As I reflect on my 13 years of Nursing experience, I can truly say it has been such a fulfilling journey. From working in a variety of Intensive Care Units to becoming a Flight and Critical Care Transport RN, I have been fortunate to gain experience in the care across the entire age spectrum. Unfortunately, as a Nurse, I frequently meet my patients and their families on the worst day of their lives. Caring, comforting, and healing those in need are privileges unrivaled in the Nursing profession. Equipped with these experiences, I have set out to obtain my Doctorate of Nursing Practice in Nursing Anesthesia. It is my hope that this scholarship will help towards tuition as my program requires me to not work for the following 3 years. Throughout my career I have strived to make a positive impact in the Nursing profession. I have taken active roles in Nursing governance, mentorship, and education. In my last role as a Senior Clinical Nurse II, I was active in the developing protocols and education for ventilator management. Orienting and teaching the next generation of nursing providers is crucial to the advancement of profession. Following the completion of my Doctorate, I will have the means to further impact the nursing profession. As a mentor, I hope to inspire other nurses to expand their education. As a CRNA, I plan to be an active member in my state's nursing association, advocating for my fellow and future nurses. Ultimately, I plan to obtain my PhD and return to academia as a professor. Then, I will be able to help generations of students pursue their degrees as nurses. While earning this scholarship would go a long way in accomplishing my dreams, earning the opportunity to honor Mr. Davidsaver's would be a responsibility I'd carry for the rest of my life. I thank you for this opportunity and hope to hear more about Jase's life.

As a proud Pacific islander, attending college means everything. To me, it is validation. Validation in my skills as a Nurse to pursue the highest education in my profession. To my parents, it is a dream fulfilled. A dream of a better tomorrow and opportunity for my sister and I when they immigrated to the United States from the Philippines. Growing up in inner-city Baltimore, my father would always remind me that education was the pathway to success. Sadly, he passed away last year but I hope he would be proud to see where I am now. Currently, I am enrolled to obtain my Doctoral degree in Nursing anesthesia after a 13 year career in the ICU, flight, and critical care transport. While Nursing is cemented in the backbone of Filipino culture, unfortunately many of these amazing nurses do not go on to pursue advanced practice degrees. In fact, only 4 percent of Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) are of Asian or pacific islander descent. Even with such a cultural push for Nursing as a career path for Filipinos, less than 8 percent of Registered Nurses in the United States are of Asian or pacific islander descent. Completing my program will not only mean reaching the pinnacle of my profession but enable me to guide future generations of AAPI nurses to further advance their scope in the profession. It is my plan to mentor prospective nurses and eventually become a professor and educate future CRNAs. Receiving this scholarship would be a tremendous honor. Growing up among nurses and teachers, I can appreciate the demand both professions call for. As a recipient of this scholarship, I would continue the legacy set forth by the Fatilua family. As a father of 3, this scholarship would help me reach my dreams of becoming a CRNA and further show my children the importance of education. When I obtained my Bachelors in Nursing, my cohort used the mantra "Nurse in Progress." We loved it so much that we made class T-shirts with the motto across our chests and we wore them proudly. It reminded my fellow students and I to keep pushing forward through our program. As time has passed, I still find myself reciting it but with a much deeper meaning. Now, "Nurse in Progress" isn't just a phrase to survive a rigorous program but to strive to be the best clinician possible. Not only would the Faatuai and Fatilua Memorial Scholarship help with the ever growing costs of higher education but be another reminder of my own personal responsibilities to contribute to a legacy deserving of this award. Thank you.