I have recently started my third year of college last week, my first of five semesters in the nursing program at Saginaw Valley State University. I plan on obtaining a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) because I am deeply passionate about caring for others. I have always been drawn to the medical field, but it was through personal experiences that I truly understood how compassionate and skilled care can bring comfort. It was through person health issues, asthma and anxiety, observing medical staff at my local rural hospital, and volunteer work that helped strengthen my love of nursing. These personal experiences helped ensure my desire to become a nurse and part of a profession that noy only treats illness but also supports patients and families with empathy. Earlier this spring, I completed a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) training and passed both the written and practical examination to become a Registered CNA in the state of Michigan. This past summer, I accepted a CNA position at my local rural hospital in St. Ignace. I cared for the elderly and residents of the long-term care facility up until August, when my classes resumed at SVSU. I plan to use this experience and knowledge to help me with my education in nursing. My immediate career goals are to become a registered nurse (BSN, RN) and return to work in my rural community. I would love to serve my fellow tribal members and work the for the Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians medical center. Long term, I would hope to continue my education and become a nurse practitioner. This would allow me to serve patients with greater autonomy and continue growing in my ability to educate, led, and advocate within healthcare settings. I view nursing as not just a career, but as a lifelong calling. I plan to serve others with both competence and compassion. I plan to make a positive impact on my patients lives as well as my community. Currently in the United States, there is a nursing shortage. The costs of higher education are growing and often a reason many are unable to start or finish their college education. It is through working that I have saved up money to pay for the costs of college, but his money is not enough. This scholarship would greatly assist in lowering the financial stress for the cost of college. I would be able to focus more of my academics and not be overburdened with loans/debt.

I have recently started my third year of college last week, my first of five semesters in the nursing program at Saginaw Valley State University. I plan on obtaining a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) because I am deeply passionate about caring for others. I have always been drawn to the medical field, but it was through personal experiences that I truly understood how compassionate and skilled care can bring comfort. It was through person health issues, asthma and anxiety, observing medical staff and volunteer work that helped strengthen my love of nursing. These personal experiences helped ensure my desire to become a nurse and part of a profession that noy only treats illness but also supports patients and families with empathy. Earlier this spring, I completed a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) training and passed both the written and practical examination to become a Registered CNA in the state of Michigan. This past summer, I accepted a CNA position at my local rural hospital in St. Ignace. I cared for the elderly and residents of the long-term care facility up until August, when my classes resumed at SVSU. I plan to use this experience and knowledge to help me with my education in nursing. My immediate career goals are to become a registered nurse (BSN, RN) and return to work in my rural community. I would love to serve my fellow tribal members and work the for the Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians medical center. Long term, I would hope to continue my education and become a nurse practitioner. This would allow me to serve patients with greater autonomy and continue growing in my ability to educate, led, and advocate within healthcare settings. I view nursing as not just a career, but as a lifelong calling. I plan to serve others with both competence and compassion. I plan to make a positive impact on my patients lives as well as my community. Currently in the United States, there is a nursing shortage. The costs of higher education are growing and often a reason many are unable to start or finish their college education. It is through working that I have saved up money to pay for the costs of college, but his money is not enough. This scholarship would greatly assist in lowering the financial stress for the cost of college. I would be able to focus more of my academics and not be overburdened with loans/debt.

As I am writing this, I am anxiously awaiting to start the fall semester of my third year of college at Saginaw Valley State University. I have grown up in St. Ignace, MI my whole life, which is a small rural town located in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. People that live in the Upper Peninsula are often referred to as, Yoopers. Many different Native American tribes have inhabited this area for thousands of years before the first French explorers founded it as the second-oldest city in Michigan. I have been very fortunate to have had this enrichment into my Native American heritage. It has helped made me realize not just for myself, but everyone, the importance of preserving the history of Native Americans. In the fall, I will be starting my first semester in the nursing program to earn my Bachelor's of Science in Nursing. Growing up in a small community, I was fortunate to have teachers and school staff that were supportive and encouraging. Math and science classes have been my favorite subject since I was in middle school. I enjoy learning about anatomy and the physiology of our bodies’ functions. This has helped lead me into pursuing a career in the medical field. Since I was in 7th grade, I have enjoyed running with both the cross country and track teams at my school. However, my junior year of high school, I started having increased difficulty breathing when running. My pediatrician referred me to an ENT, asthma/allergy specialist, and cardiologist. I was diagnosed with various allergies, asthma, and an irregular heartbeat. Medications have helped decrease my breathing difficulties over the last few years, but my times have been much slower, which is frustrating. Through this challenging time, I realized I had a draw to the medical field. I was able to see many different medical professionals and realize how they all have helped me. I am currently working as a CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant) at my local long term care facility. Working as a CNA will provide me experiences to use while working towards by BSN, RN degree. Working as a CNA allows me to directly interact and care for patients, offering insight into the responsibilities and challenges nurses also face in healthcare. There is currently a national nursing shortage throughout the entire United States. My local community in the rural Upper Peninsula of Michigan has a tribal health center in need of nursing staff. Travel nurses are being contracted for these positions, placing a band aid on a much larger issue. There is a dire need for medical staff to treat our tribal members. St. Ignace has a Sault Tribe Health and Human Services medical center. This center provides medical, optical, dental, and behavioral health services. Returning to work at my local tribal health medical center is my ultimate goal of engaging in my community while helping others. I have worked since I was fourteen years old, saving money for the ever rising costs of college tuition. Despite my greatest efforts, the costs remain beyond what I can afford. I am very determined to pursue my dreams of pursuing higher education and building a better future for myself. I aspire to become a nurse and care for others. In doing so, I am in need of additional financial support to make my goals reality.

As I sit at my computer typing, I have completed my second year of college at Saginaw Valley State University (SVSU) and was just recently accepted into the nursing program. I plan on obtaining a Bachelor of Science in nursing (BSN) because I am deeply passionate about caring for others. I have always been drawn to the medical field, but it was through personal experiences (health issues, observing different medical staff, volunteer work) that I truly understood how compassionate and skilled care can bring comfort. These personal experiences helped ensure my desire to become a nurse and part of a profession that not only treats illness but also supports patients and families with empathy. Growing up in a small community, I was fortunate to have teachers and school staff that were supportive and encouraging. Math and science classes have been my favorite subject since I was in middle school. I enjoy learning about anatomy and the physiology of our bodies’ functions. This has helped lead me into pursuing a career in the medical field. Since I was in 7th grade, I have enjoyed running with both the cross country and track teams at my school. However, my junior year of high school, I started having increased difficulty breathing when running. My pediatrician referred me to an ENT, asthma/allergy specialist, and cardiologist. I was diagnosed with various allergies, asthma, and an irregular heartbeat. Medications have helped decrease my breathing difficulties over the last few years, but my times have been much slower, which is frustrating. Through this challenging time, I realized I had a draw to the medical field. I was able to see many different medical professionals and realize how they all have helped me. Recently, I completed a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) training and passed written and practical examination to become a registered CNA in the state of Michigan. I have accepted a CNA position at my local rural hospital of Mackinac Straits Health System to care for the elderly at Evergreen Living Center until I start nursing classes for the Fall 2025 semester. I plan to use this experience and knowledge to help me with my education in nursing. My true moment that definitely made me realize I wanted to become a nurse and help others happened earlier this year. My grandfather passed away, suddenly and unexpectedly from a massive heart attack. I was there in the hospital as he was switched from oxygen, to Bipap and finally on a ventilator. The care he received from the nursing staff was amazing. The nurses who cared for him provided not only medical attention butt also comfort, dignity, and support for our entire family. As much as my grandfather's passing has been hard, it also opened my eyes more to the incredible impact of compassionate nursing care.

As I am writing this, I have completed the winter semester in my second year of college at Saginaw Valley State University, Michigan. I will be starting the nursing program here for the upcoming Fall 2025 semester. I grew up in St. Ignace, MI, along with my younger sister, raised by our parents. Growing up in a small community, I was fortunate to have teachers and school staff that were supportive and encouraging. Math and science classes have been my favorite subject since I was in middle school. I enjoy learning about anatomy and the physiology of our bodies’ functions. This has helped lead me into pursuing a career in the medical field. Since I was in 7th grade, I have enjoyed running with both the cross country and track teams at my school. However, my junior year of high school, I started having increased difficulty breathing when running. My pediatrician referred me to an ENT, asthma/allergy specialist, and cardiologist. I was diagnosed with various allergies, asthma, and an irregular heartbeat. Medications have helped decrease my breathing difficulties over the last few years, but my times have been much slower, which is frustrating. Through this challenging time, I realized I had a draw to the medical field. I was able to see many different medical professionals and realize how they all have helped me. During my senior year of high school, I took a “Work Experience" class that allowed me to follow nursing staff in various disciplines at our local rural hospital in St. Ignace l. I observed for one hour a day, Monday through Friday. I observed in the acute care hospital, rural health clinics, and long-term care. During these observations, it showed me that nursing is more than learning information such as pharmacology and anatomy, it is also showing empathy and compassion to others. Getting to know my patients personally in the future, can greatly impact their medical outcomes positively. I have witnessed this firsthand during job shadowing as well as volunteering at Mackinac Straits Health System, which helped strengthen my goal of obtaining a nursing degree and caring for others. I plan to use this knowledge and time to assist me in my future years in the nursing program. Being a professional in the healthcare field is definitely being a servant to others. I hope to help care for people and be a light in some of their darkest times. There is a definite nursing shortage in the United States, and I know after obtaining my degree I can help others. I just completed a two-week Certified Nursing Assistant training course and next week will take he written exam and skills test to become a certified CNA in the state of Michigan. Once receiving my certification, I plan to return to my hometown to work as a CNA and care for those of my community. I will gain real-world patient care experiences and work closely with nurses and other medical professionals, while caring for others in my community. My goal is to become a nurse and use my higher education to help care for others in my hometown community. There is a dire need for nurses in the area I live, and I hope to be able to return and provide needed services. My ultimate goal after working for a few years as a registered nurse, would be to continue my schooling in graduate school to become a nurse practitioner. I would be able to give back and serve the community where I grew up as a medical provider. I discovered this scholarship on the website Bold.org.

As I am writing this, I am currently in my second year of college at Saginaw Valley State University. St. Ignace is a small rural town located in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. People that live in the Upper Peninsula are often referred to as, Yoopers. Growing up in a small community, I was fortunate to have teachers and school staff that were supportive and encouraging. Math and science classes have been my favorite subject since I was in middle school. I enjoy learning about anatomy and the physiology of our bodies’ functions. This has helped lead me into pursuing a career in the medical field. During my senior year of high school, I was able to take a "Work Experience" class that allowed me to follow nursing staff in various disciplines at our local rural hospital. I observed for one hour a day, Monday through Friday. I observed in the acute care hospital, rural health clinics, and long-term care. During these observations, it showed me that nursing is more than learning information such as pharmacology and anatomy, it is also showing empathy and compassion to others. Getting to know my patients personally in the future, can greatly impact their medical outcomes positively. I have witnessed this firsthand in my short time job shadowing the last six months. I hope to use this knowledge and time to assist me in my future years in the nursing program. I have volunteered in various forms throughout my since my freshman year of high school. I have volunteered at our local animal shelter by cleaning cages, bathing animals, walking dogs, and assisting in fundraisers. I have also volunteered at our local rural hospital, Mackinac Straits Health System (MSHS), in the therapy department cleaning and performing various clerical tasks as well as in the long-term care facility with residents. I have also volunteered at local sporting events and fundraisers through the St. Ignace Visitors Bureau. The most impactful volunteer work has been with the “Hooping for a Cure” basketball game that raises money for the “No Cancer Patient Left Behind” fund for oncology patients at MSHS. All money raised goes directly to the patients that require assistance to pay for gas, lodging, or various costs involved in their oncology care. I have been able to continue volunteering while in college throughout the 4 different clubs/organizations I have joined. There is currently a national nursing shortage throughout the entire United States. My local community in the rural Upper Peninsula of Michigan has a tribal health center in need of nursing staff. Travel nurses are being contracted for these positions, placing a band aid on a much larger issue. There is a dire need for medical staff to treat our tribal members. St. Ignace has a Sault Tribe Health and Human Services medical center. This center provides medical, optical, dental, and behavioral health services. Returning to work at my local tribal health medical center is my ultimate goal of engaging in my community while helping others. Being a professional in the healthcare field is definitely being a servant to others. In two weeks, I will be starting a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) training program. Upon passing my written exam and skills check, I will become certified in Michigan and be able to help others as a CNA. I plan to use his experience and knowledge to help me in nursing school. By winning this scholarship, it would greatly assist me in my dream of becoming a nurse. I would use this money to assist in paying for college without crippling debt in student loans.

As I am writing this, I am currently in my second year of college at Saginaw Valley State University. St. Ignace is a small rural town located in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. People that live in the Upper Peninsula are often referred to as, Yoopers. Many different Native American tribes have inhabited this area for thousands of years before the first French explorers founded it as the second-oldest city in Michigan. Wyandot, Ojibwa and Ottawa were among some of the tribes located in St. Ignace. Our town is fortunate to have an annual ‘Rendezvous at the Straits Powwow’ each summer. I have been able to watch and partake in traditional dancing, listen to tribal drummers, and eat Native American food. We also have a Museum of Ojibwa Culture in St. Ignace which helps educate on the culture and traditions of the Ojibwa. I have been very fortunate to have had this enrichment into my Native American heritage. It has helped made me realize not just for myself, but everyone, the importance of preserving the history of Native Americans. Sadly, it was once United States government policy to assimilate American Indians, making them abandon their language, culture, traditions, and beliefs. Growing up in a small community, I was fortunate to have teachers and school staff that were supportive and encouraging. Math and science classes have been my favorite subject since I was in middle school. I enjoy learning about anatomy and the physiology of our bodies’ functions. This has helped lead me into pursuing a career in the medical field. During my senior year of high school, I was able to take a "Work Experience" class that allowed me to follow nursing staff in various disciplines at our local rural hospital. I observed for one hour a day, Monday through Friday. I observed in the acute care hospital, rural health clinics, and long-term care. During these observations, it showed me that nursing is more than learning information such as pharmacology and anatomy, it is also showing empathy and compassion to others. Getting to know my patients personally in the future, can greatly impact their medical outcomes positively. I have witnessed this firsthand in my short time job shadowing the last six months. I hope to use this knowledge and time to assist me in my future years in the nursing program. There is currently a national nursing shortage throughout the entire United States. My local community in the rural Upper Peninsula of Michigan has a tribal health center in need of nursing staff. Travel nurses are being contracted for these positions, placing a band aid on a much larger issue. There is a dire need for medical staff to treat our tribal members. St. Ignace has a Sault Tribe Health and Human Services medical center. This center provides medical, optical, dental, and behavioral health services. Returning to work at my local tribal health medical center is my ultimate goal of engaging in my community while helping others. Being a professional in the healthcare field is definitely being a servant to others. I hope to help care for people and be a light in some of their darkest times.

