The Serafini Scholarship: Making Dreams of Nursing School A Reality

Brittney Welsh, Kristin Harwick and Robin Evanovich have often put their own passions on hold so that they could put others first. While this is commendable, AHN believes that everyone deserves the opportunity to have the future they have imagined. Through the Serafini Scholarship for nursing students, those dreams are again within reach.

I would like to thank anyone who has made donations or provided scholarships to help students reach their professional goals.”

Brittney Welsh is 28 years old and currently working two jobs after spending the past three years caring for her late grandmother who suffered from dementia. Brittney is a graduate from the University of Pittsburgh with a bachelor’s degree in biology. On top of working at a nursing home and as a technician at a retail pharmacy, she is currently attending nursing school.

Kristin Harwick is 32 years old, works as a medical assistant in a doctor’s office and also has a full time job raising her 14-year-old daughter. After she became a mother, Kristin put nursing school on the back burner. After 10 years of gaining experience and yearning to go back to school, Kristin is also now attending nursing school.

Recipients of the Serafini Scholarship (left to right): Robin Evanovich, Kristin Harwick, and Brittney Welsh

The Serafini Scholarship is helping to make their dreams of completing nursing school a reality.

Both Brittney and Kristin have difficulty finding the perfect balance between studying, attending class, working and spending time with their families. Of course, the monetary stress of getting through nursing school is another burden that can be hard to bear.

It is for people like Brittney, Kristin and Robin that the Serafini Scholarship was established. Terry and Janet Serafini generously award the Serafini Scholarship to the Citizens School of Nursing with the intent to support academically worthy and financially needy candidates. The goal is to help them become nurses prepared for today’s health care environment and provide balance for students while they work toward their goals.

"I would like to thank anyone who has made donations or provided scholarships to help students reach their professional goals,” Brittney said. “Personally, I would like to thank the Serafini family for allowing me to cut back my hours at work and spend more time focusing on my school work and ultimately helping me reach my goal of becoming a registered nurse.”

Though Brittney and Kristin come from different backgrounds, situations and family makeups, both can agree that the Serafini Scholarship is helping to make their dreams of completing nursing school a reality.