Nevada Cancer Institute and Siemens Foundation Announce 2010 Nursing & Healthcare Professional Scholarship Winners
$100,000 gift funds scholarship program
For Immediate Release
Contacts: Rey Bouknight, (702) 821-0020 rbouknight@nvcancer.org
Stacy Hollowell, (214) 632-8827 stacy.hollowell@siemens.com
Las Vegas – June 22, 2010 – Nevada Cancer Institute (NVCI) and Siemens Foundation today announced the Nevada nursing and healthcare students selected as winners of the 2010 Siemens Oncology Scholarship Program.
In 2007, Siemens provided $100,000 to NVCI to fund a scholarship program that aims to increase the number of Nevada students focusing on oncology nursing, basic sciences, biotechnology or public health. The scholarship program also allows currently licensed registered nurses to complete graduate work focusing on oncology nursing.
"The contribution of healthcare professionals is increasingly critical to our society," said Jeniffer Harper Taylor, president of the Siemens Foundation. It is our pleasure to show Siemens' support for this group of talented nursing and oncology scholars in the state of Nevada."
One of the scholarships, the John R. Murren, MD Scholarship, is awarded to an academically excellent student enrolled in undergraduate or graduate education in basic sciences, public health or emerging fields of study such as biotechnology, biomedical engineering, statistics or other programs that ultimately enhance oncology and cancer research. Dr. Murren was a founder of NVCI and an oncologist and researcher at Yale University who succumbed to melanoma in December 2005 at age 47.
The other scholarships will be awarded to students who show academic excellence and an interest in oncology nursing.
“The scholarship winners demonstrate an intense passion for knowledge and ambition toward the fight against cancer,” said John C. Ruckdeschel, M.D., director and chief executive officer of NVCI and the Murren Family Distinguished Director’s Chair. “We could not be happier with the quality of these recipients, and their drive to excel in the nursing and sciences professions.”
Nevada has the worst registered nurse-to- population ratio in the nation, according to a 2007 report from The Kaiser Family Foundation. Nevada had 572 nurses per 100,000 residents. The national average at that time was 824 per 100,000 residents, according to the report.
It is the hope of NVCI and Siemens that through the scholarship program, talent in the healthcare industry can be nurtured at home, enhancing Nevada’s health care industry.
The 2010 Oncology Scholarship recipients are:
Christina Alsop
University of Nevada, Reno
Nursing Scholarship – MSN program
Christina is an Oncology Certified Nurse working toward her master’s of science in nursing with the goal of becoming a nurse practitioner. Christina’s focus on oncology comes from the impact a nurse’s assistant had on her, while providing wonderful care for her mother as she battled colon cancer. Christina herself has fought cancer, and won, and wants to apply her experience as a cancer patient to demonstrate a high quality of care for others on the same journey, offering her compassion and dedication to make a lasting difference in their lives.
Sharon Mann
College of Southern Nevada, Las Vegas
Nursing Scholarship – RN/BSN program
Sharon is earning a bachelor’s of science in nursing, and plans to become a registered nurse in oncology. Sharon’s interest in helping those suffering with cancer is personal – three of her grandparents were lost to the disease. Despite juggling a family, a full-time job and school, Sharon’s drive to become an oncology nurse is unwavering. Her top nursing priorities are early detection, patient education and enduring compassion. Making an impact in the lives of cancer patients will be the greatest reward for all of her hard work.
Nina Harris
Truckee Meadows Community College, Reno
Nursing Scholarship – RN/BSN program
Nina currently holds a graduate degree in biomedical science. It was while working as a research associate for a biopharmaceutical company that she encountered young cancer patients who were both very scared and unaware of their options. Working with these patients inspired Nina to directly help, support, guide and provide care for individuals battling cancer. Applying her aptitude for science to becoming a registered nurse will allow Nina to fulfill her career goal of providing holistic care, hope and compassion in the field of pediatric oncology.
Amanda Skaggs
University of Nevada, Reno
John R. Murren, MD Scholarship – Oncology and Cancer Research
Amanda’s interest in oncology research has strong, personal motivation. As a teenager, Amanda witnessed her sister’s difficult but successful cancer journey. This pivotal experience inspired Amanda to fight cancer through research. She aims to better the quality of life for cancer patients undergoing treatment, and to become an active participant in developing improved methods for combating various forms of cancer. Her ultimate goal is to play an active role in the medical advances that will one day save someone else’s sister.
For more information about nursing and the national nursing shortage, please visit:
http://www.kaiseredu.org/topics_im.asp?id=138&imID=3&parentID=61
http://bhpr.hrsa.gov/nursing/
http://bhpr.hrsa.gov/healthworkforce/rnsurvey04/
About Siemens Foundation
The Siemens Foundation provides more than $7 million annually in support of educational initiatives in the areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) in the United States. Its signature programs include the Siemens Competition in Math, Science & Technology, Siemens Awards for Advanced Placement, and The Siemens We Can Change the World Challenge, which encourages K-12 students to develop innovative green solutions for environmental issues. In February 2010 the Siemens Foundation launched its newest initiative, The Siemens STEM Academy, a national STEM education program for teachers designed to support educators in their efforts to foster student achievement in these fields. By supporting outstanding students today, and recognizing the teachers and schools that inspire their excellence, the Foundation helps nurture tomorrow’s scientists and engineers. The Foundation’s mission is based on the culture of innovation, research and educational support that is the hallmark of Siemens’ U.S. companies and its parent company, Siemens AG. For further information, visit www.siemens-foundation.org.
About Siemens
Siemens AG (NYSE: SI) is a global powerhouse in electronics and electrical engineering, and operates in the industry, energy and healthcare sectors. For more than 160 years, Siemens has built a reputation for leading-edge innovation and the quality of its products, services and solutions. With 405,000 employees in 190 countries, Siemens reported worldwide revenue of $104.3 billion in fiscal 2009. With U.S. executive offices in Iselin, NJ, New York City and Washington, D.C., Siemens in the USA reported revenues of $21.3 billion and employs more than 60,000 people. For more information on Siemens in the United States: www.usa.siemens.com.
About Nevada Cancer Institute
Nevada Cancer Institute (NVCI) is the official cancer institute for the State of Nevada. A nonprofit organization, NVCI is committed to reducing the burden of cancer by pursuing the development of a comprehensive cancer research institute, as defined by the National Cancer Institute. Through the knowledge and expertise of the finest scientists, clinicians, educators and caregivers, the Institute provides hope to communities in Nevada, the southwest and beyond through research, education, early detection, prevention and high quality patient care. NVCI is striving for a future without cancer that is achieved through initiated and collaborative research in basic, clinical and population science. For more information, please visit www.nevadacancerinstitute.org or call (702) 822-LIFE.
