Reginald "Reggie" Jackson Jr. Scholarship

I will you contribute to the success of male healthcare representation in the workforce. The healthcare profession is and has been experiencing shortage of clinical professionals with instituting diversity training this could change. As a half African-American and Hispanic male, I represent an overlooked group of male healthcare professionals. The problems of medical coverage, COVID-19 pandemic, having difficulty recruiting new talent and retaining current staff are obstacles faced by the healthcare industry. Recruiting minority males as healthcare professionals can be contributed by lack of education, the funding for education or the misdiagnosis of working in a field overpopulated by female workers by my counterparts. As a perspective health care worker, I want to create a work environment that is meaningful to all nurses. I want to be an example to use my success as a recruitment tool to attract other minority male professionals. One of my longest volunteer groups was Rehab2Perform. In this role as a intern caregiver, I helped individuals improve their cardiovascular health, reduce the burden, and eliminate illness associated with heart disease/obesity by living a healthy lifestyle. I worked closely with people in the African American Communities that were subjected to this illness. As a bi-lingual student athlete in soccer, I have participated as a soccer coach/trainer for children from four to eleven on the fundamentals of with weekly training sessions. I worked as a camp counselor for Linganore High School and SAC soccer clubs in the area. So teaching obese or under privileged youth athletes was a way of giving back and teaching the aspects of a game I grew up playing. It was the Science, Service, Mentoring, and Medicine (S2M2) Program that is for high school students that are interested in science and medicine at the Uniformed Services University, a military medical school in Bethesda, MD. I was able to work with and learn from our uniformed military members in the Navy, Army and Air Force. I used to the summer to work in the Bethesda Medical Center and got to work at sites like Walter Reed Naval Medical Center (WRNNMC), Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS) and National Institute of Health (NIH). I furthered my learning with extracurricular activities and joined the National Honor Society. All over the world, healthcare workers are an integral part of the health care system and make up a significantly large portion of the health care population. Healthcare is just one of many professions that are seeing people migrate from underdeveloped countries to the United States. The Medical Diagnostic (Pre-Physician Assistant) Program at the University of Delaware is setting me on a pathway to a great experience and the fundamentals that will reinforce the doors of the healthcare career will be opened for me. My commitment to be beacon as a healthcare professional in urban areas and communities will be both a great honor and a great responsibility, no matter the location I want to be an example of a diverse and modern professional in the workforce.

My name is Gabrielle Stuchinski, and I just graduated from North Harford High School. I am a three-sport varsity athlete, playing soccer, basketball, and lacrosse. I have been playing soccer since I was four years old, and my love for sports has continued to grow ever since. In high school, I continued competing in three varsity school sports while also playing two club sports, soccer and lacrosse. Balancing athletics, academics, part time work, and other responsibilities has taught me the importance of time management, dedication, and perseverance. Along with my athletic commitments, I work hard in the classroom. I currently maintain a 3.8 unweighted GPA and I am a member of both the National Honor Society and the Spanish National Honor Society, co-president of Morgan’s message and member of multiple clubs. Being involved in these organizations has allowed me to challenge myself academically while also surrounding myself with motivated students who value leadership and service. Outside of school and sports, I work part-time at Jurassic Golf as a birthday party hostess. This job has helped me develop important skills such as communication, responsibility, and customer service while teaching me how to balance work with my academic and athletic commitments. I have a lifelong dream to become a nurse. My passion for nursing was reinforced this past year when I was diagnosed with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome. WPW is a congenital heart defect where an extra electrical pathway between the heart's chambers causes rapid heartbeat. My heart rate would suddenly elevate to over 200 beats per minute even while I was resting, followed by chest pain. Experiencing those symptoms was frightening and uncertain, and it led to multiple medical appointments and procedures. I eventually underwent a cardiac ablation to correct the condition. Throughout this experience, the nurses who cared for me were incredibly kind, patient, and reassuring. They took the time to explain what was happening, comfort my family, and make sure I felt safe. Their compassion during such a difficult time confirmed that nursing is the path I want to pursue. I hope one day to provide the same care and reassurance to patients who are facing challenging health conditions. In the future, I plan to pursue a career as a registered nurse specializing in cardiac care, inspired by my own experience as a patient. I hope to work in a hospital setting where I can care for patients facing serious heart conditions while providing not only clinical expertise but also emotional support to both patients and their families. I hope to make a meaningful impact both inside and outside the hospital. Beyond caring for patients, I want to give back to the community by volunteering with a nonprofit organization that helps screen children for congenital heart conditions like the one I experienced. Many cardiac issues in young athletes and children go unnoticed because insurance often does not cover EKG screenings during routine physicals. Yet early detection can save lives. I also have a desire to teach CPR to youth and families in my community, so they are prepared to respond in an emergency and potentially save someone’s life. Receiving this scholarship would help make college more affordable, and allow me to continue pursing my dream of becoming a nurse. More importantly, it would support my goal of dedicating my career to helping others through compassionate care, advocacy and community service. My experiences have strengthened my determination to work hard, serve others, and make a positive difference in the lives of patients and their families.

