HUDSON, NC (September 21, 2018) — Two Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute students were recently awarded the State Employees’ Credit Union “People Helping People” scholarship to cover cost of tuition, books and college-related expenses. Students Lindsey Hamlett and Caley Nia Lamprecht were selected to receive the $5,000 award from the SECU Foundation.
Both Hamlett and Lamprecht were accepted into and began CCC&TI’s Associate Degree Nursing Program this fall. In addition to their studies, both have also been heavily involved with a number of healthcare organizations in the region.
Hamlett says she was inspired to enter the nursing field after her own experience as a cancer patient in 2016. “Being a patient, being loved as well as treated with compassion by numerous nurses during my treatment is one of the major contributing factors of my desire to become a registered nurse,” she said.
Over the past 8 years, Hamlett has already gained experience in the healthcare field. She has worked with Alzheimer’s and dementia patients at an assisted living facility and worked with an organization offering outpatient opiate addiction treatment. Hamlett says these experiences are what have fueled her drive to succeed in the Nursing program. “I want to help those in need, those that cannot help themselves and treat all my patients with compassion and dignity,” she said. “A higher education will allow me to accomplish this goal and this scholarship will allow me to focus on my studies.”
Caley Nia Lamprecht was adopted at the age of four from a rural village in Yiwu, China and grew up in Boone. Lamprecht says that she faced many challenges when she began her education as she worked to learn English and assimilate to a new culture. With encouragement, support and guidance from teachers, family and peers, she was able to overcome those challenges and graduate with honors from high school and begin her studies at nearby Appalachian State University. Her goal is to earn her Associate Degree in Nursing at CCC&TI and become a certified nurse midwife.
Lamprecht has also been involved with several community organizations including volunteer work with Hope Pregnancy Center, the Hunger and Health Coalition and a special needs program through her church. Lamprecht has gained valuable job experience in the healthcare field as a certified nursing assistant at Foley Center at Chestnut Ridge and at Blue Ridge Pediatrics and Adolescent Care. She says that this scholarship will be a great help to her as she works to achieve her goals. “Receiving this scholarship enables me to make progress toward my degree and to one day take part in bringing children safely into the world as a midwife,” she said.
The SECU Foundation established this two-year scholarship program to assist North Carolina Community College System (NCCCS) students in achieving academic success. The members of the State Employees’ Credit Union take an active role in assisting organizations and communities across North Carolina and truly believe in “People Helping People!” Recipients considered are students who best exemplify the membership philosophy of credit unions, “People Helping People,” and have demonstrated leadership, excellence of character, integrity and community involvement.
Congratulations to these students on receiving the SECU “People Helping People” Scholarship.