UNH alum and Hope Strengthens Foundation donor, the Nakos Family (Loukas ‘83, Christine and daughters: Jaclyn ‘15 & MED ‘16, Hayley, and Rachel ‘19), has generously established the Nakos Family Scholarship by Hope Strengthens Foundation. The purpose of this scholarship is to provide need-based support to junior and senior undergraduate students enrolled in the CHHS with a preference for first generation college students.
Students receiving the Nakos Family Scholarship by Hope Strengthens Foundation are in the process of receiving the training and experience required to enter demanding career fields, where many of their patients will face the most challenging times of their lives. The spirit of this scholarship is rooted in the belief that graduates from the CHHS will have countless opportunities to positively contribute to their patients’ hope and strength, while being productive members of the communities in which they work and live.
The following students (names not disclosed for privacy purposes) were recipients of the first scholarships awarded through this current use scholarship fund:
SD: Health Management and Policy “I worked at Dartmouth Hitchcock as a clinical secretary in the radiology department, until I was accepted into UNH and had saved up enough money to attend. The clinical experience I obtained through this job only increased my desire to work in the medical field. I am the first in my family to further their education and pursue a bachelor’s degree, and it is a great honor and accomplishment to be doing so.”
JM: Exercise Science “I chose to go to college as a first-generation college student to give hope to my future, so why wouldn’t I give hope to others? I’ve wanted to be an exercise science major for the past two years, not only because I love the body and how it works, but because I want to become a physical therapist in order to support those who need it. I want to continue to learn in my junior year how to be hands on and solve the problems. I want to be able to break barriers and to help people progress and live their best lives. I want to be the person who helps create the end picture of hope and foster the idea that they are strong enough to achieve whatever their goals are.”
NS: Nursing “I am currently a first-generation nursing student in the Class of 2024 at UNH, as well as a Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT) at my local hometown pharmacy. As the daughter of my immigrant mother, I was taught from a very young age to work hard for everything and to never give up (even when things got really difficult). My goal as a nurse is to provide the same quality care (if not better) as my mom provides to her patients still to this day as an LNA and to provide my patients with the hope and strength they require to heal holistically…(and to) give my patients the hope and strength to push forward in their journey of health and wellness promotion. I want to inspire my patients just as my mother had inspired me in my journey to becoming a registered nurse.”
BW: Nursing “I have had three concussions, an emergency appendectomy, and was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease. Though these medical issues were hard to deal with, I believe that this adversity has pushed me to work harder than others and allowed me to gain an insight into how hard work can pay off. I have learned to persevere and never give up despite the hardships I have endured. I want to be able to show the compassion nurses have shown me during these struggles to future patients. I believe that being on both sides of medicine will help me be empathetic and give the best possible care to my patients.”
We are grateful for the opportunity to partner with the Nakos Family and the University of New Hampshire College of Health and Human Services to support these students pursue their educational and professional goals.
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