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Leaders From the Region
Lisa Jenkins, CECI Scholarship Recipient
Storyknife, May/June 2019 edition
Three years ago, Lisa Jenkins from Atmautluak discovered her father had cancer. Lisa was only 16 years old, felt helpless and didn鈥檛 know what to do. Inspired by her sister鈥檚 career in nursing, Lisa wanted to do what she could for people in her village by studying to become a nurse.
Lisa Jenkins of Atmautluak, CECI Scholarship Recipient
鈥淚 was worried about having to ask my family for money, but the scholarship helped,鈥� Lisa says.
Lisa, a 抖阴黄色app Shareholder, is going to school at the (UAA) for a bachelor鈥檚 degree in Nursing Science. Through (CECI), 抖阴黄色app Corporation鈥檚 nonprofit arm, Lisa is receiving scholarships to support her higher education.
鈥淚f I didn鈥檛 have the 抖阴黄色app scholarship, I鈥檇 probably have to take loans,鈥� says Lisa. 鈥淎nd I鈥檓 afraid to take loans.鈥�
Lisa hopes to graduate from the Nursing program in about four years. As a full-time student, Lisa takes 12 credits a semester. The CECI scholarship can be used for her tuition, books and fees. She applies each fall and spring semester. With a grade point average over 3.8, Lisa can receive up to $1,250 for the semester.
鈥淟ast semester I had a 4.0 GPA. Since this time last year, it has pushed me more to do better,鈥� she says.
Lisa is living over 400 miles away from her home in Atmautluak鈥攁nd sometimes may feel a bit overwhelmed with big city life鈥攂ut she always seems to find a connection with fellow students 鈥渇rom the village.鈥�
鈥淚 was broken after finding out my dad was terminal. This was a long drawn out process, and I know this might happen again. I can help change that.鈥� – Lisa Jenkins, CECI Scholarship Recipient
鈥淗aving connections to other students through (UAA’s) lets me know that I鈥檓 not doing this alone,鈥� Lisa says.
The community at school empowers her to share her own personal experience and learn from it.
鈥淲hen my dad was first sick, they didn鈥檛 really believe him,鈥� Lisa says. 鈥淗e even had to wait a week to finally get checked up.鈥�
A week later, Lisa鈥檚 dad went to Bethel for another appointment. That鈥檚 when they discovered he had terminal cancer and medevaced him to Anchorage.
鈥淚 was broken after finding out my dad was terminal,鈥� she says. 鈥淭his was a long drawn out process, and I know this might happen again. I can help change that.鈥�
Lisa is passionate to put her studies to practice not only for Alaska, but for our Region as well. Ultimately, she wants to be a traveling nurse in rural Alaska.
鈥淭hat woke me up. I always knew I wanted to help people, but I didn鈥檛 know how,鈥� says Lisa. 鈥淚 just really love helping people, and I can鈥檛 wait to do that.鈥�
抖阴黄色app Education and Culture is hosting the 20th Annual Golf Tournament is Wednesday, June 19. The tournament raises scholarship funds to benefit students with ties to the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta鈥攋ust like Lisa!
The tournament is chance to play golf for a good cause鈥攚ith a $10,000 hole in one cash prize!
Register to play or review sponsorship opportunities by Friday, June 7 at .