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Maria Ekwoge

2,945

Bold Points

14x

Nominee

7x

Finalist

2x

Winner

Bio

I am currently pursuing a Masters in Science Of Nursing in ordered to hone my ablities and become a leader in healthcare. Throughout my undergraduate degree, I have maintained an average GPA of 3.6, with honorable academic achievements, such as the dean's honor list and the chancellor’s honor list. As a first-generation college student, I have set the bar high for myself. This includes my journey in personal growth and my educational pursuits.

Education

University of San Francisco

Master's degree program
2024 - 2026
  • Majors:
    • Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing

University of California-Merced

Bachelor's degree program
2019 - 2023
  • Majors:
    • Political Science and Government
  • GPA:
    3.7

Miscellaneous

  • Desired degree level:

    Doctoral degree program (PhD, MD, JD, etc.)

  • Graduate schools of interest:

  • Transfer schools of interest:

  • Majors of interest:

  • Not planning to go to medical school
  • Career

    • Dream career field:

      Medical Practice

    • Dream career goals:

      Company Founder

    • Clerk

      East Bay Community
      2021 – 20221 year
    • Intern

      Highland Hospital
      2016 – 2016
    • Intern

      Maddy institute
      2021 – 2021

    Sports

    Lacrosse

    Club
    2015 – 20194 years

    Dancing

    Club
    2020 – 20211 year

    Soccer

    Varsity
    2018 – 20191 year

    Basketball

    Junior Varsity
    2016 – 20193 years

    Research

    • Present

    Arts

    • University of California Merced

      Performance Art
      no
      2021 – 2021

    Public services

    • Volunteering

      Oakland Batist Chucrch — assistant
      2017 – 2019

    Future Interests

    Advocacy

    Politics

    Volunteering

    Philanthropy

    Entrepreneurship

    Strong Leaders of Tomorrow Scholarship
    Being a caregiver has drastically changed my life, influencing my identity, path and personal ambitions in unexpected ways. I am currently completing my training in a long-term care facility to become a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), while working as a home health aid. As a caregiver and CNA, I work with patients with dementia, Alzheimer's, paralysis and bedridden patients. My knowledge of patient care has improved as a result of these expereinces, further motivating me to improve the lives of the people I work with. Working with patients with serious health issues on a daily basis has made me realize how important it is to have patience, empathy and good attention to detail. Every patient has their own personlized care, wheather it is for acitivities for daily living (ADLs), medication management or just emotional support. Although it can be hard a times, working with patients suffering from dementia and Alzheimers has deepened my awareness of these illnesses and the particular care needed. I now know how to manage difficult behaviors and create a safe enviroment for my patients. It has been incredibly rewarding to build solid, lasting relationships with my patients and their families. These connections have helped me understand the value of compassionate care and how much of an influence it has on a patient's well being. Some of my patients do not have family members to support them. I have taken on this job as their caregiver, providing company, physical and emotional support, and a feeling of belonging. I have also learned that this facuet is extremely important and can effect a patients general health. This is especially important when dealing with patients battling with depression. I have had patients that refuse to eat due to the lack of motivation, which makes it harder to assist them during the day. As a caregiver, I do my best by providing patients with a stuructured routine. This usually helps motivate them and also helps patients that do occupational therapy recover faster. Futhermore, postive reinforcment also helps with establishing trust between me and my patients. In regard to my personal goals, I want to be a catalyst in changing the healthcare system which is driving me to pursue nursing. I am committed to changing the healtchare system and helping individuals in my community. Nurses play a pivotal role in the healthcare system. As an aspiring nurse practioner, I want to be at the frontline of patient care and contribute to positive health outcomes. I believe that nurses have the unique ability to educate patients and their families about health conditions, treatment options and preventive care. Another experience that has inspired me to become a nurse is when I was diagnosed with encephalitis that was accompanied by seizures. It took doctors about three weeks to diagnose the cause of the seizures. This brought emotional pain to my family. I was in the hospital for six months and subjected to many tests. I was stunned by the quality of care I received from nurses. I was also happy to regain my health to further my educational goals. I desire to become a nurse practitioner in the future to acquire the knowledge, to use skills effectively and to develop values that are essential for addressing the unique problems and humanistic goals of healthcare and public health. My vision is to ensure that people live healthy lives. It is hoped that a career that will bring some opportunities and personal advantages that will be matched by the satisfaction, knowing that I have made a positive contribution to peoples’ health.