I am currently in finals week of classes at Saginaw Valley State University (SVSU), finishing up my second year. I plan on obtaining a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. A college education will greatly benefit my life in being able to fulfill my life’s mission. Since I was in 7th grade, I have enjoyed running with both the cross country and track teams at my school. However, my junior year of high school, I started having increased difficulty breathing when running. My pediatrician referred me to an ENT, asthma/allergy specialist, and cardiologist. I was diagnosed with various allergies, asthma, and an irregular heartbeat. Medications have helped decrease my breathing difficulties over the last few years, but my times have been much slower, which is frustrating. Through this challenging time, I realized I had a draw to the medical field. I was able to see many different medical professionals and realize how they all have helped me. During my senior year of high school, I was able to complete a "Work Experience" class that allowed me to follow nursing staff in various disciplines at our local rural hospital. I observed for one hour a day, Monday through Friday. I observed in the acute care hospital, rural health clinics, and long-term care. During these observations, it showed me that nursing is more than learning information such as pharmacology and anatomy, it is also showing empathy and compassion to others. Getting to know my patients personally in the future, can greatly impact their medical outcomes positively. I have witnessed this firsthand in my short time job shadowing various nurses. I plan to use this knowledge and time to assist me in my future years in the nursing program. Debt from student loans is drowning so many of the Generation X and Millennial generations. The goal of obtaining higher education is to improve one's quality of life and allow access to more stable jobs. However, the rising student debt amounts often have negative effects on one's life, such as their mental health. The cost of obtaining a degree does factor into many people's decisions regarding going to college. Another study found that 1 in 14 college graduates experienced suicidal ideas regarding their financial stress from student loans. Working full-time in the summer months since I was 14 years old will also help decrease future student loan debt. My goal is to continue working in the summer months when I go to college and invest this money into my college degree. This will not be enough to cover costs, so I am looking into scholarship opportunities such as this. My parents are also able to assist in paying for a small portion of the costs of my degree, but nowhere enough to cover the full costs. By winning this scholarship, it would greatly assist me in my dream of becoming a nurse. Becoming a nurse will allow me to give back to my tribal community by providing quality medical care. Thank you for this opportunity.

As I am writing this, I am currently in my second year of college at Saginaw Valley State University. St. Ignace is a small rural town located in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. People that live in the Upper Peninsula are often referred to as, Yoopers. Growing up in a small community, I was fortunate to have teachers and school staff that were supportive and encouraging. Math and science classes have been my favorite subject since I was in middle school. I enjoy learning about anatomy and the physiology of our bodies’ functions. This has helped lead me into pursuing a career in the medical field. Since I was in 7th grade, I have enjoyed running with both the cross country and track teams at my school. However, my junior year of high school, I started having increased difficulty breathing when running. My pediatrician referred me to an ENT, asthma/allergy specialist, and cardiologist. I was diagnosed with various allergies, asthma, and an irregular heartbeat. Medications have helped decrease my breathing difficulties over the last few years, but my times have been much slower, which is frustrating. Through this challenging time, I realized I had a draw to the medical field. I was able to see many different medical professionals and realize how they all have helped me. During my senior year of high school, I was able to take a "Work Experience" class that allowed me to follow nursing staff in various disciplines at our local rural hospital. I observed for one hour a day, Monday through Friday. I observed in the acute care hospital, rural health clinics, and long-term care. During these observations, it showed me that nursing is more than learning information such as pharmacology and anatomy, it is also showing empathy and compassion to others. Getting to know my patients personally in the future, can greatly impact their medical outcomes positively. I have witnessed this firsthand in my short time job shadowing the last six months. I hope to use this knowledge and time to assist me in my future years in the nursing program. I have volunteered in various forms throughout my since my freshman year of high school. I have volunteered at our local animal shelter by cleaning cages, bathing animals, walking dogs, and assisting in fundraisers. I have also volunteered at our local rural hospital, Mackinac Straits Health System (MSHS), in the therapy department cleaning and performing various clerical tasks as well as in the long term care facility with residents. I have also volunteered at local sporting events and fundraisers through the St. Ignace Visitors Bureau. The most impactful volunteer work has been with the “Hooping for a Cure” basketball game that raises money for the “No Cancer Patient Left Behind” fund for oncology patients at MSHS. All money raised goes directly to the patients that require assistance to pay for gas, lodging, or various costs involved in their oncology care. I have been able to continue volunteering while in college throughout the 4 different clubs/organizations I have joined. There is currently a national nursing shortage throughout the entire United States. Returning to work at my local tribal health medical center is my ultimate goal of engaging in my community while helping others. Being a professional in the healthcare field is definitely being a servant to others. I hope to help care for people and be a light in some of their darkest times.

As I am writing this, I am currently in my second year of college at Saginaw Valley State University. St. Ignace is a small rural town located in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. People that live in the Upper Peninsula are often referred to as, Yoopers. Growing up in a small community, I was fortunate to have teachers and school staff that were supportive and encouraging. Math and science classes have been my favorite subject since I was in middle school. I enjoy learning about anatomy and the physiology of our bodies’ functions. This has helped lead me into pursuing a career in the medical field. Since I was in 7th grade, I have enjoyed running with both the cross country and track teams at my school. However, my junior year of high school, I started having increased difficulty breathing when running. My pediatrician referred me to an ENT, asthma/allergy specialist, and cardiologist. I was diagnosed with various allergies, asthma, and an irregular heartbeat. Medications have helped decrease my breathing difficulties over the last few years, but my times have been much slower, which is frustrating. Through this challenging time, I realized I had a draw to the medical field. I was able to see many different medical professionals and realize how they all have helped me. During my senior year of high school, I was able to take a "Work Experience" class that allowed me to follow nursing staff in various disciplines at our local rural hospital. I observed for one hour a day, Monday through Friday. I observed in the acute care hospital, rural health clinics, and long-term care. I will use this knowledge and time to assist me in my future years in the nursing program. I have volunteered in various forms throughout my since my freshman year of high school. I have volunteered at our local animal shelter by cleaning cages, bathing animals, walking dogs, and assisting in fundraisers. I have also volunteered at our local rural hospital, Mackinac Straits Health System (MSHS), in the therapy department as well as in the long-term care facility with residents. I have also volunteered at local sporting events and fundraisers through the St. Ignace Visitors Bureau. I have been able to continue volunteering while in college throughout the 4 different clubs/organizations I have joined. This summer, I plan to continue working as a waitress at my hometown’s bakery and restaurant. I have worked since my freshman year of high school, saving money for college. I have worked full time in the summer months since I was fourteen years old. There is currently a national nursing shortage throughout the entire United States. My local community in the rural Upper Peninsula of Michigan has a tribal health center in need of nursing staff. Travel nurses are being contracted for these positions, placing a band aid on a much larger issue. There is a dire need for medical staff to treat our tribal members. St. Ignace has a Sault Tribe Health and Human Services medical center. This center provides medical, optical, dental, and behavioral health services. Returning to work at my local tribal health medical center is my ultimate goal of engaging in my community while helping others. Being a professional in the healthcare field is definitely being a servant to others. I hope to help care for people and be a light in some of their darkest times. By winning this scholarship, it would greatly assist me in my dream of becoming a nurse. I would use this money to assist in paying for college without crippling debt in student loans.

As I am writing this, I am currently in my second year of college at Saginaw Valley State University. St. Ignace is a small rural town located in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. People that live in the Upper Peninsula are often referred to as, Yoopers. I am a proud member of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians. Growing up in a small community, I was fortunate to have teachers and school staff that were supportive and encouraging. Math and science classes have been my favorite subject since I was in middle school. I enjoy learning about anatomy and the physiology of our bodies’ functions. This has helped lead me into pursuing a career in the medical field. During my senior year of high school, I was able to take a "Work Experience" class that allowed me to follow nursing staff in various disciplines at our local rural hospital. I observed for one hour a day, Monday through Friday. I observed in the acute care hospital, rural health clinics, and long-term care. I have volunteered in various forms throughout my since my freshman year of high school. I have volunteered at our local animal shelter by cleaning cages, bathing animals, walking dogs, and assisting in fundraisers. I have also volunteered at our local rural hospital, Mackinac Straits Health System (MSHS), in the therapy department cleaning and performing various clerical tasks as well as in the long-term care facility with residents. There is currently a national nursing shortage throughout the entire United States. My local community in the rural Upper Peninsula of Michigan has a tribal health center in need of nursing staff. Travel nurses are being contracted for these positions, placing a band aid on a much larger issue. There is a dire need for medical staff to treat our tribal members. St. Ignace has a Sault Tribe Health and Human Services medical center. This center provides medical, optical, dental, and behavioral health services. Returning to work at my local tribal health medical center is my ultimate goal of engaging in my community while helping others. Being a professional in the healthcare field is definitely being a servant to others. I hope to help care for people and be a light in some of their darkest times. By winning this scholarship, it would greatly assist me in my dream of becoming a nurse. I would use this money to assist in paying for college without crippling debt in student loans.

As I am writing this, I am currently in my second year of college at Saginaw Valley State University. St. Ignace is a small rural town located in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. People that live in the Upper Peninsula are often referred to as, Yoopers. Many different Native American tribes have inhabited this area for thousands of years before the first French explorers founded it as the second-oldest city in Michigan. Wyandot, Ojibwa and Ottawa were among some of the tribes located in St. Ignace. Our town is fortunate to have an annual ‘Rendezvous at the Straits Powwow’ each summer. I have been able to watch and partake in traditional dancing, listen to tribal drummers, and eat Native American food. We also have a Museum of Ojibwa Culture in St. Ignace which helps educate on the culture and traditions of the Ojibwa. I have been very fortunate to have had this enrichment into my Native American heritage. It has helped made me realize not just for myself, but everyone, the importance of preserving the history of Native Americans. Sadly, it was once United States government policy to assimilate American Indians, making them abandon their language, culture, traditions, and beliefs. Growing up in a small community, I was fortunate to have teachers and school staff that were supportive and encouraging. Math and science classes have been my favorite subject since I was in middle school. I enjoy learning about anatomy and the physiology of our bodies’ functions. This has helped lead me into pursuing a career in the medical field. Since I was in 7th grade, I have enjoyed running with both the cross country and track teams at my school. However, my junior year of high school, I started having increased difficulty breathing when running. My pediatrician referred me to an ENT, asthma/allergy specialist, and cardiologist. I was diagnosed with various allergies, asthma, and an irregular heartbeat. Medications have helped decrease my breathing difficulties over the last few years, but my times have been much slower, which is frustrating. Through this challenging time, I realized I had a draw to the medical field. I was able to see many different medical professionals and realize how they all have helped me. During my senior year of high school, I was able to take a "Work Experience" class that allowed me to follow nursing staff in various disciplines at our local rural hospital. I observed for one hour a day, Monday through Friday. I observed in the acute care hospital, rural health clinics, and long-term care. I plan to use this knowledge and time to assist me in my future years in the nursing program. There is currently a national nursing shortage throughout the entire United States. My local community in the rural Upper Peninsula of Michigan has a tribal health center in need of nursing staff. There is a dire need for medical staff to treat our tribal members. St. Ignace has a Sault Tribe Health and Human Services medical center. This center provides medical, optical, dental, and behavioral health services. Returning to work at my local tribal health medical center is my ultimate goal of engaging in my community while helping others. Being a professional in the healthcare field is definitely being a servant to others. I hope to help care for people and be a light in some of their darkest times. By winning this scholarship, it would greatly assist me in my dream of becoming a nurse. I would use this money to assist in paying for college without crippling debt in student loans.

As I am writing this, I am currently in my second year of college at Saginaw Valley State University. St. Ignace is a small rural town located in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. People that live in the Upper Peninsula are often referred to as, Yoopers. Many different Native American tribes have inhabited this area for thousands of years before the first French explorers founded it as the second-oldest city in Michigan. Wyandot, Ojibwa and Ottawa were among some of the tribes located in St. Ignace. Our town is fortunate to have an annual ‘Rendezvous at the Straits Powwow’ each summer. I have been able to watch and partake in traditional dancing, listen to tribal drummers, and eat Native American food. We also have a Museum of Ojibwa Culture in St. Ignace which helps educate on the culture and traditions of the Ojibwa. I have been very fortunate to have had this enrichment into my Native American heritage. It has helped made me realize not just for myself, but everyone, the importance of preserving the history of Native Americans. Sadly, it was once United States government policy to assimilate American Indians, making them abandon their language, culture, traditions, and beliefs. Growing up in a small community, I was fortunate to have teachers and school staff that were supportive and encouraging. Math and science classes have been my favorite subject since I was in middle school. I enjoy learning about anatomy and the physiology of our bodies’ functions. This has helped lead me into pursuing a career in the medical field. Since I was in 7th grade, I have enjoyed running with both the cross country and track teams at my school. However, my junior year of high school, I started having increased difficulty breathing when running. My pediatrician referred me to an ENT, asthma/allergy specialist, and cardiologist. I was diagnosed with various allergies, asthma, and an irregular heartbeat. Medications have helped decrease my breathing difficulties over the last few years, but my times have been much slower, which is frustrating. Through this challenging time, I realized I had a draw to the medical field. I was able to see many different medical professionals and realize how they all have helped me. During my senior year of high school, I was able to take a "Work Experience" class that allowed me to follow nursing staff in various disciplines at our local rural hospital. I observed for one hour a day, Monday through Friday. I observed in the acute care hospital, rural health clinics, and long-term care. I plan to use this knowledge and time to assist me in my future years in the nursing program. There is currently a national nursing shortage throughout the entire United States. My local community in the rural Upper Peninsula of Michigan has a tribal health center in need of nursing staff. There is a dire need for medical staff to treat our tribal members. St. Ignace has a Sault Tribe Health and Human Services medical center. This center provides medical, optical, dental, and behavioral health services. Returning to work at my local tribal health medical center is my ultimate goal of engaging in my community while helping others. Being a professional in the healthcare field is definitely being a servant to others. I hope to help care for people and be a light in some of their darkest times. By winning this scholarship, it would greatly assist me in my dream of becoming a nurse. I would use this money to assist in paying for college without crippling debt in student loans.

I am currently starting my winter semester in my second year of college at Saginaw Valley State University (SVSU). I plan on obtaining a Bachelor of Science in nursing to help others. I was also able to take college course classes during my senior year of high school, which transferred to SVSU as required credits for application to the nursing program. This greatly helped to decrease the cost of credit units and the need for loans. During my senior year of high school, I took a “Work Experience" class that allowed me to follow nursing staff in various disciplines at our local rural hospital in St. Ignace l. I observe for one hour a day, Monday through Friday. I observed in the acute care hospital, rural health clinics, and long-term care. During these observations, it showed me that nursing is more than learning information such as pharmacology and anatomy, it is also showing empathy and compassion to others. Getting to know my patients personally in the future, can greatly impact their medical outcomes positively. I have witnessed this firsthand during job shadowing as well as volunteering at Mackinac Straits Health System, which helped strengthen my goal of obtaining a nursing degree and caring for others. I plan to use this knowledge and time to assist me in my future years in the nursing program. I have observed the nursing staff at our local rural hospital in St. Ignace at Mackinac Straits Health System. The hospital also has a tribal health center that shares the facility, where I go for optical, dental, and medical care. The nursing shortage has affected both the hospital and tribal heath center, at times relying on travel nursing staff to fill needed positions. Tribal members in the area I live in are in desperate need of these multiple services, as we live in a small very rural area. This makes it difficult for those needing more specialized care. It is also known that Native Americans are at higher risk for diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and substance abuse. Having medical care for the Native Community is of great importance. My goal is to become a nurse and use my higher education to help care for others in the Native community. There is a dire need for nurses in the area I live and I hope to be able to return and provide needed services. My ultimate goal after working for a few years as a registered nurse, would be to continue my schooling in graduate school to become a nurse practitioner. I would be able to give back and serve the community where I grew up as a medical provider.

