WeRPN Award in Nursing Excellence

I am deeply honoured to receive this scholarship. As a second-year nursing student at Loyalist College, this support will directly fund my upcoming semester, including essential clinical supplies, textbooks, and transportation to placements. Over the past year, I’ve faced immense personal and financial hardship. After nearly becoming homeless, I moved from Kingston to Belleville on my own, previously commuting daily to school using my boyfriend’s vehicle. With the help of Loyalist College and their emergency grants, I was able to secure housing by covering my first and last month’s rent.

I now live completely independently, with no financial support from my parents. I lost many family members to the war in Ukraine, and while I’m grateful for my boyfriend and his family, they too struggle financially. I rely on Ontario Works assistance, as I do not own a vehicle, and despite this, I work two jobs: one as a dietary aide at a nursing home and another as a personal support worker (PSW) in mental health and addictions. Giving back to my community brings me peace and purpose. I volunteer regularly as a digital sexual violence peer support worker, an emergency department volunteer at Belleville General Hospital, and at the Belleville Pregnancy Centre. I am always seeking more opportunities to help others.

Despite my circumstances, I have maintained strong academic standing. My passion for healthcare stems from personal experience. As a child, I was a SickKids patient due to severe asthma and a rare, aggressive case of idiopathic scoliosis. I underwent spinal fusion surgery after years of chronic illness. Eventually, I earned admission to Queen’s University, and this year, I proudly graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Health Studies. The past few years have tested me in every way imaginable. I took a year off to recover from severe mental and physical health challenges and nearly lost my life last year. That near-death experience is what inspired me to apply to nursing school. I know what it’s like to suffer — and that is why I strive to provide empathetic, compassionate care to others. Even on my hardest days, what gives me strength is being able to help someone
else through theirs.

Being named a Canadian Nurses Foundation Scholar means more to me than I can put into words. I wasn’t expecting to receive this award, and it has been one of the best surprises of my year. This financial support will allow me to continue my education, access transportation to my clinical placements, afford critical nursing supplies, and possibly pursue additional certifications that would enhance my education and skillset. I am incredibly thankful and humbled to have been selected. I work hard to embody kindness, empathy, and resilience, and this award affirms that I’m on the right path. Thank you for believing in me.

Sincerely,
Anastasiya Makenzi Stackaruk