For DonorsFor Applicants

Maureen C. Pace Memorial Nursing Scholarship

$2,000
1 winner$2,000
Awarded
Application Deadline
Jun 15, 2024
Winners Announced
Jul 15, 2024
Education Level
Undergraduate, Graduate
Eligibility Requirements
State:
New York
GPA:
3.0 or higher
Field of Study:
Nursing
Education Level:
High school senior, undergraduate or graduate student

Maureen C. Pace was a beloved wife, mother, and grandmother who passed away on March 18th, 2023.

As a registered nurse, Maureen dedicated her life to helping and caring for others, serving as Head Nurse of the Emergency Room, the Director of Nursing, and ultimately the Chief Operating Officer of Mount Vernon Hospital. Maureen went on to become the Director of Clinical Services of Putnam Hospital Center where she spearheaded an Integrative Health Suite to offer alternative therapies to breast cancer patients.

Maureen was passionate about improving the quality of patient care and raising hospital standards by bringing innovative technology to nursing professionals. She loved her community, volunteered with local organizations, including driving cancer patients to their appointments, sharing her own story and providing a compassionate shoulder to lean on.

This scholarship aims to honor the incredible life of Maureen C. Pace by supporting the next generation of change-making nurses as they pursue higher education.

Any high school senior, undergraduate, or graduate nursing student in New York who has a 3.0 GPA or higher may apply for this scholarship.To apply, tell us what inspired you to study nursing, what you hope to achieve, what impact you plan to make, and how you’ll carry on Maureen’s values and passion for the profession of Nursing.

Selection Criteria:
Ambition, Drive, Impact
Published September 16, 2023
Essay Topic

Tell us what inspired you to study nursing. What do you hope to achieve through your career? What impact would you like to make on your community? How will you help to carry on the values and traits exemplified by Maureen?

400–600 words

Winning Application

Katelyn Kranitz
Ossining High SchoolOSSINING, NY
There was no defining moment that caused my desire to go into nursing; a collection of events occurred throughout the entirety of my life that influenced my decision. Not only did I grow up with a grandmother who was in and out of hospitals for the last 20 years of her life due to several chronic illnesses, but I also grew up with a diabetic mother. On one occasion her blood sugar spiked while I was home alone with her. I was the one who called 911 and told them my mommy was sick, I was the one opening the door for the first responders to treat and transport her, and I was the one calling my dad, begging him to come home from my brother's hockey practice. Shortly after I started high school, a close friend of mine died. His passing hit home for me — it opened up so many floodgates of emotion that I’ve since come to realize I want to help others through. My first step in doing so was shadowing a nurse in the ED at Yale New Haven. I learned so much from her: patient care, health, hygiene, and even life advice. This spurred me to accept a dental assistant opportunity that arose in the following months, so I could continue to learn about healthcare through more practical experience. The first thing I learned on the job was the importance of communication. Having the ability to communicate with patients in Spanish was a game changer and will make my career more impactful. These experiences ignited more interest in the STEM field for me, prompting me to take advanced classes such as Human Anatomy and Physiology, Future Healthcare Leaders, and apply to a selective college-level Science Research program that is considered elite in my school. This program has taught me the basics of innumerable skills, both in research and in life. I have read countless graduate-level research papers, gained vast amounts of knowledge on my topics of interest, conducted my own research, and worked alongside my peers to improve each other's writing and presentation skills. It has also taught me that I don’t want to work in a lab doing research as a career — I would like to be hands-on in helping others. In Anatomy, I am learning the foundations of the human body to provide a basic understanding for future classes. I have always been fascinated by physiology and learning how everything works in our body has been nothing short of enthralling. My Future Healthcare Leaders class provides me ample opportunities to learn more about healthcare through weekly physician visits, an internship I applied for at my local ambulance corporation, and the confidence to know that nursing is my passion. I envision myself in a hospital, working days, nights, and the hours in between to help make people feel better. Even now, with just over 4 years until I’m in the world of professional work, I am giddy to start and am constantly adding onto my plans for my future: becoming a nurse, specializing in the Emergency Department, becoming a travel nurse, working per diem as I work towards my masters degree. Becoming a Nurse Practitioner.
Jaiden McCrorey
Pace University - Westchester CampusPleasantville, NY

FAQ

When is the scholarship application deadline?

The application deadline is Jun 15, 2024. Winners will be announced on Jul 15, 2024.