I have completed by first year of college at Saginaw Valley State University (SVSU) and are currently into my winter semester of my second year. I plan on obtaining a Bachelor of Science in nursing to help others. I was also able to take college course classes during my senior year of high school, which transferred to SVSU as required credits for application to the nursing program. This greatly helped to decrease the cost of credit units and the need for loans. During my senior year of high school, I took a “Work Experience" class that allowed me to follow nursing staff in various disciplines at our local rural hospital in St. Ignace l. I observe for one hour a day, Monday through Friday. I observed in the acute care hospital, rural health clinics, and long-term care. During these observations, it showed me that nursing is more than learning information such as pharmacology and anatomy, it is also showing empathy and compassion to others. Getting to know my patients personally in the future, can greatly impact their medical outcomes positively. I have witnessed this firsthand during job shadowing as well as volunteering at Mackinac Straits Health System, which helped strengthen my goal of obtaining a nursing degree and caring for others. I plan to use this knowledge and time to assist me in my future years in the nursing program. I have observed the nursing staff at our local rural hospital in St. Ignace at Mackinac Straits Health System. The hospital also has a tribal health center that shares the facility, where I go for optical, dental, and medical care. The nursing shortage has affected both the hospital and tribal heath center, at times relying on travel nursing staff to fill needed positions. Tribal members in the area I live in are in desperate need of these multiple services, as we live in a small very rural area. This makes it difficult for those needing more specialized care. It is also known that Native Americans are at higher risk for diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and substance abuse. Having medical care for the Native Community is of great importance. My goal is to become a nurse and use my higher education to help care for others in the Native community. There is a dire need for nurses in the area I live, and I hope to be able to return and provide needed services. My ultimate goal after working for a few years as a registered nurse, would be to continue my schooling in graduate school to become a nurse practitioner. I would be able to give back and serve the community where I grew up as a medical provider.

As I am writing this, I am currently in my second year of college at Saginaw Valley State University. St. Ignace is a small rural town located in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. People that live in the Upper Peninsula are often referred to as, Yoopers. Many different Native American tribes have inhabited this area for thousands of years before the first French explorers founded it as the second-oldest city in Michigan. Wyandot, Ojibwa and Ottawa were among some of the tribes located in St. Ignace. Our town is fortunate to have an annual ‘Rendezvous at the Straits Powwow’ each summer. I have been able to watch and partake in traditional dancing, listen to tribal drummers, and eat Native American food. We also have a Museum of Ojibwa Culture in St. Ignace which helps educate on the culture and traditions of the Ojibwa. I have been very fortunate to have had this enrichment into my Native American heritage. It has helped made me realize not just for myself, but everyone, the importance of preserving the history of Native Americans. Growing up in a small community, I was fortunate to have teachers and school staff that were supportive and encouraging. Math and science classes have been my favorite subject since I was in middle school. I enjoy learning about anatomy and the physiology of our bodies’ functions. This has helped lead me into pursuing a career in the medical field. Since I was in 7th grade, I have enjoyed running with both the cross country and track teams at my school. However, my junior year of high school, I started having increased difficulty breathing when running. My pediatrician referred me to an ENT, asthma/allergy specialist, and cardiologist. I was diagnosed with various allergies, asthma, and an irregular heartbeat. Medications have helped decrease my breathing difficulties over the last few years, but my times have been much slower, which is frustrating. Through this challenging time, I realized I had a draw to the medical field. I was able to see many different medical professionals and realize how they all have helped me. The Covid-19 pandemic also posed a very challenging time during my high school years. My freshman year, school and all activities were cancelled when lockdowns started. I found myself at times having to teach myself my curriculum as an ever changing education occurred due to restrictions. Education changed significantly and drastically at this time to remote learning. One positive of this drastic change, was it forced us to use technology more in our small rural area. This exposure to software will greatly help me in my future years in college as knowledge gained through challenges. I obtained numerous classroom and academic awards throughout high school. Certificate Academic Excellence Economics, Certificate Academic Excellence Physical Science, Certificate Academic Excellence Biology, Certificate of Achievement for Outstanding Performance in Chemistry, Certificate of Academic Excellence in English 10, Certificate of Academic Excellence French 1, Excellence Award in Social Studies, Academic All-State Award Cross Country Division 2, Academic Excellence Award in Anatomy and Physiology, and Academic Excellence Award in Modern History are all awards I received in high school. During my senior year of high school, I was able to take a "Work Experience" class that allowed me to follow nursing staff in various disciplines at our local rural hospital. I observed for one hour a day, Monday through Friday. I observed in the acute care hospital, rural health clinics, and long-term care. I hope to use this knowledge and time to assist me in my future years in the nursing program.

As I am writing this, I am currently in my second year of college at Saginaw Valley State University. St. Ignace is a small rural town located in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. People that live in the Upper Peninsula are often referred to as, Yoopers. Growing up in a small community, I was fortunate to have teachers and school staff that were supportive and encouraging. Math and science classes have been my favorite subject since I was in middle school. I enjoy learning about anatomy and the physiology of our bodies’ functions. This has helped lead me into pursuing a career in the medical field. Since I was in 7th grade, I have enjoyed running with both the cross country and track teams at my school. However, my junior year of high school, I started having increased difficulty breathing when running. My pediatrician referred me to an ENT, asthma/allergy specialist, and cardiologist. I was diagnosed with various allergies, asthma, and an irregular heartbeat. Medications have helped decrease my breathing difficulties over the last few years, but my times have been much slower, which is frustrating. Through this challenging time, I realized I had a draw to the medical field. I was able to see many different medical professionals and realize how they all have helped me. During my senior year of high school, I was able to take a "Work Experience" class that allowed me to follow nursing staff in various disciplines at our local rural hospital. I observed for one hour a day, Monday through Friday. I observed in the acute care hospital, rural health clinics, and long-term care. During these observations, it showed me that nursing is more than learning information such as pharmacology and anatomy, it is also showing empathy and compassion to others. I have volunteered in various forms since my freshman year of high school. I have volunteered at our local animal shelter by cleaning cages, bathing animals, walking dogs, and assisting in fundraisers. I have also volunteered at our local rural hospital, Mackinac Straits Health System (MSHS), in the therapy department cleaning and performing various clerical tasks as well as in the long term care facility with residents. I have also volunteered at local sporting events and fundraisers through the St. Ignace Visitors Bureau. The most impactful volunteer work has been with the “Hooping for a Cure” basketball game that raises money for the “No Cancer Patient Left Behind” fund for oncology patients at MSHS. All money raised goes directly to the patients that require assistance to pay for gas, lodging, or various costs involved in their oncology care. I have been able to continue volunteering while in college throughout the 4 different clubs/organizations I have joined. There is currently a national nursing shortage throughout the entire United States. My local community in the rural Upper Peninsula of Michigan has a tribal health center in need of nursing staff. Returning to work at my local rural hospital is my ultimate goal of engaging in my community while helping others. Being a professional in the healthcare field is definitely being a servant to others. I hope to help care for people and be a light in some of their darkest times. By winning this scholarship, it would greatly assist me in my dream of becoming a nurse. I would use this money to assist in paying for college without crippling debt in student loans.

As I am writing this, I am currently in my second year of college at Saginaw Valley State University. St. Ignace is a small rural town located in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. People that live in the Upper Peninsula are often referred to as, Yoopers. Growing up in a small community, I was fortunate to have teachers and school staff that were supportive and encouraging. Math and science classes have been my favorite subject since I was in middle school. I enjoy learning about anatomy and the physiology of our bodies’ functions. This has helped lead me into pursuing a career in the medical field. Since I was in 7th grade, I have enjoyed running with both the cross country and track teams at my school. However, my junior year of high school, I started having increased difficulty breathing when running. My pediatrician referred me to an ENT, asthma/allergy specialist, and cardiologist. I was diagnosed with various allergies, asthma, and an irregular heartbeat. Medications have helped decrease my breathing difficulties over the last few years, but my times have been much slower, which is frustrating. Through this challenging time, I realized I had a draw to the medical field. I was able to see many different medical professionals and realize how they all have helped me. During my senior year of high school, I was able to take a "Work Experience" class that allowed me to follow nursing staff in various disciplines at our local rural hospital. I observed for one hour a day, Monday through Friday. I observed in the acute care hospital, rural health clinics, and long-term care. During these observations, it showed me that nursing is more than learning information such as pharmacology and anatomy, it is also showing empathy and compassion to others. Getting to know my patients personally in the future, can greatly impact their medical outcomes positively. I have witnessed this firsthand in my short time job shadowing the last six months. I hope to use this knowledge and time to assist me in my future years in the nursing program. I have volunteered in various forms since my freshman year of high school. I have volunteered at our local animal shelter by cleaning cages, bathing animals, walking dogs, and assisting in fundraisers. I have also volunteered at our local rural hospital, Mackinac Straits Health System (MSHS), in the therapy department cleaning and performing various clerical tasks as well as in the long term care facility with residents. I have also volunteered at local sporting events and fundraisers through the St. Ignace Visitors Bureau. The most impactful volunteer work has been with the “Hooping for a Cure” basketball game that raises money for the “No Cancer Patient Left Behind” fund for oncology patients at MSHS. All money raised goes directly to the patients that require assistance to pay for gas, lodging, or various costs involved in their oncology care. I have been able to continue volunteering while in college throughout the 4 different clubs/organizations I have joined. There is currently a national nursing shortage throughout the entire United States. Being a professional in the healthcare field is definitely being a servant to others. I hope to help care for people and be a light in some of their darkest times. By winning this scholarship, it would greatly assist me in my dream of becoming a nurse. I would use this money to assist in paying for college without crippling debt in student loans.

As I am writing this, I am currently in my second year of college at Saginaw Valley State University. St. Ignace is a small rural town located in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. People that live in the Upper Peninsula are often referred to as, Yoopers. Many different Native American tribes have inhabited this area for thousands of years before the first French explorers founded it as the second-oldest city in Michigan. Wyandot, Ojibwa and Ottawa were among some of the tribes located in St. Ignace. Our town is fortunate to have an annual ‘Rendezvous at the Straits Powwow’ each summer. I have been able to watch and partake in traditional dancing, listen to tribal drummers, and eat Native American food. We also have a Museum of Ojibwa Culture in St. Ignace which helps educate on the culture and traditions of the Ojibwa. I have been very fortunate to have had this enrichment into my Native American heritage. It has helped made me realize not just for myself, but everyone, the importance of preserving the history of Native Americans. Sadly, it was once United States government policy to assimilate American Indians, making them abandon their language, culture, traditions, and beliefs. Growing up in a small community, I was fortunate to have teachers and school staff that were supportive and encouraging. Math and science classes have been my favorite subject since I was in middle school. I enjoy learning about anatomy and the physiology of our bodies’ functions. This has helped lead me into pursuing a career in the medical field. My senior year of high school, I was able to take a "Work Experience" class that allowed me to follow nursing staff in various disciplines at our local rural hospital. I observed in the acute care hospital, rural health clinics, and long-term care. During these observations, it showed me that nursing is more than learning information such as pharmacology and anatomy, it is also showing empathy and compassion to others. I have volunteered in various forms throughout my since my freshman year of high school. I have volunteered at our local animal shelter by cleaning cages, bathing animals, walking dogs, and assisting in fundraisers. I have also volunteered at our local rural hospital, Mackinac Straits Health System (MSHS), in the therapy department cleaning and performing various clerical tasks as well as in the long-term care facility with residents. I have also volunteered at local sporting events and fundraisers through the St. Ignace Visitors Bureau. The most impactful volunteer work has been with the “Hooping for a Cure” basketball game that raises money for the “No Cancer Patient Left Behind” fund for oncology patients at MSHS. All money raised goes directly to the patients that require assistance to pay for gas, lodging, or various costs involved in their oncology care. I have been able to continue volunteering while in college throughout the 4 different clubs/organizations I have joined. There is currently a national nursing shortage throughout the entire United States. My local community in the rural Upper Peninsula of Michigan has a tribal health center in need of nursing staff. Being a professional in the healthcare field is definitely being a servant to others. I hope to help care for people and be a light in some of their darkest times. By winning this scholarship, it would greatly assist me in my dream of becoming a nurse. I would use this money to assist in paying for college without crippling debt in student loans.

My name is Haleigh Mattson and I am a “Yooper”, which refers to someone who lives in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. I have lived in St. Ignace, MI my entire life, which is a very small rural area. I was diligent in the classroom and active in sports and extracurricular activities my four years at LaSalle High School, winning numerous classroom awards. I received honor roll recognition for all semesters of each year in high school and plan to continue this strive of hard work throughout college as I am very hard working and driven. My favorite classes have always been science and math, especially anatomy and physiology. I had the great opportunity of volunteering at Mackinac Straits Health System in St. Ignace. I volunteered in the therapy and long term care departments. It was through this volunteer work I realized my dream of becoming a nurse. I also completed Work Experience class during my senior year of high school. This allowed me an hour a day, Monday through Friday, to job shadow nursing staff at Mackinac Straits Health System. I observed nurses in the acute care, long term care, and various clinic settings. I plan on using this knowledge and experiences to assist myself in the nursing program. I learned that with a nursing degree, there are numerous opportunities and specialties available. This time of observing has also allowed me insight to other fields such as becoming a nurse practitioner. This would be a graduate degree I could obtain after my Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). Currently the United States is facing one of the largest nursing shortages in our history. My goal is to become a nurse, while obtaining a higher education at Saginaw Valley State University in Michigan, where I have completed my first year. I have goals of continuing my education into graduate school and become a nurse practitioner. The nursing shortage is also affecting my small rural hospital and tribal health center. Some of our nursing staff are temporary travel nurses, to help fill much needed openings. My goal is to return to my rural hometown to help care for others. I have worked throughout high school in the summer months full-time as well as part-time during school in our small tourist town. I have been saving money to assist in paying for college to avoid a large amount of debt in student loans. My savings from working will not be enough to cover the costs of a nursing degree, so I am looking into scholarship opportunities. This scholarship would greatly impact my life, by assisting me in my dream of becoming a nurse and nurse practitioner. Thank you for taking you time to review my application.