My name is Serenity Allen. I am a 18-year-old Black female living in Waldorf, Maryland, and I attend Thomas Stone High School. When I first entered high school, I became the first freshman on my varsity cheer team. Carrying out the role was very new to me, but in the end, I gained a lot of friends and confidence. That confidence has helped me adapt to different activities ever since then. I've joined majorette dance and started volunteering in the community as well by giving back to the community by providing food and clothes for less fortunate families. Giving back to the community showed me that it's not hard to show an act of kindness. It motivated me to want to start giving back to others and the community. Other than outside activities, I've always had a dedication to education. When I became a freshman, I started taking honors classes, and as my grade level moved up, I took AP classes. A class that really motivated me to decide what I wanted to be in life was AVID. AVID gave me a lot of information on college and careers, so now that I am a senior, I am more than ready to go out into the real world. I've been on many college tours around my state, and I've done my research on many HBCUs. i’ve been accepted in over 22 colleges and I picked my choice of Towson University. I’m very confident that this institution will give me all the knowledge that I need and provide me with the resources that I will use on my journey to my career. As a young child, I was always asked, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" Usually, I would say something like the president or a celebrity. But now, I have the mindset that if I put as much hard work and dedication into what inspires me in life, I will achieve greatness. When I grow up, I want to be a healthcare professional. Day by day, we are going through a decrease of health professionals due to the lack of treatment. I am going to step in and make a change when I graduate and become a leader. I will be training to become a pediatric nurse practitioner. I chose pediatrics to help sick or injured children without hope. Being in and out of the hospital really showed me how I missed out on a lot of childhood. When I reach this profession, I want to be the one to make children feel safe and understood, even when they feel like they have no one. I don't just want to help children; I want to help the people around me. Working in health can also put stress on the mind and body. When I get the opportunity to be around other colleagues and I know that they are feeling down or unmotivated, that gives me the chance to work. Comforting others is free without a charge. Overall, making a great change in society and the environment is key in life. You never know what anyone else is going through, and vice versa. That is why I will make it my job to bring people satisfaction, and healthcare plays a huge part in that because not only do you show that you care, but you also save lives.

Health and wellness have played a major role in shaping both my personal life and my future career goals. As someone who has been involved in sports and has recovered from Sports injuries, I've come to understand that Health isn't just about physical strength – it is about balance, care, and perseverance. Please guide me as I prepare for my studies in Sports Health at the University of Delaware, where I plan to become an athletic trainer dedicated to helping others live healthier and more confident lives. My interest in health and wellness began through sports, but it deepened after I experienced my physical setbacks. Dealing with injuries while still wanting to stay active was tough, and it changed my perspective as well as challenged me both totally and emotionally. However, it also emphasized the importance of proper recovery. The values of supportive care, and how deeply connected our physical health is to our overall well-being. I started asking questions– not just about how to heal faster but how to prevent injuries, stay mentally strong, and take care of the body. This curiosity soon turned into a passion. As I learned more, I became inspired to share this with others. While I volunteered at an elementary school, I saw a student become so enamored by Athletics and just learning. I saw how powerful it is to support young people in their Journeys in all ways, especially health. Whether it was helping them with physical education activities or encouraging them to stay active and believe in themselves. I realize that this could have a real impact. I stayed involved with the kids and culture camp, where I served as a counselor-in-training and continued mentoring young children through fun educational activities that are based on wellness. Health and wellness have shaped my belief that everybody deserves care, support, and knowledge about their bodies. It happens too often that communities, especially black and brown communities, don't have the resources or education needed to take control of their health. I want to be a part of the solution. I believe that meeting people where they are, listening to their stories, and being someone they can trust during their recovery and growth is important. That's why I want to become an athletic trainer– not just to help athletes, but to build a healthier and stronger community. After college, I plan to work with professionals, schools, youth programs, and communities where I can bring my skills to those who need them most. I want to promote injury prevention, offer wellness shops, and eventually build an Empire where physical training and mental health support are combined to help our younger generations. I'm also passionate about representing black women in the health and fitness field. People need to see themselves in their care providers, and I want to be that person who shows up with empathy, scale, and dedication, just like Reggie Jackson Jr. did. Reggie’s story reminds me of the kind of professional and human being I strive to be: someone who uses their gifts to uplift others, who makes people feel seen and supported, and who treats every person like family. This scholarship would not only support my education, but it would help carry Reggie’s legacy forward through the lives I hope to impact in the years to come.