    Redefining Victory Scholarship
    As an African American, I have experienced ordeals that have left a deep engraving mark on me. I come from a community where health care is not considered affordable for most individuals. Unaffordable health care and my will to help others drive me to pursue a career in the medical field. Countlessly witnessing patients suffering from inadequate health care has made me empathize with the patients and their family members, and is driving me to study nursing. I want to be a catalyst in changing the healthcare system and providing equal and affordable care. I have witnessed the suffering of my mother, sister and loved ones. As African Americans, they constantly encounter sexism, colorism and racism. Based on this I have realized, the foundation of healthcare is effected by racial dynamics and patient and physician trust. Patients frequently do not see doctors until they are in terrible shape because they either do not have access to affordable healthcare or do not trust doctors. Moreover, stereotypes have also hindered people of color (POC) from getting proper medical care. Although we cannot eliminate these prejudices, we can combat the issue by increasing representation in the medical field and instating healtcare policies that would benefit POC and low income families. In order to be a successful nurse, I would focus on establishing a universal healthcare system that gurantees everyone has access to reasonably priced health insurance and high quality care. This would be irresspective of an individuals finacial situaiton or race. Comphrensive coverage for chronic illnesses, mental health services, and preventive care would be included in this system. I would also advocate for hiring and educating a larger pool of diverse healthcare workers so that the communites they serve are more represented among medical professionals. This would result in better patient outcomes as representation fosters a relationship of trust between patients and healthcare staff. In addition to this, I would advocate for making cultural awarness training mandotory for all medical personnel. Through this training, healthcare staff would be able to overcome unconsicious bias and gain the skills necessary to provide more compassionate and culturally aware treatment. An environment of respect and understanding can help to lessen the barriers that prevent minorites from receiving the necessary care. I am committed to changing the healtchare system. Although my primary reason for being a nurse is to help people, I also want to have as much influence as possible in order to make systemic change. My innovative approach to helping others and finding new methods to progress things gives me a distinct viewpoint on medicince. This oppurtunity would allow me to be on the front lines as a nurse, directly influencing patient's lives and speaking out for their needs. My goal is to c improve patient care. This involves creating new patient care guidelines, using cutting-edge technology and figuring out how to provide care more effectively. In the field of nursing I also hope to be acknowledged as a considerate leader. I want to use my distinct viewpoint and experiences to promote changes that improve patient care and lessen inequities.
    Kirk I. Woods Memorial Scholarship
    As an African American, I have experienced ordeals that have left a deep engraving mark on me. I come from a community where health care is not considered affordable for most individuals. Unaffordable health care and my will to help others drive me to pursue a career in the medical field. Countlessly witnessing patients suffering from inadequate health care has made me empathize with the patients and their family members, and is driving me to study nursing. I want to be a catalyst in changing the healthcare system and providing equal and affordable care. I have witnessed the suffering of my mother, sister and loved ones. As African Americans, they constantly encounter sexism, colorism and racism. I have seen the women in my life tell doctors that they are in pain, yet they are not taken seriously. Based on this I have realized, the foundation of healthcare is effected by racial dynamics and patient and physician trust. Patients frequently do not see doctors until they are in terrible shape because they either do not have access to affordable healthcare or do not trust doctors. Moreover, stereotypes have also hindered people of color (POC) from getting proper medical care. Although we cannot eliminate these prejudices, we can combat the issue by increasing representation in the medical field and instating healtcare policies that would benefit POC and low income families. I would focus on establishing a universal healthcare system that gurantees everyone has access to reasonably priced health insurance and high quality care. This would be irresspective of an individuals finacial situaiton or race. Comphrensive coverage for chronic illnesses, mental health services, and preventive care would be included in this system. I would also advocate for hiring and educating a larger pool of diverse healthcare workers so that