I have completed my first year of college at Saginaw Valley State University where I plan on obtaining a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. A college education will greatly benefit my life in being able to fulfill my life’s mission of becoming a nurse and caring for others. Since I was in 7th grade, I have enjoyed running with both the cross country and track teams at my school. However, my junior year of high school, I started having increased difficulty breathing when running. My pediatrician referred me to an ENT, asthma/allergy specialist, and cardiologist. I was diagnosed with various allergies, asthma, and an irregular heartbeat. Medications have helped decrease my breathing difficulties over the last few years, but my times have been much slower, which is frustrating. Through this challenging time, I realized I had a draw to the medical field. I was able to see many different medical professionals and realize how they all have helped me. I have volunteered in various forms throughout high school and college. I have volunteered at our local animal shelter by cleaning cages, bathing animals, walking dogs, and assisting in fundraisers. I have also volunteered at our local rural hospital, Mackinac Straits Health System (MSHS), in the therapy department cleaning and performing various clerical tasks as well as in the long term care facility with residents. I volunteered at local sporting events and fundraisers through the St. Ignace Visitors Bureau. The most impactful volunteer work has been with the “Hooping for a Cure” basketball game that raises money for the “No Cancer Patient Left Behind” fund for oncology patients at MSHS. All money raised goes directly to the patients that require assistance to pay for gas, lodging, or various costs involved in their oncology care. During my senior year of high school, I took a "Work Experience" class that allows me to follow nursing staff in various disciplines at our local rural hospital. I observed for one hour a day, Monday through Friday. These observations occurred in the acute care hospital, rural health clinics, and long-term care. During these observations, it has shown me that nursing is more than learning information such as pharmacology and anatomy, it is also showing empathy and compassion to others. Being a professional in the healthcare field, especially as nurse, is definitely being a servant to others. There is currently a national nursing shortage throughout the entire United States. I hope to help care for people and be a light in some of their darkest times. Debt from student loans is drowning so many of the Generation X and Millennial generations. The goal of obtaining higher education is to improve one's quality of life and allow access to more stable jobs. However, the rising student debt amounts often have negative effects on one's life, such as their mental health. The cost of obtaining a degree does factor into many people's decisions regarding going to college. Working full-time in the summer months and part-time during the school year since I was 14 years old will also help decrease future student loan debt. This will not be enough to cover costs, so I am looking into scholarship opportunities such as this. My parents are also able to assist in paying for a small portion of the costs of my degree, but nowhere enough to cover the full costs. By winning this scholarship, it would greatly assist me in my dream of becoming a nurse.

As I type this essay, I have just completed my final exam in Chemistry for my 3rd semester at Saginaw Valley State University (SVSU) in Michigan. I plan on obtaining a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. A college education will greatly benefit my life in being able to fulfill my life’s mission of becoming a nurse and caring for others. Since I was in 7th grade, I have enjoyed running with both the cross country and track teams at my school. However, my junior year of high school, I started having increased difficulty breathing when running. My pediatrician referred me to an ENT, asthma/allergy specialist, and cardiologist. I was diagnosed with various allergies, asthma, and an irregular heartbeat. Medications have helped decrease my breathing difficulties over the last few years, but my times have been much slower, which is frustrating. Through this challenging time, I realized I had a draw to the medical field. I was able to see many different medical professionals and realize how they all have helped me. I have volunteered in various forms throughout high school and college. I have volunteered at our local animal shelter by cleaning cages, bathing animals, walking dogs, and assisting in fundraisers. I have also volunteered at our local rural hospital, Mackinac Straits Health System (MSHS), in the therapy department cleaning and performing various clerical tasks as well as in the long-term care facility with residents. I have volunteered at local sporting events and fundraisers through the St. Ignace Visitors Bureau. The most impactful volunteer work has been with the “Hooping for a Cure” basketball game that raises money for the “No Cancer Patient Left Behind” fund for oncology patients at MSHS. All money raised goes directly to the patients that require assistance to pay for gas, lodging, or various costs involved in their oncology care. During my senior year of high school, I took a "Work Experience" class that allowed me to follow nursing staff in various disciplines at our local rural hospital. I observed for one hour a day, Monday through Friday. These observations took place in the acute care hospital, rural health clinics, and long-term care. During these observations, it has shown me that nursing is more than learning information such as pharmacology and anatomy, it is also showing empathy and compassion to others. Being a professional in the healthcare field, especially nursing, is definitely being a servant to others. I hope to help care for people and be a light in some of their darkest times. There is currently a national nursing shortage throughout the entire United States. I hope to help care for people and be a light in some of their darkest times. Debt from student loans is drowning so many of the Generation X and Millennial generations. The goal of obtaining higher education is to improve one's quality of life and allow access to more stable jobs. However, the rising student debt amounts often have negative effects on one's life, such as their mental health. Working full-time in the summer months and part-time during the school year since I was 14 years old will also help decrease future student loan debt. This will not be enough to cover costs, so I am looking into scholarship opportunities such as this. My parents are also able to assist in paying for a small portion of the costs of my degree, but nowhere enough to cover the full costs. By winning this scholarship, it would greatly assist me in my dream of becoming a nurse.

As I sit typing this essay, I have just completed my third semester at Saginaw Valley State University (SVSU) and will start my sophomore year classes in the fall of this year. I plan on obtaining a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. A college education will greatly benefit my life in being able to fulfill my life’s mission. Since I was in 7th grade, I have enjoyed running with both the cross country and track teams at my school. However, my junior year of high school, I started having increased difficulty breathing when running. My pediatrician referred me to an ENT, asthma/allergy specialist, and cardiologist. I was diagnosed with various allergies, asthma, and an irregular heartbeat. Medications have helped decrease my breathing difficulties over the last few years, but my times have been much slower, which is frustrating. Through this challenging time, I realized I had a draw to the medical field. I was able to see many different medical professionals and realize how they all have helped me. I have volunteered in various forms throughout high school and college. I have volunteered at my local animal shelter by cleaning cages, bathing animals, walking dogs, and assisting in fundraisers. I have also volunteered at our local rural hospital, Mackinac Straits Health System (MSHS), in the therapy department cleaning and performing various clerical tasks as well as in the long-term care facility with residents. I have also volunteered at local sporting events and fundraisers through the St. Ignace Visitors Bureau. The most impactful volunteer work has been with the “Hooping for a Cure” basketball game that raises money for the “No Cancer Patient Left Behind” fund for oncology patients at MSHS. All money raised goes directly to the patients that require assistance to pay for gas, lodging, or various costs involved in their oncology care. During my senior year of high school, I took a "Work Experience" class that allowed me to follow nursing staff in various disciplines at our local rural hospital. I observed for one hour a day, Monday through Friday. I observed in the acute care hospital, rural health clinics, and long-term care. I plan on using this knowledge and time to assist me in my future years in the nursing program. Being a professional in the healthcare field, especially as a nurse, is definitely being a servant to others. I hope to help care for people and be a light in some of their darkest times. There is currently a national nursing shortage throughout the United States. I am aware of this shortage locally at the St. Ignace tribal health center as well as my local rural hospital. Debt from student loans is drowning so many of the Generation X and Millennial generations. The goal of obtaining higher education is to improve one's quality of life and allow access to more stable jobs. However, the rising student debt amounts often have negative effects on one's life, such as their mental health. The cost of obtaining a degree does factor into many people's decisions regarding going to college. Working full-time in the summer months and part-time during the school year since I was 14 years old will also help decrease future student loan debt. This will not be enough to cover costs, so I am looking into scholarship opportunities such as this. My parents are also able to assist in paying for a small portion of the costs of my degree, but nowhere enough to cover the full costs. By winning this scholarship, it would greatly assist me in my dream of becoming a nurse.

As I am writing this, I am back home in St. Ignace, MI, after completing my first year of college. St. Ignace is a small rural town located in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. People that live in the Upper Peninsula are often referred to as, Yoopers. Many different Native American tribes have inhabited this area for thousands of years before the first French explorers founded it as the second-oldest city in Michigan. Wyandot, Ojibwa and Ottawa were among some of the tribes located in St. Ignace. Our town is fortunate to have an annual ‘Rendezvous at the Straits Powwow’ each summer. I have been able to watch and partake in traditional dancing, listen to tribal drummers, and eat Native American food. We also have a Museum of Ojibwa Culture in St. Ignace which helps educate on the culture and traditions of the Ojibwa. I have been very fortunate to have had this enrichment into my Native American heritage. It has helped made me realize not just for myself, but everyone, the importance of preserving the history of Native Americans. Sadly, it was once United States government policy to assimilate American Indians, making them abandon their language, culture, traditions, and beliefs. Growing up in a small community, I was fortunate to have teachers and school staff that were supportive and encouraging. Math and science classes have been my favorite subject since I was in middle school. I enjoy learning about anatomy and the physiology of our bodies’ functions. This has helped lead me into pursuing a career in the medical field. Since I was in 7th grade, I have enjoyed running with both the cross country and track teams at my school. However, my junior year of high school, I started having increased difficulty breathing when running. My pediatrician referred me to an ENT, asthma/allergy specialist, and cardiologist. I was diagnosed with various allergies, asthma, and an irregular heartbeat. Medications have helped decrease my breathing difficulties over the last few years, but my times have been much slower, which is frustrating. Through this challenging time, I realized I had a draw to the medical field. I was able to see many different medical professionals and realize how they all have helped me. During my senior year of high school, I was able to take a "Work Experience" class that allowed me to follow nursing staff in various disciplines at our local rural hospital. I observed for one hour a day, Monday through Friday. I observed in the acute care hospital, rural health clinics, and long-term care. During these observations, it showed me that nursing is more than learning information such as pharmacology and anatomy, it is also showing empathy and compassion to others. Getting to know my patients personally in the future, can greatly impact their medical outcomes positively. I have witnessed this firsthand in my short time job shadowing the last six months. I hope to use this knowledge and time to assist me in my future years in the nursing program. Being involved in sports and clubs is another way I have stayed active. My freshman year of high school I was our class student council vice president and a member of the Varsity cross country team. Due to COVID, our track season was cancelled my freshman year. My sophomore year I was on our Varsity cross country and track teams. Fall of my sophomore year, my cross-country team were Division 2 UP Team Finals Champions. My junior year I continued my involvement on the Varsity cross country and track teams, while being inducted into the National Honors Society (NHS) and Youth Advisory Committee (YAC). During my senior year, I continued as a Varsity cross country team member as well as NHS and YAC. I was named the cross-country Captain for the 2023 season, my senior year. I have volunteered in various forms since my freshman year of high school. I have volunteered at our local animal shelter by cleaning cages, bathing animals, walking dogs, and assisting in fundraisers. I have also volunteered at our local rural hospital, Mackinac Straits Health System (MSHS), in the therapy department cleaning and performing various clerical tasks as well as in the long-term care facility with residents. I have also volunteered at local sporting events and fundraisers through the St. Ignace Visitors Bureau. The most impactful volunteer work has been with the “Hooping for a Cure” basketball game that raises money for the “No Cancer Patient Left Behind” fund for oncology patients at MSHS. All money raised goes directly to the patients that require assistance to pay for gas, lodging, or various costs involved in their oncology care. I have been able to continue volunteering while in college throughout the 4 different clubs/organizations I have joined. A love for dance is something that started when I was five years old, when my parents enrolled me in tap and ballet classes. I continued these dance classes all through high school at the Cheboygan Area Arts Council. Tap, ballet, jazz and lyrical are all forms of dance I have trained in. While at college, I have been able to be a part of two different organizations to keep me connected with dance. Cardinal Rhythm performs tap and jazz dances while Cardinal Grace is ballet and lyrical. I have practices one to two times a week and not only perform dances, but have helped choreograph as well. These campus organizations have helped me connect with others and make friends, while being a form of exercise and release from stress of college life. I am also a member of two other campus organizations. Program Board offers free and inclusive events on and around campus for all SVSU students. I am able to help plan and organize various events as well as partake in them. SVSU Student Nurses Association is another organization which helps to educate and promote the nursing program and field on campus. It has been a great way to meet future nursing professors and educators as well as fellow nursing students. This summer, I plan to continue working as a waitress at my hometown’s bakery and restaurant. I have worked since my freshman year of high school, saving money for college. There is currently a national nursing shortage throughout the entire United States. My local community in the rural Upper Peninsula of Michigan has a tribal health center in need of nursing staff. Travel nurses are being contracted for these positions, placing a band aid on a much larger issue. There is a dire need for medical staff to treat our tribal members. St. Ignace has a Sault Tribe Health and Human Services medical center. This center provides medical, optical, dental, and behavioral health services. Returning to work at my local tribal health medical center is my ultimate goal of engaging in my community while helping others. Being a professional in the healthcare field is definitely being a servant to others. I hope to help care for people and be a light in some of their darkest times.

I have completed by Freshman year of college at Saginaw Valley State University in Michigan. I plan on obtaining a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. My own medical needs related to asthma, volunteer work at my local hospital, a love of math and science classes, and taking a Work Experience class job shadowing nursing staff at Mackinac Straits Health System have all helped me realize my dream of becoming a nurse. In order to become a licensed registered nurse, I must complete a 4 year Bachelor program and pass a national exam. A college education will greatly benefit my life in being able to fulfill my life’s mission. Being a professional in the healthcare field is definitely being a servant to others. I hope to help care for people and be a light in some of their darkest times. There is currently a national nursing shortage throughout the entire United States. I am aware of this shortage locally at the St. Ignace tribal health center, where travel medical professionals are utilized. Travel nurses are being contracted for these positions, placing a band-aid on a much larger issue. There is a definite need for medical staff to treat our tribal members. Returning to work at my local tribal health medical center is my ultimate goal of engaging in my community while helping others. I hope to help care for people and be a light in some of their darkest times. Debt from student loans is drowning so many of the Generation X and Millennial generations. The goal of obtaining higher education is to improve one's quality of life and allow access to more stable jobs. However, the rising student debt amounts often have negative effects on one's life, such as their mental health. The cost of obtaining a degree does factor into many people's decisions regarding going to college. Another study found that 1 in 14 college graduates experienced suicidal ideas regarding their financial stress from student loans. Working full-time in the summer months and part-time during the school year since I was 14 years old will also help decrease future student loan debt. My goal is to continue working when I go to college and invest this money into my college degree. I plan to work on campus at SVSU during the school year, to meet others and also decrease college costs. This will not be enough to cover costs, so I am looking into scholarship opportunities such as this. My parents are also able to assist in paying for a small portion of the costs of my degree, but nowhere enough to cover the full costs. By winning this scholarship, it would greatly assist me in my dream of becoming a nurse. Becoming a nurse will allow me to give back to my tribal community by providing quality medical care. Thank you for this opportunity.

My name is Haleigh Mattson and I am a “Yooper”, which refers to someone who lives in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. I have lived in St. Ignace, MI my entire life, which is a very small rural area. I was diligent and active in my four years at LaSalle High School, winning numerous classroom awards. I received honor roll recognition for all semesters of each year in high school and plan to continue this strive of hard work throughout college as I am very hard working and driven. My favorite classes have always been science and math, especially anatomy and physiology. I had the great opportunity of volunteering at Mackinac Straits Health System in St. Ignace. I volunteered in the therapy and long term care departments. It was through this volunteer work I realized my dream of becoming a nurse. I also completed Work Experience class during my senior year of high school. This allowed me an hour a day, Monday through Friday, to job shadow nursing staff at Mackinac Straits Health System. I observed nurses in the acute care, long term care, and various clinic settings. I plan on using this knowledge and experiences to assist myself in the nursing program. I learned that with a nursing degree, there are numerous opportunities and specialties available. This time of observing has also allowed me insight to other fields such as becoming a nurse practitioner. This would be a graduate degree I could obtain after my Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). Currently the United States is facing one of the largest nursing shortages in our history. My goal is to become a nurse, while obtaining a higher education at Saginaw Valley State University in Michigan, where I have been accepted. I have goals of continuing my education into graduate school and become a nurse practitioner. The nursing shortage is also affecting my small rural hospital and tribal health center. Some of our nursing staff are temporary travel nurses, to help fill much needed openings. My goal is to return to my rural hometown to help care for others. I have worked throughout high school in the summer months full-time as well as part-time during school in our small tourist town. I have been saving money to assist in paying for college to avoid a large amount of debt in student loans. My savings from working will not be enough to cover the costs of a nursing degree, so I am looking into scholarship opportunities. This scholarship would greatly impact my life, by assisting me in my dream of becoming a nurse and nurse practitioner. Thank you for taking you time to review my application.

