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The compassion, empathy and care nurses showed Marissa Baker when her mother suddenly passed led her to pursue a career in nursing.

“The nurses helped me immensely during the hardest time in my life, and I will never forget the way they cared for me,” Marissa said. “I knew I wanted to make the same impact.”

Marissa discovered the program at ����ɬ���� at Trumbull after she had trouble finding a school that was the right fit for her in her hometown of Castro Valley, California. She was thankful to have found a high-quality nursing program that she truly loved. 

“The incredible instructors have had true compassion and empathy during these challenging years,” said Marissa. “I enjoy learning from my instructors because they love their professions and are incredibly knowledgeable.”

In the fall of 2024, she faced financial hardship that made it difficult to pay her tuition for her final semester of the program. That’s when she heard about the Hannah and Jan Kirkland Memorial Scholarship, which was created by Sally Kirkland to honor the lives of her late daughter Jan, and her late granddaughter Hannah. Thanks to this scholarship, Marissa’s dream career of helping others as a nurse is becoming a reality.

“I am so honored to have received this scholarship, and I know without their generosity, I wouldn’t have been able to complete my last year of the nursing program,” Marissa said. 

After graduating this spring, Marissa wants to work her way up to an intensive care unit before becoming a post-anesthesia care nurse.

“With ����ɬ����’s support, I am that much closer to achieving my dream! Thank you for this amazing scholarship and for everything you do to help future nurses.”

To learn how you can make an impact and leave a legacy while supporting something you believe in, please contact us at giftplan@kent.edu or 330-672-1000, or visit www.kent.edu/legacy.