Office of Merit Scholarships, Fellowships & Awards (OMSFA)

Originally from Saigon, Vietnam, I am a rising senior studying nursing at the University of Washington – Seattle Campus. I go by she/her/hers pronouns and I am a proud first-generation college student. Witnessing my parent’s hard work to make ends meet as a child motivated me to do well in school and become a daughter they could rely on in the future. I became motivated to pursue nursing when my dad was hospitalized in 2018 and seeing how disconnected our healthcare system is to immigrants and specifically non-English speakers, I was determined to become part of the change and add diversity to the healthcare system workforce. I involved myself in multiple clubs at the University of Washington School of Nursing hoping to make the most out of my time as a nursing student. I serve as a Social Media and Marketing Officer of the Future Nurses Club that help maintain the club’s activities on social media and spread awareness of the club to pre-nursing students. I am also a part of the UW School of Nursing Diversity Awareness Group, serving as a co-lead that plans a week-long summer camp for disadvantaged high school students interested in nursing.

To help lighten the burden of financial struggles for my parents, I was determined to help out by applying for scholarships and doing my best in school. With less financial burden, I’ll be able to focus solely on learning all my nursing school courses and maintain a high undergraduate GPA to pave the way for higher education for myself later. Being one of the recipients of this Gift from the Class of 1954 has allowed me to pursue my passion and get closer to my goal. I am delighted and feel privileged to have this opportunity.