My name is Haleigh Mattson and I am a “Yooper”, which refers to someone who lives in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. I have lived in St. Ignace, MI my entire life, which is a very small rural area. I was diligent and active in my four years at LaSalle High School, winning numerous classroom awards. I received honor roll recognition for all semesters of each year in high school and plan to continue this strive of hard work throughout college as I am very hard working and driven. My favorite classes have always been science and math, especially anatomy and physiology. I had the great opportunity of volunteering at Mackinac Straits Health System in St. Ignace. I volunteered in the therapy and long term care departments. It was through this volunteer work I realized my dream of becoming a nurse. I also completed Work Experience class during my senior year of high school. This allowed me an hour a day, Monday through Friday, to job shadow nursing staff at Mackinac Straits Health System. I observed nurses in the acute care, long term care, and various clinic settings. I plan on using this knowledge and experiences to assist myself in the nursing program. I learned that with a nursing degree, there are numerous opportunities and specialties available. This time of observing has also allowed me insight to other fields such as becoming a nurse practitioner. This would be a graduate degree I could obtain after my Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). Currently the United States is facing one of the largest nursing shortages in our history. My goal is to become a nurse, while obtaining a higher education at Saginaw Valley State University in Michigan, where I have been accepted. I have goals of continuing my education into graduate school and become a nurse practitioner. The nursing shortage is also affecting my small rural hospital and tribal health center. Some of our nursing staff are temporary travel nurses, to help fill much needed openings. My goal is to return to my rural hometown to help care for others. I have worked throughout high school in the summer months full-time as well as part-time during school in our small tourist town. I have been saving money to assist in paying for college to avoid a large amount of debt in student loans. My savings from working will not be enough to cover the costs of a nursing degree, so I am looking into scholarship opportunities. This scholarship would greatly impact my life, by assisting me in my dream of becoming a nurse and nurse practitioner. Thank you for taking you time to review my application.

My name is Haleigh Mattson and I am a “Yooper”, which refers to someone who lives in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. I have lived in St. Ignace, MI my entire life, which is a very small rural area. I was diligent and active in my four years at LaSalle High School, winning numerous classroom awards. I received honor roll recognition for all semesters of each year in high school and plan to continue this strive of hard work throughout college as I am very hard working and driven. My favorite classes have always been science and math, especially anatomy and physiology. I had the great opportunity of volunteering at Mackinac Straits Health System in St. Ignace. I volunteered in the therapy and long term care departments. It was through this volunteer work I realized my dream of becoming a nurse. I also completed Work Experience class during my senior year of high school. This allowed me an hour a day, Monday through Friday, to job shadow nursing staff at Mackinac Straits Health System. I observed nurses in the acute care, long term care, and various clinic settings. I plan on using this knowledge and experiences to assist myself in the nursing program. I learned that with a nursing degree, there are numerous opportunities and specialties available. This time of observing has also allowed me insight to other fields such as becoming a nurse practitioner. This would be a graduate degree I could obtain after my Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). Currently the United States is facing one of the largest nursing shortages in our history. My goal is to become a nurse, while obtaining a higher education at Saginaw Valley State University in Michigan, where I have been accepted. I have goals of continuing my education into graduate school and become a nurse practitioner. The nursing shortage is also affecting my small rural hospital and tribal health center. Some of our nursing staff are temporary travel nurses, to help fill much needed openings. My goal is to return to my rural hometown to help care for others. I have worked throughout high school in the summer months full-time as well as part-time during school in our small tourist town. I have been saving money to assist in paying for college to avoid a large amount of debt in student loans. My savings from working will not be enough to cover the costs of a nursing degree, so I am looking into scholarship opportunities. This scholarship would greatly impact my life, by assisting me in my dream of becoming a nurse and nurse practitioner. Thank you for taking you time to review my application.

As I am writing this, I am back home in St. Ignace, MI, after completing my first year of college. St. Ignace is a small rural town located in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. People that live in the Upper Peninsula are often referred to as, Yoopers. During my senior year of high school, I was able to take a "Work Experience" class that allowed me to follow nursing staff in various disciplines at our local rural hospital. I observed for one hour a day, Monday through Friday. I observed in the acute care hospital, rural health clinics, and long-term care. During these observations, it showed me that nursing is more than learning information such as pharmacology and anatomy, it is also showing empathy and compassion to others. Getting to know my patients personally in the future, can greatly impact their medical outcomes positively. I have witnessed this first hand in my short time job shadowing the last six months. I hope to use this knowledge and time to assist me in my future years in the nursing program. I have volunteered in various forms throughout my since my freshman year of high school. I have volunteered at our local animal shelter by cleaning cages, bathing animals, walking dogs, and assisting in fundraisers. I have also volunteered at our local rural hospital, Mackinac Straits Health System (MSHS), in the therapy department cleaning and performing various clerical tasks as well as in the long term care facility with residents. I have also volunteered at local sporting events and fundraisers through the St. Ignace Visitors Bureau. The most impactful volunteer work has been with the “Hooping for a Cure” basketball game that raises money for the “No Cancer Patient Left Behind” fund for oncology patients at MSHS. All money raised goes directly to the patients that require assistance to pay for gas, lodging, or various costs involved in their oncology care. I have been able to continue volunteering while in college throughout the 4 different clubs/organizations I have joined. A love for dance is something that started when I was five years old, when my parents enrolled me in tap and ballet classes. I continued these dance classes all through high school at the Cheboygan Area Arts Council. Tap, ballet, jazz and lyrical are all forms of dance I have trained in. While at college, I have been able to be a part of two different organizations to keep me connected with dance. Cardinal Rhythm performs tap and jazz dances while Cardinal Grace is ballet and lyrical. I am also a member of two other campus organizations. Program Board offers free and inclusive events on and around campus for all SVSU students. I am able to help plan and organize various events as well as partake in them. SVSU Student Nurses Association is another organization which helps to educate and promote the nursing program and field on campus. It has been a great way to meet future nursing professors and educators as well as fellow nursing students and volunteer in my university community. There is currently a national nursing shortage throughout the entire United States. Being a professional in the healthcare field is definitely being a servant to others. I hope to help care for people and be a light in some of their darkest times. By winning this scholarship, it would greatly assist me in my dream of becoming a nurse. I would use this money to assist in paying for college without crippling debt in student loans.

My name is Haleigh Mattson and I am a “Yooper”, which refers to someone who lives in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. I have lived in St. Ignace, MI my entire life, which is a very small rural area. I was diligent and active in my four years at LaSalle High School, winning numerous classroom awards. I received honor roll recognition for all semesters of each year in high school and plan to continue this strive of hard work throughout college as I am very hard working and driven. My favorite classes have always been science and math, especially anatomy and physiology. I had the great opportunity of volunteering at Mackinac Straits Health System in St. Ignace. I volunteered in the therapy and long term care departments. It was through this volunteer work I realized my dream of becoming a nurse. I also completed Work Experience class during my senior year of high school. This allowed me an hour a day, Monday through Friday, to job shadow nursing staff at Mackinac Straits Health System. I observed nurses in the acute care, long term care, and various clinic settings. I plan on using this knowledge and experiences to assist myself in the nursing program. I learned that with a nursing degree, there are numerous opportunities and specialties available. This time of observing has also allowed me insight to other fields such as becoming a nurse practitioner. This would be a graduate degree I could obtain after my Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). Currently the United States is facing one of the largest nursing shortages in our history. My goal is to become a nurse, while obtaining a higher education at Saginaw Valley State University in Michigan, where I have been accepted. I have goals of continuing my education into graduate school and become a nurse practitioner. The nursing shortage is also affecting my small rural hospital and tribal health center. Some of our nursing staff are temporary travel nurses, to help fill much needed openings. My goal is to return to my rural hometown to help care for others. I have worked throughout high school in the summer months full-time as well as part-time during school in our small tourist town. I have been saving money to assist in paying for college to avoid a large amount of debt in student loans. My savings from working will not be enough to cover the costs of a nursing degree, so I am looking into scholarship opportunities. This scholarship would greatly impact my life, by assisting me in my dream of becoming a nurse and nurse practitioner. Thank you for taking you time to review my application.

As I am writing this, I am back home in St. Ignace, MI, after completing my first year of college. St. Ignace is a small rural town located in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. People that live in the Upper Peninsula are often referred to as, Yoopers. Many different Native American tribes have inhabited this area for thousands of years before the first French explorers founded it as the second-oldest city in Michigan. Wyandot, Ojibwa and Ottawa were among some of the tribes located in St. Ignace. Our town is fortunate to have an annual ‘Rendezvous at the Straits Powwow’ each summer. I have been able to watch and partake in traditional dancing, listen to tribal drummers, and eat Native American food. We also have a Museum of Ojibwa Culture in St. Ignace which helps educate on the culture and traditions of the Ojibwa. I have been very fortunate to have had this enrichment into my Native American heritage. It has helped made me realize not just for myself, but everyone, the importance of preserving the history of Native Americans. Sadly, it was once United States government policy to assimilate American Indians, making them abandon their language, culture, traditions, and beliefs. The Covid-19 pandemic also posed a very challenging time during my high school years. My freshman year, school and all activities were cancelled when lockdowns started. I found myself at times having to teach myself my curriculum as an ever changing education occurred due to restrictions. Education changed significantly and drastically at this time to remote learning. One positive of this drastic change, was it forced us to use technology more in our small rural area. This exposure to software will greatly help me in my future years in college as knowledge gained through challenges. During my senior year of high school, I was able to take a "Work Experience" class that allowed me to follow nursing staff in various disciplines at our local rural hospital. I observed for one hour a day, Monday through Friday. I observed in the acute care hospital, rural health clinics, and long-term care. During these observations, it showed me that nursing is more than learning information such as pharmacology and anatomy, it is also showing empathy and compassion to others. Getting to know my patients personally in the future, can greatly impact their medical outcomes positively. I have witnessed this first hand in my short time job shadowing the last six months. I hope to use this knowledge and time to assist me in my future years in the nursing program. There is currently a national nursing shortage throughout the entire United States. My local community in the rural Upper Peninsula of Michigan has a tribal health center in need of nursing staff. Travel nurses are being contracted for these positions, placing a band aid on a much larger issue. There is a dire need for medical staff to treat our tribal members. St. Ignace has a Sault Tribe Health and Human Services medical center. This center provides medical, optical, dental, and behavioral health services. Returning to work at my local tribal health medical center is my ultimate goal of engaging in my community while helping others. Being a professional in the healthcare field is definitely being a servant to others. I hope to help care for people and be a light in some of their darkest times. By winning this scholarship, it would greatly assist me in my dream of becoming a nurse. I would use this money to assist in paying for college without crippling debt in student loans.

My name is Haleigh Mattson and I am a “Yooper”, which refers to someone who lives in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. I have lived in St. Ignace, MI my entire life, which is a very small rural area. I was diligent and active in my four years at LaSalle High School, winning numerous classroom awards. I received honor roll recognition for all semesters of each year in high school and plan to continue this strive of hard work throughout college as I am very hard working and driven. My favorite classes have always been science and math, especially anatomy and physiology. I had the great opportunity of volunteering at Mackinac Straits Health System in St. Ignace. I volunteered in the therapy and long term care departments. It was through this volunteer work I realized my dream of becoming a nurse. I also completed Work Experience class during my senior year of high school. This allowed me an hour a day, Monday through Friday, to job shadow nursing staff at Mackinac Straits Health System. I observed nurses in the acute care, long term care, and various clinic settings. I plan on using this knowledge and experiences to assist myself in the nursing program. I learned that with a nursing degree, there are numerous opportunities and specialties available. This time of observing has also allowed me insight to other fields such as becoming a nurse practitioner. This would be a graduate degree I could obtain after my Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). Currently the United States is facing one of the largest nursing shortages in our history. My goal is to become a nurse, while obtaining a higher education at Saginaw Valley State University in Michigan, where I have been accepted. I have goals of continuing my education into graduate school and become a nurse practitioner. The nursing shortage is also affecting my small rural hospital and tribal health center. Some of our nursing staff are temporary travel nurses, to help fill much needed openings. My goal is to return to my rural hometown to help care for others. I have worked throughout high school in the summer months full-time as well as part-time during school in our small tourist town. I have been saving money to assist in paying for college to avoid a large amount of debt in student loans. My savings from working will not be enough to cover the costs of a nursing degree, so I am looking into scholarship opportunities. This scholarship would greatly impact my life, by assisting me in my dream of becoming a nurse and nurse practitioner. Thank you for taking you time to review my application.

Growing up, I always had a pull and love for science classes. I especially enjoy learning about the body and its functions. As I got older and started to think about life after high school, I knew a career in the medical field is where I belonged. During high school, babysitting was one way I worked to earn money for the rising costs of college and higher education. I am fortunate to have babysat for children from six months to almost ten years old. Each age range has offered fun as well as challenges. Volunteer work at a local daycare center also exposed me to children and their development. During my current senior year of high school, I was able to take "Work Experience" class that allowed me to follow nursing staff in various disciplines at our local rural hospital. I observed for one hour a day, Monday through Friday for my entire senior year. I observed in the acute care hospital, rural health clinic, pediatric clinic and long-term care. During these observations, it has shown me that nursing is more than learning information such as pharmacology and anatomy, it is also showing empathy and compassion to others. Getting to know my patients and their family or support system personally in the future, can greatly impact their medical outcomes positively. It was through these observation hours that I realized how much I enjoyed pediatrics. Learning different techniques to do basic weight, blood pressure, and temperature checks. Gaining trust with pediatric patients while helping them develop and grow. Pediatric nurses care, protect, advocate, and truly love their patients. Pediatric nursing can also take you to different areas of work. Outpatient medical clinics, neonatal units, pediatric intensive care units, pediatric oncology, surgical centers and many other service areas are options for working as a pediatric nurse. I also have aspirations to further my education after working as a nurse for a few years. Going to graduate school and becoming a pediatric nurse practitioner is a goal of mine in the future. There is a huge need for nurses and practitioners in the rural area I live in Michigan. It would be an honor to obtain my higher education and return to my hometown to serve my community. In the future, no matter how harsh conditions may be, I want to care for others. Helping those who are suffering, healing, and in need will be fulfilling.

