#GivingTuesday is an international day of giving. How will you ‘Answer the Call’ on November 29?

Frontier Nursing University (FNU) has experienced remarkable growth over the past few years, with nearly 1,900 students currently enrolled. But with increased growth comes increased need, and many of our students need your help! Education can put a financial strain on some students, especially when they begin clinical practicums and can no longer work. #GivingTuesday is your opportunity to get involved.

One FNU student who has benefited from the generous support of scholarships is Tess Anna Interlicchia, a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) student. Tess is a single mother to two small children, and thanks to financial assistance, she is able to spend time with her children every weekend instead of working.

“After graduation, I plan to work as a homecare FNP in my hometown, an underserved rural area of Steuben County, N.Y. The elderly have always been my first love, and I will be honored to serve them in their homes,” said Tess. “I feel that serving the truly underserved honors the spirit of Frontier.”

Many students like Tess are earning degrees with the intent to use their expertise and knowledge to serve underprivileged members of their home communities. These students have witnessed the need in their areas first-hand and are committed to improving health care where they serve.

The education provided by FNU gives graduates a measure of respect that comes with the title they earn with their degree, whether it be Certified Nurse-Midwife, Family Nurse Practitioner, Doctor of Nursing Practice, or any other title. Kyle Farmer, an FNP student and scholarship recipient, knows that his education will help him to gain the trust of people in his hometown of Leslie County, Ky.

“As I witness in my community’s hospital,” said Kyle, “many people in my area don’t seek medical attention when it is needed. This is due not only to a lack of providers, but also to a lack of trust in present providers. Appalachia has possessed a culture of self-sufficiency throughout history, but I feel that through the trusting relationships I will establish as an FNP, more people in my community will promptly seek health care.”

Currently, only 2 percent of FNU students receive scholarship support. Most Frontier students are employed full-time and are responsible for supporting their families. The need for financial support for our students is great: when a new scholarship for students with financial hardships became available, FNU received 64 applications within 48 hours.

Giving to the Frontier Student Scholarship Fund is investing in the education of FNU students, but beyond that, it is empowering these students to make a difference where they serve and to improve the overall healthcare situation in underprivileged communities.

Please answer the call, as so many of our students have, and consider a gift to the Frontier Student Scholarship Fund on #GivingTuesday, November 29!  For more information on #GivingTuesday, check out http://www.frontier.edu/answerthecall. You can give directly to the cause here.