in the coming weeks and have accepted a position in a Critical Care and Adult Health Float Pool. This was not where I had imagined starting my career, but I know that I will be pushed and grow my knowledge base enormously each and every shift. 
​Haylee Burgdorf, BSN
Salem Hospital Float Pool
Savalla McLeod, BSN
Southern Hills Hospital
Receiving funding from the Helene Fuld Health Trust Scholarship for Baccalaureate Nursing Students truly blessed me. I was able to have one class paid in full which allowed me more time to study and less time working. I was able to focus on school and not have to worry about juggling my work schedule and school schedule just so I could pay for the necessities of life. I can now say the I’ve graduated and count it a blessing to be able to serve the sick.
Thank you!

What are you doing now in your nursing career?
I just completed my first 6 weeks of the StaRN, specialty Training Apprenticeship Registered Nurse program. I am now transitioning into the next 6 weeks with a preceptor on a Med/Surg Telemetry unit.
Receiving a scholarship from the FNSNA allowed to continue to focus on my studies, and not on how I was going to pay my tuition bill. Knowing different organizations that supported my future profession was humbling and rewarding. Because the FNSNA has been such a giving organization to me, I always try to give back and donate to the FNSNA. I think about how helping a student who was just like me, involved in school, state, and national associations, along with juggling a challenging curriculum. I want to continue to support and encourage those students. When mentoring current nursing students, I tell them about the benefits of being involved in NSNA and looking out for what the FNSNA can offer.

What are you doing now in your nursing career?
I am a staff nurse on a medical-surgical floor that specializes in taking care of orthopedic and urology patients after surgery. All of my hospital nursing experience, and my current place of employment is at Northwell Health’s Long Island Jewish Medical Center. My experience includes working on a medical unit as a new graduate nurse. After about 3 years on that unit, I continued my career in my hospital’s Critical Care Nursing Fellowship, and spent about 2 years working in the Cardiothoracic Intensive Care Unit. I also work per diem as a substitute school nurse for my hometown’s school district. In addition, I have tutored nursing students privately and through Molloy College AcE Tutoring Program. Currently, I am enrolled in the Master’s in Nursing program at Stony Brook University, in Nursing Education. I am on track to graduate in May 2021.
​Kelly LaMattina Siciliano, BSN, RN-BC, CCRN
Northwell Health - Long Island Jewish Medical Center