Promise Made, Promise Kept
A scholarship allowed Faith McHugh to graduate debt-free
Faith McHugh did not know what the Promise scholarship was when she first heard of it. But just as the name suggests, the program held a lot of promise for her future.
As a student, Faith was eligible for financial aid when she started the Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) program but there was still a financial gap. She was intrigued when she was offered the Promise scholarship. If Faith maintained solid grades and provided service to her community, the Promise scholarship would cover all outstanding expenses.
“I knew I could do this,” Faith explains. “If you can complete a program without school loans looming, why wouldn’t you? Being in debt right out of high school is nerve-wracking.”
Having completed the Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) and basic Emergency Medical Services (EMS) programs at FVTC while in high school, Faith was confident in her grades. And she had long been meeting the service criteria through her volunteer EMS work in the Town of Freedom.
Faith graduated in December 2022 with no college debt. She works full time as a nurse at a local plasma services agency and part time as a nurse at a skilled nursing facility. She also plans to attend Grand Canyon University later this year to complete her bachelor’s degree. Her promise for the future? She wants to continue to work with elderly patients and one day teach CNA students at FVTC about the joy of working with the elderly.
“I love my geriatric population,” Faith says. “I love when they share their stories. They have taught me so much over the years as a CNA and nurse and I will work with them throughout my career.”
Promise Scholarship
Through the FVTC Foundation Inc., the Promise scholarship covers tuition, textbooks and other costs once other grants and scholarships have been applied.
To qualify, students must live in the district, be eligible for financial aid, maintain good grades, and provide service to their community. Eligible students who take 12-15 credits per term have access to the program for up to six consecutive semesters.