The Shepherd University Foundation announced a one-time scholarship opportunity for three nursing students for the upcoming academic year. The Amanda Wilkins Scholarship was created in memory of the Shepherd University alumna who lost her battle with breast cancer in 2019.
Shepherd University recently awarded three one-time scholarships to nursing students for the 2021-2022 academic year. The scholarship fund, administered by the Shepherd University Foundation, was funded by a raffle held by family members of Amanda Wilkins. A graduate of Shepherd University, Wilkins worked as a nurse at Holy Cross Hospital in Maryland in obstetrics, gastrointestinal care, and post-surgical care.
In a news release from Shepherd University, Wilkins' mother Rona Hays explained that she was overcome with grief at the death of her daughter. In an attempt to harness those feelings into something positive, she decided to organize a raffle which raised over $12,000. Part of the money raised was used to establish the scholarships at Shepherd University. Additionally, a scholarship was established at the Career and Technology Academy through Calvert High School where Wilkins became a certified nursing assistant.
The three scholarship recipients at Shepherd University are Seval Okulmus, Brianna Sine, and Michaela Henke. The awards were designated for "nursing majors who show drive, determination, and compassion."
In addition to the scholarships, the family of Amanda Wilkins donated books to the Anne Arundel Medical Center DeCesaris Cancer Institute and to other hospitals. The books focus on helping parents with cancer explain the disease to their children and include "The Goodbye Cancer Garden," "Cancer Hates Kisses," and "Nowhere Hair."
Hays said, "Because of Amanda, we've started this awesome book donation program for hospitals and other parents just like her, for whom these books might be a resource and a comfort in their time of need." She added, "By creating these scholarships and donating these books, the one thing we ask is that the recipients tell Amanda's story. If they can impact even one person, then it's a waterfall effect and that's what Amanda would have wanted."