Charles Shively and Kathleen Stone Memorial Scholarship for Psychiatric Nursing

To the Scholarship Selection Committee, My journey into healthcare began at just three years old, when I was diagnosed with absence seizures, a form of epilepsy. Growing up with a chronic neurological condition, alongside later diagnoses of endometriosis and an anxiety disorder, meant that medical hurdles were a constant backdrop to my life. Navigating physical pain and the mental weight of an anxiety disorder taught me resilience at a young age. More importantly, it gave me a profound, lifelong understanding of what it feels like to face invisible battles, allowing me to build a deep sense of empathy for the holistic needs of vulnerable patients. Having just completed my freshman year at Lewis-Clark State College, I am entering a pivotal sophomore year where I will be applying directly to the competitive upper-division nursing program to secure my spot for my junior and senior years. To prepare for this next academic step and put my passion into practice, I am spending my summer working as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) in a nursing home. In long-term care, I quickly realized that physical treatments are only half the battle; the mental health of our elderly residents is just as critical. Many residents face profound isolation, confusion, and anxiety. Because of my own struggles with anxiety, I make it my daily mission to prioritize their emotional well-being—taking the extra time to listen to their stories, calm their fears, and provide a reassuring presence that ensures they feel emotionally safe. Balancing a demanding prerequisite nursing curriculum at LC State while managing chronic health conditions, anxiety, and working in long-term care presents unique hurdles. Receiving this scholarship during this critical sophomore application window would greatly alleviate the financial burden of my tuition. It would allow me to channel my full focus into maintaining the high academic standards required to gain admission into the junior and senior clinical program cohorts. My lifelong journey as a patient has uniquely prepared me to care for the whole person. As a future Registered Nurse, I am dedicated to bringing mental health to the forefront of geriatric care, ensuring that my elderly patients receive both the physical clinical excellence and the mental health support they deserve. It would be an honor to be chosen for this scholarship which honors the lives of Charles Shively and Kathleen Stone. Thank you for your time, consideration, and investment in my future in healthcare. Sincerely, Kaitlyn Wittenbrock Lewis-Clark State College 208-691-0569