KU nursing student wins American Red Cross scholarship

Jun 3, 2009

Kelly Scott, University of Kansas School of Nursing student, was one of two students presented with the Jane Delano Student Nursing Scholarship from the American Red Cross on May 7 in Washington, DC.

Kelly Scott (right), reads the Creed of the Red Cross Nurse to close the "One Hundred Years of Red Cross Nursing 1909-2009" celebration. Scott received her scholarship award at the event. Sarah Osterholt (left), from Ohio, is the other scholarship recipient.

This American Red Cross national award is given to nursing students who have completed at least one year of volunteer service with the American Red Cross, are enrolled in a nursing program and demonstrate exceptional qualities.

Scott became involved with the Kansas City American Red Cross through the Community Outreach Program (COP), a service organization at the University of Kansas Medical Center. COP is composed of interns from the Schools of Nursing, Graduate Studies and Allied Health. Interns volunteer 135 hours of work in Wyandotte County over an academic year. As part of the Kansas City American Red Cross Health and Safety Team, Scott taught CPR/ First Aid classes and presented community disaster education programs to youth. Although her internship has been completed, Scott plans to continue teaching classes for the American Red Cross as a volunteer.

Scott, from Lawrence, Kan., is an honors student; works as a nurse associate at The University of Kansas Hospital and is in the Nurse Candidate Program with the US Navy. Upon graduation in 2010, she will become commissioned as an Ensign and will go to Officer Development School in Rhode Island. Her career plans include staying in the Navy and becoming a certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA).

Since its beginning, the COP has continued to be a positive program for the community and the University. The program provides community involvement and leadership training that would otherwise not be available to students; and in return, allows the University to increase the availability of health care education to underserved populations of diverse backgrounds within its community of Wyandotte County.

For the past century, Red Cross nursing has had a major role in the historical evolution of nursing and nursing leadership in the United States, with many Red Cross nurses playing strategic roles in the development of the nursing profession.

Today, nurses serve in many specialty roles in disaster response and preparedness, health and safety training, service to military families, biomedical and international services. As in the past, nurses serve in leadership roles at the local, state and national level to promote and enhance the Red Cross humanitarian mission and to promote public health and safety. Student nurses also are involved in many aspects of local service delivery.