the communites they serve are more represented among medical professionals. This would result in better patient outcomes as representation fosters a relationship of trust between patients and healthcare staff. In addition to this, I would advocate for making cultural awarness training mandotory for all medical personnel. Through this training, healthcare staff would be able to overcome unconsicious bias and gain the skills necessary to provide more compassionate and culturally aware treatment. An environment of respect and understanding can help to lessen the barriers that prevent minorites from receiving the necessary care. Although my primary reason for being a nurse is to help people, I also want to have as much influence as possible. My innovative approach to helping others and finding new methods to progress things gives me a distinct viewpoint on medicince. I will be on the front lines as a nurse, directly influencing patient's lives and speaking out for their needs. I want to use my distinct viewpoint and experiences to promote changes that improve patient care and lessen inequities. I am committed to chaning the healthcare system, wheather it's by introdcuing new technologies, enchancing care procedures, or pushing for legislative reform.
    Nikhil Desai Reinventing Healthcare Scholarship
    As an African American, I have experienced ordeals that have left a deep engraving mark on me. I come from a community where health care is not considered affordable for most individuals. Unaffordable health care and my will to help others drive me to pursue a career in the medical field. Countlessly witnessing patients suffering from inadequate health care has made me empathize with the patients and their family members, and is driving me to study nursing. I want to be a catalyst in changing the healthcare system and providing equal and affordable care. I have witnessed the suffering of my mother, sister and loved ones. As African Americans, they constantly encounter sexism, colorism and racism. I have seen the women in my life tell doctors that they are in pain, yet they are not taken seriously. Based on this I have realized, the foundation of healthcare is effected by racial dynamics and patient and physician trust. Patients frequently do not see doctors until they are in terrible shape because they either do not have access to affordable healthcare or do not trust doctors. Moreover, stereotypes have also hindered people of color (POC) from getting proper medical care. Although we cannot eliminate these prejudices, we can combat the issue by increasing representation in the medical field and instating healtcare policies that would benefit POC and low income families. I would focus on establishing a universal healthcare system that gurantees everyone has access to reasonably priced health insurance and high quality care. This would be irresspective of an individuals finacial situaiton or race. Comphrensive coverage for chronic illnesses, mental health services, and preventive care would be included in this system. I would also advocate for hiring and educating a larger pool of diverse healthcare workers so that the communites they serve are more represented among medical professionals. This would result in better patient outcomes as representation fosters a relationship of trust between patients and healthcare staff. In addition to this, I would advocate for making cultural awarness training mandotory for all medical personnel. Through this training, healthcare staff would be able to overcome unconsicious bias and gain the skills necessary to provide more compassionate and culturally aware treatment. An environment of respect and understanding can help to lessen the barriers that prevent minorites from receiving the necessary care. Although my primary reason for being a nurse is to help people, I also want to have as much influence as possible. My innovative approach to helping others and finding new methods to progress things gives me a distinct viewpoint on medicince. I will be on the front lines as a nurse, directly influencing patient's lives and speaking out for their needs. I want to use my distinct viewpoint and experiences to promote changes that improve patient care and lessen inequities. I am committed to chaning the healthcare system, wheather it's by introdcuing new technologies, enchancing care procedures, or pushing for legislative reform.
    Public Service Scholarship
    Nurses play a pivotal role in the healthcare system. As an aspiring nurse, I want to be at the frontline of patient care and contribute to positive health outcomes. I believe that nurses have the unique ability to educate patients and their families about health conditions, treatment options and preventive care. Valuable experiences and encounters have shaped my path to wanting to become a nurse. My mother has inspired me to pursue nursing. I was opportuned to witness my mother’s interactions with patients when I was growing up. I will never forget her dedication to delivering attentive care, bringing comfort, and easing pain. Through my mother’s work, I saw the critical impact nurses have on patients' lives. Another experience that has inspired me to become a nurse is when I was diagnosed with encephalitis that was accompanied by seizures. It took doctors about three weeks to diagnose the cause of the