VNA Holian Nursing Scholarship Awarded
VNA Holian Nursing Scholarship Awarded
The Board of Directors of Newtown Visiting Nurse Association and The VNA Scholarship Committee have announced that the 2011 Mary M. Holian Nursing Scholarship has been awarded to Erica Vacaro. Erica is a graduate of the University of Delaware, and is currently studying for her bachelorâs of nursing (BSN) degree at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia.
The award was presented to Ms Vacaro by Scholarship Committee members Sally Schwerdtle, Carole Polcyn, and Mae Schmidle on August 23.
Erica Vacaro is a 2007 graduate of Newtown High School. She attended the University of Delaware, where she majored in exercise science with a concentration in exercise physiology. While attending the university she participated in club lacrosse, worked for the admissions office, and was a member of the ambulance crew on campus. She graduated early, after 3½ years, in January 2011, with a bachelor of science.
Ms Vacaro spent the next several months working as an EMT in Wilmington, Del. In May she began her nursing studies at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia. She is in the Facilitated Academic Coursework Track (FACT), an accelerated dual degree program that will allow her to earn her BSN in one year. She will then progress toward her master of science in nursing (MSN). The program was designed for those who already hold their bachelorâs degree in a nonnursing field who wish to transition to nursing.
Once she earns her masterâs degree, Ms Vacaro hopes to work as a nurse practitioner. She has already completed the first quarter of the bachelor degree portion of the program.
The VNA Holian Award was established in 1998 in honor of the late Mrs Holian for her dedication and leadership in public health nursing for the State of Connecticut and Newtown VNA.
The scholarship award of $4,000 is available to Newtown residents who are returning to school to study nursing or are changing their college major to nursing. The scholarship is available to those studying for a registered nurse (RN), BSN, MSN, or for a PhD in nursing.
For further information write to Newtown VNA Scholarship Committee c/o Sally Schwerdtle, Chairman, Edmond Town Hall, 45 Main Street, Newtown CT 06470.