Since I was in 7th grade, I have enjoyed running with both the cross country and track teams at my school. However, my junior year of high school, I started having increased difficulty breathing when running. My pediatrician referred me to an ENT, asthma/allergy specialist, and cardiologist. I was diagnosed with various allergies, asthma, and an irregular heartbeat. Medications have helped decrease my breathing difficulties over the last few years, but my times have been much slower, which is frustrating. Through this challenging time, I realized I had a draw to the medical field. I was able to see many different medical professionals and realize how they all have helped me. During my senior year of high school, I was able to complete a "Work Experience" class that allowed me to follow nursing staff in various disciplines at our local rural hospital. I observed for one hour a day, Monday through Friday. I observed in the acute care hospital, rural health clinics, and long-term care. During these observations, it showed me that nursing is more than learning information such as pharmacology and anatomy, it is also showing empathy and compassion to others. Getting to know my patients personally in the future, can greatly impact their medical outcomes positively. I have witnessed this first hand in my short time job shadowing various nurses. I plan to use this knowledge and time to assist me in my future years in the nursing program. Being a professional in the healthcare field is definitely being a servant to others. I hope to help care for people and be a light in some of their darkest times. There is currently a national nursing shortage throughout the entire United States. I am aware of this shortage locally at the St. Ignace tribal health center, where travel medical professionals are utilized. Travel nurses are being contracted for these positions, placing a band-aid on a much larger issue. There is a definite need for medical staff to treat our tribal members. Returning to work at my local tribal health medical center is my ultimate goal of engaging in my community while helping others. I hope to help care for people and be a light in some of their darkest times. Debt from student loans is drowning so many of the Generation X and Millennial generations. The goal of obtaining higher education is to improve one's quality of life and allow access to more stable jobs. However, the rising student debt amounts often have negative effects on one's life, such as their mental health. The cost of obtaining a degree does factor into many people's decisions regarding going to college. Another study found that 1 in 14 college graduates experienced suicidal ideas regarding their financial stress from student loans. Working full-time in the summer months since I was 14 years old will also help decrease future student loan debt. My goal is to continue working in the summer months when I go to college and invest this money into my college degree. This will not be enough to cover costs, so I am looking into scholarship opportunities such as this. My parents are also able to assist in paying for a small portion of the costs of my degree, but nowhere enough to cover the full costs. By winning this scholarship, it would greatly assist me in my dream of becoming a nurse. Becoming a nurse will allow me to give back to my tribal community by providing quality medical care. Thank you for this opportunity.

I have completed my first semester at Saginaw Valley State University. I plan on obtaining a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. My own medical needs related to asthma, volunteer work at my local hospital, a love of math and science classes, and taking a Work Experience class job shadowing nursing staff at Mackinac Straits Health System have all helped me realize my dream of becoming a nurse. In order to become a licensed registered nurse, I must complete a 4 year Bachelor program and pass a national exam. A college education will greatly benefit my life in being able to fulfill my life’s mission. Being a professional in the healthcare field is definitely being a servant to others. I hope to help care for people and be a light in some of their darkest times. There is currently a national nursing shortage throughout the entire United States. I am aware of this shortage locally at the St. Ignace tribal health center, where travel medical professionals are utilized. Travel nurses are being contracted for these positions, placing a band-aid on a much larger issue. There is a definite need for medical staff to treat our tribal members. Returning to work at my local tribal health medical center is my ultimate goal of engaging in my community while helping others. I hope to help care for people and be a light in some of their darkest times. Debt from student loans is drowning so many of the Generation X and Millennial generations. The goal of obtaining higher education is to improve one's quality of life and allow access to more stable jobs. However, the rising student debt amounts often have negative effects on one's life, such as their mental health. The cost of obtaining a degree does factor into many people's decisions regarding going to college. Another study found that 1 in 14 college graduates experienced suicidal ideas regarding their financial stress from student loans. Working full-time in the summer months and part-time during the school year since I was 14 years old will also help decrease future student loan debt. My goal is to continue working when I go to college and invest this money into my college degree. I plan to work on campus at SVSU during the school year, to meet others and also decrease college costs. This will not be enough to cover costs, so I am looking into scholarship opportunities such as this. My parents are also able to assist in paying for a small portion of the costs of my degree, but nowhere enough to cover the full costs. By winning this scholarship, it would greatly assist me in my dream of becoming a nurse. Becoming a nurse will allow me to give back to my tribal community by providing quality medical care. Thank you for this opportunity.

My name is Haleigh Mattson and I am a “Yooper”, which refers to someone who lives in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. I have lived in St. Ignace, MI my entire life, which is a very small rural area. I was diligent and active in my four years at LaSalle High School, winning numerous classroom awards. I received honor roll recognition for all semesters of each year in high school and plan to continue this strive of hard work throughout college as I am very hard working and driven. My favorite classes have always been science and math, especially anatomy and physiology. I had the great opportunity of volunteering at Mackinac Straits Health System in St. Ignace. I volunteered in the therapy and long term care departments. It was through this volunteer work I realized my dream of becoming a nurse. I also completed Work Experience class during my senior year of high school. This allowed me an hour a day, Monday through Friday, to job shadow nursing staff at Mackinac Straits Health System. I observed nurses in the acute care, long term care, and various clinic settings. I plan on using this knowledge and experiences to assist myself in the nursing program. I learned that with a nursing degree, there are numerous opportunities and specialties available. This time of observing has also allowed me insight to other fields such as becoming a nurse practitioner. This would be a graduate degree I could obtain after my Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). Currently the United States is facing one of the largest nursing shortages in our history. My goal is to become a nurse, while obtaining a higher education at Saginaw Valley State University in Michigan, where I have completed my first semester of classes. I have goals of continuing my education into graduate school and become a nurse practitioner. The nursing shortage is also affecting my small rural hospital and tribal health center. Some of our nursing staff are temporary travel nurses, to help fill much needed openings. My goal is to return to my rural hometown to help care for others. I have worked throughout high school in the summer months full-time as well as part-time during school in our small tourist town. I have been saving money to assist in paying for college to avoid a large amount of debt in student loans. My savings from working will not be enough to cover the costs of a nursing degree, so I am looking into scholarship opportunities. This scholarship would greatly impact my life, by assisting me in my dream of becoming a nurse and nurse practitioner. Thank you for taking you time to review my application.

Helping others in their time of need is my ultimate mission for joining the healthcare industry. I will be starting my freshman year of college this August at SVSU in Michigan. I graduated from a small rural town in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, often referred to as a 'Yooper." I have been very fortunate to have had enrichment into my Native American heritage and understand the importance of preserving the history of Native Americans. I was fortunate to grow up in a small community with teachers and school staff that were supportive and encouraging. Math and science classes have been my favorite subject since I was in middle school. I enjoy learning about anatomy and the physiology of our body's functions. This has helped lead me into pursuing a career in the medical field. I have volunteered in various forms throughout high school. Volunteering at our local rural hospital, Mackinac Straits Health System (MSHS), in the therapy department and long-term care facility with residents has been the most insightful and fulfilling. I completed a Work Experience class during my senior year of high school. This allowed me an hour a day, Monday through Friday, to job shadow nursing staff at Mackinac Straits Health System. I observed nurses in acute care, long-term care, and various clinic settings. I plan on using this knowledge and experience to assist myself in the nursing program. I have learned that with a nursing degree, there are numerous opportunities and specialties available. This time of observing has also allowed me insight into other fields such as becoming a nurse practitioner. This would be a graduate degree I could obtain after my Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). There is currently a national nursing shortage throughout the entire United States. My local community in the rural Upper Peninsula of Michigan has a tribal health center in need of nursing staff. Travel nurses are being contracted for these positions, placing a band-aid on a much larger issue. There is a dire need for medical staff to treat our tribal members. St. Ignace has a Sault Tribe Health and Human Services medical center. This center provides medical, optical, dental, and behavioral health services. Returning to work at my local tribal health medical center is my ultimate mission of engaging in my community while helping others. Being a professional in the healthcare field is being a servant to others. I hope to help care for people and be a light in some of their darkest times. By winning this scholarship, it would greatly assist me in my dream of becoming a nurse. I would use this money to assist in paying for college without crippling debt in student loans. Thank you for this opportunity.

Helping others in their time of need is my ultimate mission for joining the healthcare industry. I will be starting my freshman year of college this August at SVSU in Michigan. I graduated from a small rural town in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, often referred to as a 'Yooper." I have been very fortunate to have had enrichment into my Native American heritage and understand the importance of preserving the history of Native Americans. I was fortunate to grow up in a small community with teachers and school staff that were supportive and encouraging. Math and science classes have been my favorite subject since I was in middle school. I enjoy learning about anatomy and the physiology of our bodies functions. This has helped lead me into pursuing a career in the medical field. I have volunteered in various forms throughout high school. Volunteering at our local rural hospital, Mackinac Straits Health System (MSHS), in the therapy department and long-term care facility with residents has been the most insightful and fulfilling. I completed a Work Experience class during my senior year of high school. This allowed me an hour a day, Monday through Friday, to job shadow nursing staff at Mackinac Straits Health System. I observed nurses in acute care, long-term care, and various clinic settings. I plan on using this knowledge and experience to assist myself in the nursing program. I have learned that with a nursing degree, there are numerous opportunities and specialties available. This time of observing has also allowed me insight into other fields such as becoming a nurse practitioner. This would be a graduate degree I could obtain after my Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). There is currently a national nursing shortage throughout the entire United States. My local community in the rural Upper Peninsula of Michigan has a tribal health center in need of nursing staff. Travel nurses are being contracted for these positions, placing a band-aid on a much larger issue. There is a dire need for medical staff to treat our tribal members. St. Ignace has a Sault Tribe Health and Human Services medical center. This center provides medical, optical, dental, and behavioral health services. Returning to work at my local tribal health medical center is my ultimate mission of engaging in my community while helping others. Being a professional in the healthcare field is being a servant to others. I hope to help care for people and be a light in some of their darkest times. By winning this scholarship, it would greatly assist me in my dream of becoming a nurse. I would use this money to assist in paying for college without crippling debt in student loans. Thank you for this opportunity.

The first thing that I thought of when reading the essay topic was my future career goals. I aspire to become a registered nurse and give back to others by making a difference in healthcare. To become a registered nurse in the United States, you must complete, at a minimum, a Bachelor of Science in nursing. This degree takes college students four to five years to complete. College for me is a necessity in achieving both my personal and professional goals while learning and developing critical nursing care skills. My goal is to obtain higher education at Saginaw Valley State University in Michigan. I have been accepted and plan to start classes in August of 2023. I am a “Yooper”, which refers to someone who lives in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. I have lived in St. Ignace my entire life, which is a very small rural town. Being able to participate in volunteer work throughout my community has been very rewarding for me. The most influential has been volunteering at our local hospital, Mackinac Straits Health System. Through this volunteer work, I have been able to observe nurses and the influence they have on a patient’s positive health outcome. In my senior year of high school, I was able to take a Work Experience class. This was a unique experience, as my ‘classroom’ was at Mackinac Straits Health System versus school. I was able to observe nurses in acute care, long-term care, and clinical settings for an hour each Monday through Friday. I plan on using the knowledge and experiences I gained to assist myself in the nursing program at college. Currently, the United States is facing one of the largest nursing shortages in our history. The nursing shortage is also affecting my small rural hospital and tribal health center. My goal is to return to my rural hometown and provide nursing care. So in conclusion, college is vital for me to pursue and achieve my career goals, but this also comes at a high cost. I have worked throughout high school, saving money to assist in paying for college to avoid a large amount of debt in student loans. My savings from working will not be enough to cover the costs of a nursing degree, so I am looking into scholarship opportunities. This scholarship would greatly impact my life, by assisting me in my dream of becoming a nurse and nurse practitioner.

My name is Haleigh and I am a “Yooper”, which refers to someone who lives in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. I have lived in St. Ignace, MI my entire life, which is a very small rural area. I was diligent and active in my four years at LaSalle High School, winning numerous classroom awards. I received honor roll recognition for all semesters of each year in high school and plan to continue this strive of hard work throughout college. My favorite classes have always been science and math, especially anatomy and physiology. I will be attending SVSU in the fall of 2023 to start my education with goals to become a nurse. I have volunteered in various forms throughout my high school years, since my freshman year. I have volunteered at our local animal shelter by cleaning cages, bathing animals, walking dogs, and assisting in fundraisers. I have also volunteered at our local rural hospital, Mackinac Straits Health System (MSHS), in the therapy department cleaning and performing various clerical tasks as well as in the long-term care facility with residents. I have also volunteered at local sporting events and fundraisers through the St. Ignace Visitors Bureau. The most impactful volunteer work has been with the “Hooping for a Cure” basketball game that raises money for the “No Cancer Patient Left Behind” fund for oncology patients at MSHS. All money raised goes directly to the patients that require assistance to pay for gas, lodging, or various costs involved in their oncology care. During my Senior year of high school, I was able to take a Work Experience class. This allowed me an hour a day, Monday through Friday, to job shadow nursing staff at Mackinac Straits Health System. I observed nurses in acute care, long-term care, and various clinic settings. I plan on using this knowledge and experience to assist myself in the nursing program. I have learned that with a nursing degree, there are numerous opportunities and specialties available. This time of observing has also allowed me insight into other fields such as becoming a nurse practitioner. This would be a graduate degree I could obtain after my Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). Currently, the United States is facing one of the largest nursing shortages in our history. My goal is to become a nurse while obtaining higher education at Saginaw Valley State University in Michigan, where I have been accepted. I have goals of continuing my education into graduate school and becoming a nurse practitioner. The nursing shortage is also affecting my small rural hospital and tribal health center. Some of our nursing staff are temporary travel nurses, to help fill much-needed openings. My goal is to return to my rural hometown to help care for others. I have worked throughout high school in the summer months full-time as well as part-time during school in our small tourist town. I have been saving money to assist in paying for college to avoid a large amount of debt in student loans. My savings from working will not be enough to cover the costs of a nursing degree, so I am looking into scholarship opportunities. This scholarship would greatly impact my life, by assisting me in my dream of becoming a nurse and nurse practitioner.

My name is Haleigh Mattson and I am a “Yooper”, which refers to someone who lives in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. I have lived in St. Ignace, MI my entire life, which is a very small rural area. I have been diligent and active in my four years at LaSalle High School, winning numerous classroom awards. I have received honor roll recognition for all semesters of each year in high school and plan to continue this strive of hard work throughout college. My favorite classes have always been science and math, especially anatomy and physiology. I have had the great opportunity of volunteering at Mackinac Straits Health System in St. Ignace. I have volunteered in the therapy and long-term care departments. It was through this volunteer work I realized my dream of becoming a nurse. I am currently taking a Work Experience class during my senior year of high school. This allows me an hour a day, Monday through Friday, to job shadow nursing staff at Mackinac Straits Health System. I have been able to observe nurses in acute care, long-term care, and various clinic settings. I plan on using this knowledge and experience to assist myself in the nursing program. I have learned that with a nursing degree, there are numerous opportunities and specialties available. This time of observing has also allowed me insight into other fields such as becoming a nurse practitioner. This would be a graduate degree I could obtain after my Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). Currently, the United States is facing one of the largest nursing shortages in our history. My goal is to become a nurse while obtaining higher education at Saginaw Valley State University in Michigan, where I have been accepted. I have goals of continuing my education into graduate school and becoming a nurse practitioner. The nursing shortage is also affecting my small rural hospital and tribal health center. Some of our nursing staff are temporary travel nurses, to help fill much-needed openings. My goal is to return to my rural hometown to help care for others. I have worked throughout high school in the summer months full-time as well as part-time during school in our small tourist town. I have been saving money to assist in paying for college to avoid a large amount of debt in student loans. My savings from working will not be enough to cover the costs of a nursing degree, so I am looking into scholarship opportunities. This scholarship would greatly impact my life, by assisting me in my dream of becoming a nurse and nurse practitioner.