seizures. This brought emotional pain to my family. I was in the hospital for six months and subjected to many tests. I was stunned by the quality of care I received from nurses. I was also happy to regain my health to further my educational goals. I desire to become a nurse practitioner in the future to acquire the knowledge, to use skills effectively and to develop values that are essential for addressing the unique problems and humanistic goals of healthcare and public health. My vision is to ensure that people live healthy lives. It is hoped that a career that will bring some opportunities and personal advantages that will be matched by the satisfaction, knowing that I have made a positive contribution to peoples’ health. Despite being challenging at times, I believe that the job of a nurse is quite rewarding. Nursing involves critical thinking and rapid decision-making, especially in times of high pressure. My internship experience at Highland Hospital in Oakland California for six months was very rewarding. I was responsible for patient assistance in the surgical ward. This experience has given me the ability to assess challenging circumstances and provide viable solutions, while also providing quality care. This experience prepared me and honed my confidence to pursue a career in nursing. My desire is to become a Nurse Practitioner in future. The Entry’s MSN program would give me the opportunity to continually develop my skills. As a nurse practioner I want to acquire the knowledge and skills to provide equal and quality care for all individuals regardless of their creed, ethnic or racial background.
    Eitel Scholarship
    Nurses play a pivotal role in the healthcare system. As an aspiring nurse, I want to be at the frontline of patient care and contribute to positive health outcomes. I believe that nurses have the unique ability to educate patients and their families about health conditions, treatment options and preventive care. Valuable experiences and encounters have shaped my path to wanting to become a nurse. My mother has inspired me to pursue nursing. I was opportuned to witness my mother’s interactions with patients when I was growing up. I will never forget her dedication to delivering attentive care, bringing comfort, and easing pain. Through my mother’s work, I saw the critical impact nurses have on patients' lives. Another experience that has inspired me to become a nurse is when I was diagnosed with encephalitis that was accompanied by seizures. It took doctors about three weeks to diagnose the cause of the seizures. This brought emotional pain to my family. I was in the hospital for six months and subjected to many tests. I was stunned by the quality of care I received from nurses. I was also happy to regain my health to further my educational goals. I desire to become a nurse practitioner in the future to acquire the knowledge, to use skills effectively and to develop values that are essential for addressing the unique problems and humanistic goals of healthcare and public health. My vision is to ensure that people live healthy lives. It is hoped that a career that will bring some opportunities and personal advantages that will be matched by the satisfaction, knowing that I have made a positive contribution to peoples’ health. Despite being challenging at times, I believe that the job of a nurse is quite rewarding. Nursing involves critical thinking and rapid decision-making, especially in times of high pressure. My internship experience at Highland Hospital in Oakland California for six months was very rewarding. I was responsible for patient assistance in the surgical ward. This experience has given me the ability to assess challenging circumstances and provide viable solutions, while also providing quality care. This experience prepared me and honed my confidence to pursue a career in nursing. My desire is to become a Nurse Practitioner in future. The Entry’s MSN program would give me the opportunity to continually develop my skills.This scholarship will provide me with the finacial means to purse my MSN degree. As a nurse practioner I want to acquire the knowledge and skills to provide equal and quality care for all individuals regardless of their creed, ethnic or racial background.
    Dashanna K. McNeil Memorial Scholarship
    Nurses play a pivotal role in the healthcare system. As an aspiring nurse, I want to be at the frontline of patient care and contribute to positive health outcomes. I believe that nurses have the unique ability to educate patients and their families about health conditions, treatment options and preventive care. Valuable experiences and encounters have shaped my path to wanting to become a nurse. My mother has inspired me to pursue nursing. I was opportuned to witness my mother’s interactions with patients when I was growing up. I will never forget her dedication to delivering attentive care, bringing comfort, and easing pain. Through my mother’s work, I saw the critical impact nurses have on patients' lives. Another experience that has inspired me to become a nurse is when I was diagnosed with encephalitis that was accompanied by seizures. It took doctors about three weeks to diagnose the cause of the seizures. This brought emotional pain to my family. I was in the hospital for six months and subjected to many tests. I was stunned