At a glance
The Alfred State College Nursing Department continued its "Pay It Forward" philosophy through the awarding of its third annual round of "Pay It Forward" scholarships, established during the fall 2005 semester and presented to this year's recipients, senior nursing students Carla Chamberlain, Andover; Laura Lindsey, Olean; and Michael Otugh,
The Alfred State College Nursing Department continued its "Pay It Forward" philosophy through the awarding of its third annual round of "Pay It Forward" scholarships, established during the fall 2005 semester and presented to this year's recipients, senior nursing students Carla Chamberlain, Andover; Laura Lindsey, Olean; and Michael Otugh, Brooklyn (originally from Nigeria), at semester's end. Each student received $150 and a copy of the original signatures of those who initiated the scholarship, class of 2005.
The premise of "paying it forward" comes from a movie by the same name where a school child, as the result of a homework assignment to change the world, begins the practice of helping others, expecting not pay back, but that each of those beneficiaries will go on to help three more people. The caring aspect of that concept prompted Linda Panter ASC professor and chair, Nursing Department, to incorporate it into the nursing program, where it has grown, and culminated, thus far, into the scholarship. Each eligible nursing student submits proposals to the faculty for activities they could conduct to demonstrate the caring nature of the profession. The proposals need to demonstrate an understanding of caring as identified in the nursing caring project and evidenced by implementing a unique caring project and revealing insight and sensitivity in the written assignment.
Additionally, the class of 2008 made a quilt (noticeable in the background of the photo) for the class of 2009. At the end of each senior semester, the senior class gives something to the incoming seniors. This past year it was a quilt. Years prior there have been posters with personal comments on them. The quilt has personal comments from every student; 2008 graduate Clay Hulin's wife put it together. Also, for the past few years, the graduation class has left some money for the incoming seniors to have a pizza party. To further extend the Pay It Forward movement, the seniors do breakfast for the freshmen on the day of their first exam and in return, the freshmen automatically prepare a breakfast for the seniors on their exam day.
Panter welcomes recent nursing graduates and congratulates the scholarship winners: Otugh, Chamberlain, and Lindsey; Hulin and Dee Spina, 2008 graduates of the ASC nursing program, who were invited by Panter to assist in the presentation of the caring projects. Every graduate receives a letter annually re: the Caring Project, which helps keep the graduates connected to ASC Nursing.