Newtown VNA Awards Nursing Scholarship

By Kaaren Valenta

Helene Powers graduated from Newtown High School with the intention of becoming a chemistry major in college. But the summer before her freshman year, she switched to the school of medicine at Boston College.

“A lot of people convinced me that I’d be happier in nursing, and I think that’s true. There are so many things you can do with a nursing degree,” she said. “When I was younger, I thought that I’d like to be a medical researcher, but it’s better to be on the human side of medicine.”

Ms Powers, who is now starting her junior year at Boston College, is a recipient of the $4,000 Newtown Visiting Nurse Association-Anna E. Clow Scholarship. She is the daughter of Elena and Mike Powers of Sandy Hook.

The scholarship is given annually to encourage interest and growth in the nursing profession by offering financial assistance to a graduating high school senior who is a Newtown resident. The scholarship is given on the basis of interest in the nursing profession, scholarship ability, personality, and recommendation by the high school guidance department and by the principal. The scholarship is available to students entering the profession of nursing and studying for an RN (registered nurse) or BSN (bachelor of science in nursing) degree.

The scholarship is awarded when the recipient has entered the clinical portion of the nursing program, at least the second year of nursing education.

“This year I will only have classes two days a week on campus because I will be at the hospital from 7 am to 4 pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays to work with patients,” Ms Powers said.

Only about 40 of the 2,300 students at Boston College are in the nursing program.

“It isn’t easy. We started with a class of 60,” Ms Powers noted.

In becoming a nurse, Helene Powers is following in the footsteps of her grandmother, Helene Zullo, of Jamesburg, N.J.

The Newtown VNA also awards another scholarship, the Mary M. Holian Scholarship for Returning Students. This award was established in 1988 in honor and appreciation of the late Mary M. Holian for her dedication and leadership in the field of public health nursing both in Newtown and in the state. The amount of this scholarship has been increased to $2,000.

Since the Newtown VNA scholarship program was established in 1972, a total of $57,750 has been awarded.

The VNA-Anna E. Clow applications are available at the high school guidance department each year during the first week in April. Interviews are held in May and the recipient is announced in June at the high school awards program.

VNA-Mary M. Holian applications may be obtained by calling Sally Schwerdtle, chairman of the scholarship committee, at 203-268-8333.