by the quality of care I received from nurses. I was also happy to regain my health to further my educational goals. I desire to become a nurse practitioner in the future to acquire the knowledge, to use skills effectively and to develop values that are essential for addressing the unique problems and humanistic goals of healthcare and public health. My vision is to ensure that people live healthy lives. It is hoped that a career that will bring some opportunities and personal advantages that will be matched by the satisfaction, knowing that I have made a positive contribution to peoples’ health. Despite being challenging at times, I believe that the job of a nurse is quite rewarding. Nursing involves critical thinking and rapid decision-making, especially in times of high pressure. My internship experience at Highland Hospital in Oakland California for six months was very rewarding. I was responsible for patient assistance in the surgical ward. This experience has given me the ability to assess challenging circumstances and provide viable solutions, while also providing quality care. This experience prepared me and honed my confidence to pursue a career in nursing. My desire is to become a Nurse Practitioner in future. The Entry’s MSN program would give me the opportunity to continually develop my skills. Becoming a nursr practitioner will equip me with the knowledge and skills to provide equal and quality care for all individuals regardless of their creed, ethnic or racial background. As a minority, I understand the importance of inclusiveness and representation.
    Social Change Fund United Scholarship
    Like any community, Black people’s optimal health should be based on the ideas of fairness, inclusivity, and easy access to high-quality care. This vision needs to be realized through a multifaceted strategy. The first pillar is stigma reduction, which calls for candid discussions about mental health within the black community and dismantles the stigma attached to asking for help. Education and awareness campaigns are essential to this endeavor. Culturally competent care is another crucial element. Mental health practitioners must be component and sensitive to cultural differences. For example being aware of historical, social and cultural contexts that can affect black people’s mental health. To address socioeconomic barriers such as a lack of affordable health care. Community-based initiatives have the potential to reduce mistrust of mental services and offer culturally appropriate support, particularly when led by people of the black community. Early intervention and resilience building can be the main goals of mental health education programs that are implemented in communities and schools at the same time. Furthermore, comprehension and treatment of the district mental health requirements of the black community depend on representation in the healthcare field. For mental health to further progress we need mental health advocates, researchers and practitioners in the field that will guarantee a more thorough comprehension of the needs of individuals in the black community. As a nursing student, I believe that frontline healthcare professionals such as nurses, are uniquely positioned to contribute to the important work of achieving social justice and mental health advocacy. As an aspiring nurse practitioner in addition to providing direct patient care, I will also engage in patient advocacy, patient education and community outreach. I plan to be a pillar in my community by destigmatizing and raising awareness of mental health issues. As a nurse practitioner, I will be able to lessen disparities in mental health by offering patients and their families support, resources and information. I desire to become a nurse practitioner in the future to acquire the knowledge, use skills effectively and develop values that are essential for addressing the unique problems and humanistic goals of healthcare and public health. My vision is to ensure that people live healthy lives. It is hoped that a career that will bring some opportunities and personal advantages that will be matched by the satisfaction, of knowing that I have made a positive contribution to people’s overall health. To fully achieve social justice for communities of color, it is imperative to acknowledge and resolve the disparities in mental health that are a direct result of systematic racism and social determinants. As we strive for the best possible mental health for one another, we make great progress toward a fair and more equitable society in which everyone can prosper. Advocacy and mental health services are essential to this battle, not just a part of it.
    Albright, Carter, Campbell Ohana Scholarship for Academic Excellence
    Winner
