Sara Palma and Mason Shaw, both graduating seniors with double majors in nursing and Spanish, will be recognized for their exceptional academic success at the annual Top Ten Scholars reception. Presented by the Alumni Association in conjunction with the Honors College, the awards ceremony, held April 16, featured remarks from each student honoree as well as a keynote speaker.

Top Ten Scholar is one of the highest honors awarded to a Boise State student. To qualify for consideration a student must have a 3.8 or higher grade point average. Qualified students are then reviewed based on academic breadth of coursework, research, creative works and publications, presentations at professional meetings or conferences, and extra curricular community and campus service. Students are nominated by their academic deans and are subject to rigorous review by a selection committee. (more…)

Vanessa Potoski, a senior School of Nursing student, is currently serving as the policy intern for the Idaho Public Health Association (IPHA). Potoski has been monitoring public health issues that have arisen in the 2013 Legislative Session and producing updates for IPHA’s members. She also tracks the progress of appropriate legislation throughout the session and prepares an end of session report for IPHA members.

Potoski learned of the internship opportunity through her community nursing course faculty, Molly Prengaman, assistant professor in the School of Nursing. Potoski became interested in health policy in fall 2012 while enrolled in Nursing 420: Policy, Power and Voice. During the course, the students learned that nurses have an obligation to participate in policy formation at all levels as a way to advocate for their patients.

While learning about the legislative process through her internship, Potoski enjoys observing statehouse committee meetings and hearings. She finds following the progress on bills relating to the Affordable care Act particularly interesting.

After completing her undergraduate nursing degree, Potoski hopes to enroll in the Masters in Nursing of Populations at Boise State. She is interested in developing her master’s project to promote the health of caregivers, who care for their loved ones at home. Ultimately, Potoski wants to work in health education, health promotion, and prevention of disease.

Students, scholarships are like the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. You can receive more than one scholarship in any given academic year. Have you applied to as many scholarships as possible?

Opportunities abound for scholarships around campus. In addition to the scholarships noted on the Financial Aid website, the three departments and one school within the College of Health Sciences, and the Boise State Foundation, offer scholarship opportunities. Have you reviewed these to see if you qualify to apply?

The Boise State Foundation, an independent entity from the University, has taken on the administration of approximately 40 scholarships. Therefore, students are no longer automatically eligible for these scholarships through the Financial Aid process. Check them out here and apply here if you find a match to your own criteria.

Below is an outline of the departments and school application processes with vital links to each area’s scholarship information. Please be aware that the deadline for some academic units has passed.

Additionally, do not forget to complete your FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) by March 15, 2013. Go to the FAFSA form. For additional financial assistance guidance, visit Boise State’s Financial Aid and Scholarships website.

Samantha Fundingsland, an undergraduate nursing student, has received the Florence Whipple scholarship from the Idaho Nurses Association. Students are selected based on the following criteria:

• full time student in good standing;
• in an AD or higher program;
• active in Idaho Student Nurses Association; and
• nomination for the award by their faculty.

The Florence Whipple Scholarship Fund was established in 1956 as a memorial to Whipple, who was known for her personal and professional quest for knowledge of better ways to meet the health needs of the people. A registered nurse, Whipple was active in the Idaho Nurses Association and was director of the Public Health Nursing of the Idaho Board of Health in the 40s and 50s.

Students from clinical nursing course Community and Public Health Nursing Lab and a student intern from the Health Education and Promotion program in the Department of Kinesiology are partnering with two Boise elementary schools to sponsor two health fairs this spring. According to the National Safety Council, the months of March, April and May have more than thirty designated health and safety awareness months, weeks and days.

The students invited community organizations, including Outside Idaho and the Boise Police, to assist the Boise State students in educating fair attendees about important health and safety topics, such as nutrition, eye care, poison prevention, safety while playing, and dental health.

Taft Elementary held a successful health fair in their gymnasium on Saturday, March 17 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. More than 200 people attended the fair. Boise State students raised enough money to rent a bounce house and purchase food and door prizes, including a dozen bike helmets and two bicycles. The Taft Elementary staff praised the University students for their organization and execution of the fair.

Pierce Park will hold their health fair in their gym on Saturday, April 14, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Staff from St. Luke’s Regional Medical Center will be present to give away bike helmets and offer free helmet fittings. The fair is open to anyone who would like to attend.

For more information, contact NURS 417 professor Sandie Nadelson, sandranadelson@boisestate.edu, 208-426-4679.

Gov. C. L. “Butch” Otter has proclaimed March 27 Diabetes Alert Day in Idaho, thanks in part to the work of Boise State nursing student Cadey Hull.

With approximately 90,000 adult Idahoans diagnosed with diabetes, Hull wanted to get the word out about the disease and the importance of getting checked early. She thought getting one day that could serve as a “wake-up call” to increase awareness about diabetes was something Idaho desperately needed. Hull successfully worked with members of the Diabetes Alliance of Idaho and Garden City Community Clinic to have Gov. Otter sign a proclamation declaring March 27 “Diabetes Alert Day in Idaho.”

“I hope this proclamation provides more awareness among Idahoans regarding their risk of developing type II diabetes” said Hull, a Boise State senior from Bonners Ferry. “It is heartbreaking to see the complications of type II diabetes and know that through diet, exercise, and medication management, it could have been prevented.”

Hull said she hopes Idahoans take the Diabetes Risk Test to find out if they are at risk of developing type II diabetes. Early diagnosis of diabetes is critical to successful treatment and delaying or preventing complications such as heart disease, blindness, kidney disease, stroke, amputation and death.

In honor of Diabetes Alert Day in Idaho, the Garden City Community Clinic hosted a “Living Healthy with Diabetes Day” from 1-6 p.m., Thursday, March 22. This no-cost screening was targeted at low-income adults with no insurance or limited access to preventative health care who are diabetic, believe they might have diabetes, are pre-diabetic, or desire more information regarding diabetes.

Dr. Pam Springer, associate dean of College of Health Sciences and director of the School of Nursing, and Major Blaine Wales, professor of Military Science, signed an agreement guaranteeing two cadets each term will be admitted into the nursing baccalaureate program, providing that the cadets meet the requirements of both the ROTC and the School of Nursing.  Read more about the agreement on The Arbiter’s website.