I am a senior at LaSalle High School, located in a rural town in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, St. Ignace. I have completed all of my schoolings, Preschool through 12th grade, at St. Ignace Area Schools. I was fortunate to grow up in a small community with teachers and school staff that were supportive and encouraging. Math and science classes have been my favorite subject since I was in middle school. I enjoy learning about anatomy and the physiology of our body's functions. This has helped lead me into pursuing a career in the medical field. Since I was in 7th grade, I have enjoyed running with both the cross country and track teams at my school. However, in my junior year of high school, I started having increased difficulty breathing when running. My pediatrician referred me to an ENT, asthma/allergy specialist, and cardiologist. I was diagnosed with various allergies, asthma, and an irregular heartbeat. Medications have helped decrease my breathing difficulties over the last few years, but my times have been much slower, which is frustrating. Through this difficult time, I realized I had a draw to the medical field. I was able to see many different medical professionals and realize how they all have helped me. During my current senior year of high school, I am taking a "Work Experience" class that allows me to follow nursing staff in various disciplines at our local rural hospital. I observe for one hour a day, Monday through Friday. I have observed in the acute care hospital, rural health clinics, and long-term care. These observations, it has shown me that nursing is more than learning information such as pharmacology and anatomy, it is also showing empathy and compassion to others. Getting to know my patients personally in the future, can greatly impact their medical outcomes positively. I have witnessed this first hand in my short time job shadowing the last six months. I hope to use this knowledge and time to assist me in my future years in the nursing program. I have been accepted to Saginaw Valley State University in Michigan and will obtain my Bachelor of Science in Nursing. There is currently a national nursing shortage throughout the entire United States. My local community in the rural Upper Peninsula of Michigan has a tribal health center in need of nursing staff. Travel nurses are being contracted for these positions, placing a band-aid on a much larger issue. There is a dire need for medical staff to treat our tribal members. Returning to work at my local tribal health medical center is my ultimate goal of engaging in my community while helping others. Being a professional in the healthcare field is being a servant to others. I hope to help care for people and be a light in some of their darkest times. Winning this scholarship would greatly assist me in my dream of becoming a nurse. I would use this money to assist in paying for college without crippling debt in student loans. Thank you for this opportunity.

I am a senior at LaSalle High School, located in a rural town in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, St. Ignace. I have completed all of my schoolings, Preschool through 12th grade, at St. Ignace Area Schools. I was fortunate to grow up in a small community with teachers and school staff that were supportive and encouraging. Math and science classes have been my favorite subject since I was in middle school. I enjoy learning about anatomy and the physiology of our body's functions. This has helped lead me into pursuing a career in the medical field. Since I was in 7th grade, I have enjoyed running with both the cross country and track teams at my school. However, in my junior year of high school, I started having increased difficulty breathing when running. My pediatrician referred me to an ENT, asthma/allergy specialist, and cardiologist. I was diagnosed with various allergies, asthma, and an irregular heartbeat. Medications have helped decrease my breathing difficulties over the last few years, but my times have been much slower, which is frustrating. Through this difficult time, I realized I had a draw to the medical field. I was able to see many different medical professionals and realize how they all have helped me. I have witnessed how hard my parents and others in the medical field have worked in our small rural critical access hospital, especially over the last few years during the COVID-19 pandemic. I hope to apply my love of science and math classes to my nursing career. During my current senior year of high school, I am taking a "Work Experience" class that allows me to follow nursing staff in various disciplines at our local rural hospital. I observe for one hour a day, Monday through Friday. I have observed in the acute care hospital, rural health clinics, and long-term care. These observations, it has shown me that nursing is more than learning information such as pharmacology and anatomy, it is also showing empathy and compassion to others. Getting to know my patients personally in the future, can greatly impact their medical outcomes positively. I have witnessed this first hand in my short time job shadowing the last six months. I hope to use this knowledge and time to assist me in my future years in the nursing program. There is currently a national nursing shortage throughout the entire United States. My local community in the rural Upper Peninsula of Michigan has a tribal health center in need of nursing staff. Travel nurses are being contracted for these positions, placing a band-aid on a much larger issue. There is a dire need for medical staff to treat our tribal members. Returning to work at my local tribal health medical center is my ultimate goal of engaging in my community while helping others. Being a professional in the healthcare field is being a servant to others. I hope to help care for people and be a light in some of their darkest times. Winning this scholarship would greatly assist me in my dream of becoming a nurse. I would use this money to assist in paying for college without crippling debt in student loans. Thank you for this opportunity.

I am a senior at LaSalle High School, located in a rural town in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, St. Ignace. I have completed all of my schoolings, Preschool through 12th grade, at St. Ignace Area Schools. I was fortunate to grow up in a small community with teachers and school staff that were supportive and encouraging. Math and science classes have been my favorite subject since I was in middle school. I enjoy learning about anatomy and the physiology of our body's functions. This has helped lead me into pursuing a career in the medical field. Since I was in 7th grade, I have enjoyed running with both the cross country and track teams at my school. However, in my junior year of high school, I started having increased difficulty breathing when running. My pediatrician referred me to an ENT, asthma/allergy specialist, and cardiologist. I was diagnosed with various allergies, asthma, and an irregular heartbeat. Medications have helped decrease my breathing difficulties over the last few years, but my times have been much slower, which is frustrating. Through this difficult time, I realized I had a draw to the medical field. I was able to see many different medical professionals and realize how they all have helped me. I have witnessed how hard my parents and others in the medical field have worked in our small rural critical access hospital, especially over the last few years during the COVID-19 pandemic. I hope to apply my love of science and math classes to my nursing career. During my current senior year of high school, I am taking a "Work Experience" class that allows me to follow nursing staff in various disciplines at our local rural hospital. I observe for one hour a day, Monday through Friday. I have observed in the acute care hospital, rural health clinics, and long-term care. These observations, it has shown me that nursing is more than learning information such as pharmacology and anatomy, it is also showing empathy and compassion to others. Getting to know my patients personally in the future, can greatly impact their medical outcomes positively. I have witnessed this first hand in my short time job shadowing the last six months. I hope to use this knowledge and time to assist me in my future years in the nursing program. There is currently a national nursing shortage throughout the entire United States. My local community in the rural Upper Peninsula of Michigan has a tribal health center in need of nursing staff. Travel nurses are being contracted for these positions, placing a band-aid on a much larger issue. There is a dire need for medical staff to treat our tribal members. Returning to work at my local tribal health medical center is my ultimate goal of engaging in my community while helping others. Being a professional in the healthcare field is being a servant to others. I hope to help care for people and be a light in some of their darkest times. Winning this scholarship would greatly assist me in my dream of becoming a nurse. I would use this money to assist in paying for college without crippling debt in student loans. Thank you for this opportunity.

I am a senior at LaSalle High School, located in a rural town in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, St. Ignace. I have completed all of my schoolings, Preschool through 12th grade, at St. Ignace Area Schools. I was fortunate to grow up in a small community with teachers and school staff that were supportive and encouraging. Math and science classes have been my favorite subject since I was in middle school. I enjoy learning about anatomy and the physiology of our body's functions. This has helped lead me into pursuing a career in the medical field. I have been accepted to Saginaw Valley State University (SVSU) in Michigan and will be starting in the Fall 2023 semester. I plan on obtaining a Bachelor of Science in nursing to help others. Since I was in 7th grade, I have enjoyed running with both the cross country and track teams at my school. However, in my junior year of high school, I started having increased difficulty breathing when running. My pediatrician referred me to an ENT, asthma/allergy specialist, and cardiologist. I was diagnosed with various allergies, asthma, and an irregular heartbeat. Medications have helped decrease my breathing difficulties over the last few years, but my times have been much slower, which is frustrating. Through this difficult time, I realized I had a draw to the medical field. I was able to see many different medical professionals and realize how they all have helped me. I volunteered in various forms throughout high school, mostly at my local rural hospital, Mackinac Straits Health System (MSHS). I assisted in the therapy department cleaning and performing various clerical tasks as well as in the long-term care facility with residents. The most impactful volunteer work has been with the “Hooping for a Cure” basketball game that raises money for the “No Cancer Patient Left Behind” fund for oncology patients at MSHS. All money raised goes directly to the patients that require assistance to pay for gas, lodging, or various costs involved in their oncology care. During my current senior year of high school, I am taking a "Work Experience" class that allows me to follow nursing staff in various disciplines at our local rural hospital. I observe for one hour a day, Monday through Friday. I have observed in the acute care hospital, rural health clinics, and long-term care. These observations, it has shown me that nursing is more than learning information such as pharmacology and anatomy, it is also showing empathy and compassion to others. Getting to know my patients personally in the future, can greatly impact their medical outcomes positively. I have witnessed this first hand in my short time job shadowing the last six months. I hope to use this knowledge and time to assist me in my future years in the nursing program. There is currently a national nursing shortage throughout the entire United States. There is a dire need for nursing staff at my local hospital and tribal medical center. Returning to work in this rural area is my ultimate goal of engaging in my community while helping others. Being a professional in the healthcare field is being a servant to others. I hope to help care for people and be a light in some of their darkest times. Winning this scholarship would greatly assist me in my dream of becoming a nurse. I would use this money to assist in paying for college without crippling debt in student loans. Thank you for this opportunity.

I am a senior at LaSalle High School, located in a rural town in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, St. Ignace. I was fortunate to grow up in a small community with teachers and school staff that were supportive and encouraging. Math and science classes have been my favorite subject since I was in middle school. I enjoy learning about anatomy and the physiology of our body's functions. This has helped lead me into pursuing a career in the field of science. I volunteered in various forms throughout my freshman year of high school. I have also volunteered at our local rural hospital, Mackinac Straits Health System (MSHS), in the therapy department cleaning and performing various clerical tasks as well as in the long-term care facility with residents. The most impactful volunteer work has been with the “Hooping for a Cure” basketball game that raises money for the “No Cancer Patient Left Behind” fund for oncology patients at MSHS. All money raised goes directly to the patients that require assistance to pay for gas, lodging, or various costs involved in their oncology care. At this time currently have over 160 hours of community service hours and plan to continue to volunteer throughout the remainder of my senior year in my community, as well as my future years in college. I have been accepted to Saginaw Valley State University (SVSU) in Michigan and will be starting in the Fall 2023 semester. I plan on obtaining a Bachelor of Science in nursing to help others. During my current senior year of high school, I am taking a "Work Experience" class that allows me to follow nursing staff in various disciplines at our local rural hospital. I observe for one hour a day, Monday through Friday. I have observed in the acute care hospital, rural health clinics, and long-term care. These observations, it has shown me that nursing is more than learning information such as pharmacology and anatomy, it is also showing empathy and compassion to others. Getting to know my patients personally in the future, can greatly impact their medical outcomes positively. I have witnessed this first hand in my short time job shadowing the last six months. I hope to use this knowledge and time to assist me in my future years in the nursing program. There is currently a national nursing shortage throughout the entire United States. My local community in the rural Upper Peninsula of Michigan has a tribal health center in need of nursing staff. Travel nurses are being contracted for these positions, placing a band-aid on a much larger issue. There is a dire need for medical staff to treat our tribal members. Returning to work at my local tribal health medical center is my ultimate goal of engaging in my community while helping others. Being a professional in the healthcare field is being a servant to others. I hope to help care for people and be a light in some of their darkest times. Winning this scholarship would greatly assist me in my dream of becoming a nurse. I would use this money to assist in paying for college without crippling debt in student loans. Thank you for this opportunity.

I am a senior at LaSalle High School, located in a rural town in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, St. Ignace. I was fortunate to grow up in a small community with teachers and school staff that were supportive and encouraging. Math and science classes have been my favorite subject since I was in middle school. I enjoy learning about anatomy and the physiology of our body's functions. This has helped lead me into pursuing a career in the medical field. Being involved in sports and clubs are a few ways I have stayed active. I have been involved in Student Council, Youth Advisory Council, National Honors Society, Varsity Cross Country team, and varsity track team throughout my high school years. I volunteer in various forms throughout my four years of high school. I have volunteered at our local animal shelter by cleaning cages, bathing animals, walking dogs, and assisting in fundraisers. I have also volunteered at our local rural hospital, Mackinac Straits Health System (MSHS), in the therapy department cleaning and performing various clerical tasks as well as in the long-term care facility with residents. I have also volunteered at local sporting events and fundraisers through the St. Ignace Visitors Bureau. The most impactful volunteer work has been with the “Hooping for a Cure” basketball game that raises money for the “No Cancer Patient Left Behind” fund for oncology patients at MSHS. All money raised goes directly to the patients that require assistance to pay for gas, lodging, or various costs involved in their oncology care. At this time, I currently have over 160 hours of community service hours and plan to continue to volunteer throughout the remainder of my senior year in my community, as well as my future years in college. During my current senior year of high school, I am taking a "Work Experience" class that allows me to follow nursing staff in various disciplines at our local rural hospital. I observe for one hour a day, Monday through Friday. I have observed in the acute care hospital, rural health clinics, and long-term care. These observations, it has shown me that nursing is more than learning information such as pharmacology and anatomy, it is also showing empathy and compassion to others. Getting to know my patients personally in the future, can greatly impact their medical outcomes positively. I have witnessed this first hand in my short time job shadowing the last six months. I hope to use this knowledge and time to assist me in my future years in the nursing program. There is currently a national nursing shortage throughout the entire United States. My local community in the rural Upper Peninsula of Michigan has a tribal health center in need of nursing staff. Travel nurses are being contracted for these positions, placing a band-aid on a much larger issue. There is a dire need for medical staff to treat our tribal members. Returning to work at my local tribal health medical center is my ultimate goal of engaging in my community while helping others. Being a professional in the healthcare field is being a servant to others. I hope to help care for people and be a light in some of their darkest times. Winning this scholarship would greatly assist me in my dream of becoming a nurse. I would use this money to assist in paying for college without crippling debt in student loans. Thank you for this opportunity.

My role models who have inspired me the greatest are definitely my parents. From the time I can first remember, I have always felt loved and safe by them. Whenever I struggled with classes, such as math, my dad was always there to sit down at the kitchen table and work through concepts until I understood them. My mom has always been a great listener, helping me through difficulty times with classmates and friends. They have taught my sister and I to be compassionate and empathetic. I have a sister who is three years younger than me. Both my mother and father work full time as therapists, all while raising my younger sister and I. They are hard workers that have truly inspired me to work in the healthcare field. My parents are professionals and have never discussed their patient care with us, but their patients have talked to us about the care they received from them. I was most proud of them when the COVID pandemic occurred and they continued to work in the front lines of treating patients. Even after I know what had to have been stressful days at work, they engaged with my sister and I for hikes or bike rides outside. This is when I started my love for cooking as my mom and I would spend time making new recipes. As tough as living through a pandemic was due to its feelings of isolation and uncertainty, my parents made sure we felt safe and loved. They have inspired me to work in the healthcare field, with goals of becoming a nurse to help others as they do. Volunteer in in our community through our local hospital activities, school, and community organizations is something I remember my parents being involved in, from the time I was little. They have showed me how giving back to others and your community gives you a purpose, It has shown me the difference it can have on others in a positive way. They inspire me to volunteer and help others also, which I have done throughout high school. I am truly blessed to have my mom and dad for parents. I know other children have not been as fortunate. I am so very proud to have parents that are such a positive role models to both my sister and I. I love them both so much and hope they know how much I look up to them in so many ways.