    As an African American, I have overcome many life experiences that have left a deep engraving mark on me. I have witnessed and experienced the numerous racial disparities not only in my community but around the world as well. I have seen stigmatization of minorities, more specifically African Americans. African Americans in my community are constantly treated unfairly in comparison to White Americans. These occurrences have caused me not only to reflect on my own identity but also how societal norms impact African Americans. In America, our Constitution, laws, courts, decisions, and regulations not only attest to the fact that racial inequality has extraordinarily deep roots in American culture, but it is frequently its underlying cause as well. These systemic issues, in great measure, fail to adapt and adequately serve the communities dependent on them. This misfortune has shaped not only my identity but has also manifested my desire to be an agent of change. After graduating with my bachelor's in political science, I will be pursuing a Juris Doctorate to become a lawyer. I believe studying the law is the best way to understand how society functions, the rules and regulations, how political issues are involved, and how these issues affect individuals in a society. To familiarize myself with law and government, I am currently majoring in pre-law political science. This major allows me to familiarize myself with the necessary skills for becoming a lawyer, which are analytical reasoning, interpersonal skills, and reading comprehension. Furthermore, to gain experience in the legal field, I have been a part of internship programs focusing on law. As an intern, I had the opportunity to work with legislators at the Maddy Institute. This internship allowed me to work directly with government officials and also allowed me to familiarize myself with public policy and civil litigation. When I graduate from university, I want to continue to offer people in my community access to legal resources that they can use in their future endeavors. After being victims of unjust cases, African Americans believe that the law targets them. As a minority, I understand the feeling of hopelessness and helplessness. More minorities than ever before are incarcerated in our prisons. Exonerations and civil suits are becoming more frequent, which indicates that the judicial system is unstable. Major cases of erroneous convictions have damaged not only the reputation of our justice system but the lives of innocent men and women. Becoming a layer will allow me to actively help people and make a difference in their lives. By advancing justice through a just process, I will be able to uphold my ethics and integrity in my practice. I believe it is imperative to remove the barriers put in place by racial inequalities if we are to advance both as individuals and in society. As an aspiring civil rights lawyer, I want to use the law to cultivate opportunities for children and families to thrive, thus creating more stable communities. I want to create tangible resources for individuals who have been deemed by society as undeserving. I want to know the law on a deeper level, so I can use the law to its full extent. Furthermore, I want to acquire the skills to defend the unrepresented and bridge the enormous gap between minorities and the judicial system.
    Omniwomyn Empowerment Scholarship
    Winner
    I come from a background that has taken me from rather humble beginnings in poor urban settings in Cameroon. I have lived, worked, and shared life with the wealthy, poor, racially black and white individuals. I have risen from the impoverished areas of Cameroon to the wealthy areas of California and have survived and adapted along the way. The end result has been a life experience that allows me to understand the rites and morays of all levels of society. The most important thing I have learned from my experience is the ability to understand people. I easily put myself in the shoes of others. This has been valuable for me professionally as well as personally. I am currently pursuing a degree in political science in order to become a lawyer. Throughout my undergraduate degree, I have maintained an average GPA of 3.6, with honorable academic achievements, such as the dean's honor list and the chancellor’s honor list. As a first-generation college student, I have set the bar high for myself. This includes both my journey in personal growth and in the legal profession.. As I continue to excel in my academics, I plan to use my strong work ethic to excel in law school. I believe that studying law is the best way to understand how society functions, the rules, and regulations, how political issues are involved, and how these issues affect individuals in a society. As a child of two immigrant parents, I have witnessed and experienced the numerous racial disparities not only in my community but in the justice system as well. I have seen minorities stigmatized and almost made as though they were invisible. As I grew older, I realized that higher education is the great equalizer and that knowledge is power, especially in America. As a law student, I want to know the law on a deeper level, so that I can practice the law to its full extent. Although I am going to law school in part to fulfill my parents' unfilled ambitions, I also want to acquire the ability to defend the unrepresented and bridge the enormous gap between minorities and the judicial system. I want to become a lawyer because it will challenge my critical thinking, and expand my knowledge of the law while allowing me to grow as a person. As a lawyer, I want to ensure that human rights are not being compromised, represent clients to the best of my abilities, and increase representation in the legal profession. As an individual, I do not like to shy away from conflict. I believe that problem-solving is essential in order for the law to advance and evolve.