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VASFAA Awards
VASFAA's 2007-2008 Sue Deaton Ross Scholarship
Awarded to Mason Nursing Student and Iraq War Widow
One of the privileges of being VASFAA's Immediate Past President
is getting to choose a recipient for the Sue Deaton Ross Scholarship.
This can also be a difficult process, trying to find someone who properly
exemplifies the professional characteristics and qualities and commitment
for higher education that Sue Ross has demonstrated.
I am pleased to announce Patricia Bruckenthal, a George Mason University
nursing student, as the recipient of the 2007-2008 Sue D Ross Scholarship.
Rather than try to tell you Patricia's story in my words, I will share
with you the letter that she wrote to VASFAA upon receipt of the scholarship.
I think her own words do a much better job and will show you why I
felt it appropriate and fitting to select her as the recipient.
To: The Virginia Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators
From: Patricia Bruckenthal
Where do I begin? It feels like words are not enough to express
how grateful I am for even having been considered for the VASFAA
Sue Deaton Ross Scholarship much less awarded it. Thank you from
the bottom of my heart.
I am currently pursuing my Nursing
BSN degree at George Mason University here in Fairfax, VA, and I hope
to graduate in 2010. My previous academic background consists of 2
Bachelors degrees in Anthropology and Political Science. I incorporated
both of my previous degrees in my career as a Social Worker/Employment
Specialist/Work-First Instructor, and I really loved my job. My work
was based on Government funding and the company I worked for lost
their funding for the program and everybody was let go (2/15/2004).
Then my husband of 2 years was killed in action in Iraq (4/24/2004)
and being 3 months pregnant with our first child, I realized that
I needed to pursue a dream of mine, to become a nurse. I knew I
needed to provide a stable environment for our daughter, and I am
doing my best to make both her and my husband proud every day.
I took my prerequisite courses at Northern Virginia Community College
(2006-2007) in Annandale where I was placed on the Dean's List of
the Loudon Campus of Northern Virginia Community College with a
3.82 GPA.
Once I become an RN, I would like to work at Walter Reed Army Hospital
or in pediatrics closer to my home. In the future, I also wish to
complete my Masters as well as my PhD in nursing.
Thank you once again for making dreams possible, and life more
manageable.
Sincerely,
Patricia R Bruckenthal
