Nursing Student Anne Kearns Receives Sue Ratzell Scholarship
Senior nursing student Anne Kearns has an extra $1,200 to put toward her education.
Kearns is the recipient of The Sue Ratzell Scholarship Fund for Nursing, which provides a scholarship to a fourth-year nursing student who demonstrates an interest in community and public health.
“It was a really big honor to even be considered,” says Kearns, who was chosen by the Division of Nursing. “The DeSales nursing division has been so supportive of me and my journey.”
Kearns spent last summer interning at The Sixth Street Shelter in Allentown through the Bridging the Gaps (BTG) Community Health Internship Program, which helps students in the health and social services fields gain a broader understanding of the factors that affect health in underserved, economically disadvantaged communities.
“The opportunity to do Bridging the Gaps was incredible and will definitely impact the kind of nurse that I hope to become. Having my perspective broadened by that experience was really significant.”
Kearns plans to work in the Emergency Department at Lehigh Valley Hospital Cedar Crest after graduation. Her passion for community health dates back to high school, when she worked with her church and The Missionaries of Charity in Washington, D.C. She even earned her Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) license in high school before deciding on DeSales and her career path.
“One of the reasons DeSales is awesome is because they talk about Christian humanism and seeing every patient as a whole person,” she says. “I think that’s why community is so important for nursing, because every patient that you see has a story.”
Lynn Ratzell and his family established The Sue Ratzell Scholarship Fund for Nursing in memory of Sarah Jane “Sue” Ratzell, who passed away in 2013. Sue was a trained nurse who worked at Miller Memorial Blood Center before retiring and applying her training to her many volunteer hours, including those with the Red Cross.