I am a senior in high school in a small rural town in the upper peninsula of Michigan. During my current senior year of high school, I am taking a "Work Experience" class that allows me to job shadow nurses in various departments at our local rural hospital. This class allows me to observe for one hour, Monday through Friday. I have observed in the acute care hospital, rural health clinics, and long-term care. During these observation hours, I have also been able to watch the aides, housekeepers, therapists, dietary staff, maintenance and various other hospital employees perform some of their job duties. I have witnessed the kindness and compassion of the staff during my training. For example, I have watched as nurses have held the hands of patients as they are dying, bringing calmness. They have consoled patients who are anxious or depressed and listened to their stories. Some have even brought in their favorite beverage that wasn’t carried at the hospital for their patients. Some housekeepers have brought in a patient's favorite cookie while they have been in the hospital with a decreased appetite, trying to spark their appetite. I’ve seen nursing aides bring in clothes for rehabilitation patients that have none, so they don’t have to only be dressed in hospital gowns every day. I’ve witnessed how simple acts of kindness and compassion can positively impact a resident or patient’s outcomes and health. The most recent act of kindness was at Christmas time while observing in our long-term care facility. Forty-eight residents call the skilled nursing facility their home. Sadly, many of these residents do not receive many visitors, for various reasons. The hospital makes a “Giving Tree” each year for long-term care residents in December. Each resident is “adopted” by a hospital employee for Christmas, by employees who wish to participate. Each employee then purchases presents for the resident which they wrap for them to open on Christmas. Sadly, for some of the residents, these are the only presents they receive. I have witnessed staff members finding out residents’ favorite colors, foods, clothing sizes, etc for present ideas. If they don’t already know the resident, the staff takes the time to get to know them and their likes/dislikes. The employees truly take pride in being able to provide some happiness and cheer for the residents on Christmas. I have witnessed how excited the residents are about their Christmas gifts, some are even brought to tears. A favorite type of lotion, favorite candy, new pajamas, fuzzy blankets and so much more have truly brightened the day. Such a simple act of kindness has truly impacted the lives of these forty-eight residents positively. I plan on using these ideas in the future as I plan to become a nurse after graduating from high school. My goal is to pursue higher education at a university and obtain a Bachelor of science in nursing. These acts of kindness have shown me that nursing is more than learning information such as pharmacology and anatomy, it is also showing empathy and compassion to others. Getting to know my patients personally in the future, can greatly impact their medical outcomes positively. I have witnessed this first hand in my short time job shadowing the last four months. Winning this scholarship would assist me in my dream of becoming a nurse and working in the medical field helping others. I would use this money to assist in paying for my tuition costs, room and board.

My name is Haleigh Mattson and I am a Senior at LaSalle High School in St. Ignace, Michigan. St. Ignace is a very rural small town, just barely in the Upper Peninsula. I have been accepted and will be attending Saginaw Valley State University in the Fall of 2023 with a major in nursing. My hope is to become a nurse and work in a rural area where there is the largest number of nursing shortages. I strive to help others during my nursing career after completing receiving my bachelor's degree. Being a professional in the healthcare field is definitely being a servant to others. I hope to help care for people and be a light in some of their darkest times. I have well over 140 hours of community service since my freshman year of high school, despite the Covid pandemic. I have worked during the summer months since my Freshman year of high school in our tourist town, helping to save money for my dreams to obtain higher education and become a nurse. I am currently job shadowing nursing staff in various departments at our local critical access hospital. I have been able to observe patient care in the rural clinic, acute care hospitals and long-term care settings. I have enjoyed learning with the nursing staff regarding patient care in various disciplines. I have been a part of our Varsity teams in Cross Country and Track throughout my high school years. Student Council, Youth Advisory Committee, and the National Honor Society are a few of the extracurricular activities I have also participated in. It is through my participation in these various activities that have gained me positive interactions with others. I have witnessed firsthand assisting at food drives, the impact of serving others greatly impacts others facing hunger. I have volunteered at our local animal shelter and realized the impact it has in the animals as well as the positivity to families that adopt them. I've seen how positive bosses can impact their employers to be more motivated and energetic at the workplace. The biggest action I have witnessed affecting others positively is in healthcare while performing job shadowing with the nursing staff. I have seen the compassion medical staff bestows to patients and how that can increase their security, comfort, and increased control over their current health. I hope to make a positive impact on the patients that I serve once I graduate from SVSU and obtain my nursing degree with the knowledge I gain from my professors and clinical instructors. This scholarship would greatly benefit me by assisting with costs for my nursing degree.

Debt from student loans is drowning so many of the Generation X and Millennial generations. Studies have shown that more than 3 in 5 Millennials between 18 to 29 years old report that they or someone in their household has student loan debt. The goal of obtaining higher education is to improve one's quality of life and allow access to more stable jobs. However, the rising student debt amounts often have negative effects on one's life, such as their mental health. The cost of obtaining a degree does factor into many people's decisions regarding going to college. Another study found that 1 in 14 college graduates experienced suicidal ideas regarding their financial stress from student loans. I am currently a senior at LaSalle High School in St. Ignace, Michigan. I have been accepted to Saginaw Valley State University and plan to attend in the fall of 2023 after I graduate from high school. I plan to obtain a Bachelor of Science nursing degree from SVSU. SVSU has one of the top-rated nursing programs in the state of Michigan. I live in a small rural town in the Upper Peninsula where there is a definite nursing shortage. My goal is to obtain the needed skills and knowledge through my education and clinicals and treat patients in my small rural community. I have taken college course classes during my Senior year of high school. These classes will transfer to SVSU and go towards my required credits for application to the nursing program. This will help to decrease to cost of credit units and the need for loans. Working full-time in the summer months and part-time during the school year since I was 14 years old will also help decrease future student loan debt. My goal is to continue working when I go to college and invest this money into my college degree. I plan to work on campus at SVSU during the school year, to meet others and also decrease college costs. This will not be enough to cover costs, so I am looking into scholarship opportunities such as this. My parents are also able to assist in paying for a small portion of the costs of my degree, but nowhere enough to cover the full costs. Both of my parents went to college and had student loan debt that made it difficult for years financially for them. Thank you for your time and this scholarship would greatly help me in my endeavors to help others by becoming a nurse.

My name is Haleigh and I am a Senior in high school in a small rural town in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. I have enjoyed volunteering in my small community in various forms. I have volunteered at my local hospital witnessing the power of medicine and empathetic care. The Evergreen, which is a long-term care facility, as well as the therapy department is where I was able to volunteer at the hospital. I have also volunteered at our local animal shelter as well as food pantry. Helping others is a great way to give back to my community and others. Through volunteering, I realized the impact I could have on other's lives as a nurse. My goal is to become a nurse to help others in the medical field. I have witnessed how hard my parents and others in the medical field have worked in our small rural critical access hospital, especially over the last few years during the COVID-19 pandemic. I hope to apply my love of science and math classes into my nursing career. During my current senior year of high school, I am taking a "Work Experience" class that allows me to follow nursing staff in various disciplines at our local rural hospital. I currently am observing in our acute care department with inpatients. I will also be able to follow nursing staff in the rural health clinic as well as our long-term care facility. I hope to use this knowledge and time to assist me in my future years in a nursing program in college or university. My plan is to Saginaw Valley State University and obtain a bachelors of science degree in nursing. My goal is to return to the rural area I live in and work at our local critical access hospital. There is a definite nursing shortage in the United States and I know after obtaining my degree I can help others in my community. I am not sure if there is a specific specialty of nursing I would like to pursue at this time, but know that my clinicals during college will help guide me. By winning this scholarship, it would greatly assist me in my dream of becoming a nurse and work in the medical field caring for others. I would use this money to assist in paying for my tuition costs, room and board without crippling debt. Thank you for this opportunity.

My name is Haleigh Mattson and I am a Senior at LaSalle High School in St. Ignace, Michigan. St. Ignace is a very rural small town, just barely in the Upper Peninsula. I have been accepted and will be attending Saginaw Valley State University in the Fall of 2023 with a major in nursing. My hope is to become a nurse and work in a rural area where there is the largest number of nursing shortages. I strive to help others during my nursing career after completing receiving my bachelor's degree. Being a professional in the healthcare field is definetely being a servant to others. I hope to help care for people and be a light in some of their darkest times. I have well over 140 hours of community service since my freshman year of high school, despite the Covid pandemic. I have worked during the summer months since my Freshman year of high school in our tourist town, helping to save money for my dreams to obtain higher education and become a nurse. I am currently job shadowing nursing staff in various departments at our local critical access hospital. I have been able to observe patient care in the rural clinic, acute care hospital and long-term care settings. I have enjoyed learning with the nursing staff regarding patient care in various disciplines. I have been a part of our Varsity teams in Cross Country and Track throughout my high school years. Student Council, Youth Advisory Committee, and the National Honor Society are a few of the extracurricular activities I have also participated in. It is through the participation in these various activities that have gained me positive interactions with others. I have witnessed first hand assisting at food drives, the impact of serving others greatly impacts others facing hunger. I have volunteered at our local animal shelter and realized the impact it has in the animals as well as positivity to families that adopt them. I've seen how positive bosses can impact their employers to be more motivated and energetic at the workplace. The biggest action I have witnessed affecting others positively is in healthcare while performing job shadowing with the nursing staff. I have seen the compassion medical staff betows to patients and how that can increase their security, comfort, and increased control over their current health. I hope to make a positive impact on my patients that I serve once I graduate from SVSU and obtain my nursing degree with the knowledge I gain from my professors and clinical instructors. This scholarship would greatly benefit me by assisting in costs for my nursing degree.

Debt from student loans is drowning so many of the Generation X and Millennial generations. Studies have shown that more than 3 in 5 Millennials between 18 to 29 years old report that they or someone in their household has student loan debt. The goal of obtaining higher education is to improve one's quality of life and allow access to more stable jobs. However, the rising student debt amounts often have negative effects on one's life, such as their mental health. The cost of obtaining a degree does factor into many people's decisions regarding going to college. Another study found that 1 in 14 college graduates experienced suicidal ideas in regard to their financial stress from student loans. My goal is to work full time in the summer months and part time during the school year to invest this money into my college degree. This will not be enough to cover costs, so I am looking into scholarship opportunities such as this. I am currently a senior at LaSalle High School in St. Ignace, Michigan. I have been accepted to Saginaw Valley State University and plan to attend in the fall of 2023 after I graduate from high school. I plan to obtain a Bachelor of Science nursing degree from SVSU. SVSU has one of the top-rated nursing programs in the state of Michigan. I am currently taking a Work Experience class my senior year of high school. This allows me an hour a day, Monday through Friday, to job shadow nursing staff at my local hospital. Mackinac Straits Health System is a rural critical access hospital where I have been able to shadow nurses in various settings. The rural health clinic, acute care hospital and long-term care are the different settings I have observed in. I have learned that with a nursing degree, there are various specialties I can obtain and various places to find employment. I currently notice a nursing shortage in places especially like rural areas like I live. I would love to give back to my community or other rural areas in need of nurses. I also would like to serve the minority of Native Americans as I am a Sault Chippewa Indian. This scholarship would greatly help in my pursuit of a nursing degree and helping others in the future. It would help me in paying for tuition and board while pursuing my degree at SVSU. Thank you for taking you time to review my application.

I am currently a senior at LaSalle High School in St. Ignace, Michigan. I have been accepted to Saginaw Valley State University and plan to attend in the fall of 2023 after I graduate from high school. I plan to obtain a bachelor's of science in nursing degree from SVSU. SVSU has one of the top-rated nursing programs in the state of Michigan. I am currently taking a Work Experience class my senior year of high school. This allows me an hour a day, Monday through Friday, to job shadow nursing staff at my local hospital. Mackinac Straits Health System is a rural critical access hospital where I have been able to shadow nurses in various settings. The rural health clinic, acute care hospital and long-term care are the different settings I have observed in. I have learned that with a nursing degree, there are various specialties I can obtain and various places to find employment. I currently notice a nursing shortage in places especially like rural areas like I live. I would love to give back to my community or other rural areas in need of nurses. I also would like to serve the minority of Native Americans as I am a Sault Chippewa Indian. This scholarship would greatly help in my pursuit of a nursing degree and helping others in the future.

I am attending Saginaw Valley State University in Michigan to major in nursing. My hope is to become a nurse and work in a rural area where there are the largest numbers of nursing shortages. I strive to help others during my nursing career after completing receiving my bachelor's degree. I have always enjoyed science and math classes throughout my education kindergarten through high school. I am currently job shadowing nursing staff in various departments at our local critical access hospital in rural Saint Ignace, MI. I am taking a Work Experience class and observing nursing staff in the rural clinic, acute care hospital, and long-term care settings. I have enjoyed learning with the nurses and nursing aides regarding patient care in various disciplines. I hope to make a positive impact on my patients that I serve once I graduate from SVSU and obtain my nursing degree with the knowledge I gain from my professors and clinical instructors. This scholarship would greatly benefit me by assisting in costs for my nursing degree.

My name is Haleigh and I am a Senior in high school in a small rural town in the upper peninsula of Michigan. I have been a member of our schools student council in middle and high school. I am a member of our National Honor Society and Youth Advisory Committee. I have loved all of my science and math classes from K-12 grades. Having great teachers in these classes over the years has also strengthened my knowledge in these fields. I run for my schools Varsity cross country and track teams all four years of high school. My sophomore year of high school, I started having increased difficulty breathing when running in practice for cross country. My pediatrician referred me to an ENT as well as asthma/allergy specialist where I was diagnosed with allergies and asthma. Medications have helped decrease my breathing difficulties over the last few years, but my times have been much slower in races than they were my freshman year of high school. This has been a struggle to overcome an illness that I can not control while wanting to push myself harder and faster for my team. I have also enjoyed volunteering in my community in various forms. I have volunteered at my local hospital witnessing the power of medicine and empathetic care. The long-term care as well as therapy department is where I was able to volunteer. I have also volunteered at our local animal shelter as well as food pantry. Helping others is a great way to give back to my community and others. I have also worked throughout high school in the summer months as well as during school. I have worked as a retail clerk and animal caretaker at the Deer Ranch located in St. Ignace, MI (my hometown). I currently work at two stores in our downtown as a retail clerk as well as a waitress at a local restaurant. I have been saving money up to assist in paying for college to avoid a large amount of debt. My goal is to become a nurse to help others in the medical field. I have witnessed how hard my parents have worked as therapists in our small rural critical access hospital, especially over the last few years during the COVID-19 pandemic. I hope to apply my love of science and math into my nursing career. During my current senior year of high school, I am taking a "Work Experience" class that allows me to follow nursing staff in various disciplines at our local rural hospital. I currently am observing in our acute care department with in patients. I will also be able to follow nursing staff in the rural health clinic as well as our long-term care facility. I hope to use this knowledge and time to assist me in my future years in a nursing program in college or university. My goal is to attend a college or university and obtain a bachelors of science degree in nursing. Both of my parents have worked in the medical field for over 40 years combined. My father is a physical therapist and my mother is an occupational therapist. They both obtained student debt from their undergraduate and graduate years in college earning their degrees. By winning this scholarship, it would assist me in my dream of becoming a nurse and work in the medical field helping others. I would use this money to assist in paying for my tuition costs, room and board. I have applied to three different universities in my home state of Michigan.