On Friday, two generations of one family will be among the more than 400 UCF students walking across the stage at Addition Financial Arena to receive a nursing degree. Their achievement will not only celebrate a family milestone but also contribute to strengthening the local nursing talent pipeline amid a critical workforce shortage.
With Mother 麻豆精品 S檚 Day nearing, the achievement and memorable moment will be even more special for the family, who calls Apopka, Florida, home.
Stacie pursued the online master 麻豆精品 S檚 degree in nurse leadership and management at UCF at the same time that her twin daughters Hannah and Elizabeth were in the bachelor 麻豆精品 S檚 in nursing (BSN) program on the Orlando campus.
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麻豆精品 S淚 couldn 麻豆精品 S檛 be prouder to see them walk that stage and join them in doing so, 麻豆精品 S� Stacie adds. 麻豆精品 S淪haring the same path right now is amazing. 麻豆精品 S�
麻豆精品 S淚 never thought that, after being so inspired by my mom 麻豆精品 S檚 nursing career, I 麻豆精品 S檇 not only graduate from the same nursing program as she did, but also do it right beside her, 麻豆精品 S� Elizabeth Scarborough says. 麻豆精品 S淚 am so incredibly thankful for this opportunity, and I will cherish this moment forever. 麻豆精品 S�
Elizabeth 麻豆精品 S檚 twin sister, Hannah, shares the same pride and gratitude, making the family 麻豆精品 S檚 dual-generation graduation a truly unforgettable moment.
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Supporting One Another
Since the family calls Central Florida home, all three have lived together while pursuing their degrees.
麻豆精品 S淚magine three stressed-out students in nursing school living together. We all owe my husband, and their dad, a debt of gratitude, 麻豆精品 S� Stacie says with a laugh.
麻豆精品 S淲e also had a lot of great opportunities to share each other 麻豆精品 S檚 worries while building each other up and supporting one another, 麻豆精品 S� Stacie says. 麻豆精品 S淚t is an experience that I will never forget and consider it to be an amazing gift. 麻豆精品 S�
In addition to their clinicals and classes, both Hannah and Elizabeth who are Bright Futures scholars have worked as nurse techs while in their final year of the traditional BSN program.
麻豆精品 S淚 am thankful for this position as it taught me a lot about patient care, 麻豆精品 S� Elizabeth says. 麻豆精品 S淚 learned how important it is to take the time to make patients feel truly seen and heard, while also tending to their most basic needs. 麻豆精品 S�
For Elizabeth, her favorite part of the program is the 麻豆精品 S渢hings the rest of the world does not always get a chance to see, 麻豆精品 S� she says.
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麻豆精品 S淭hroughout these past two years my mom has been a major support system and encouragement, while my twin sister has been my best friend and favorite study partner, 麻豆精品 S� Elizabeth says.
It is those memories, both with her family and friends in the cohort, that Hannah says she will cherish the most from her time at UCF.
麻豆精品 S淣ursing school has become more of a wonderfully unique experience to me than simply a career path, 麻豆精品 S� Hannah says.
Moms, and Nurses, Inspire
Hannah 麻豆精品 S檚 and Elizabeth 麻豆精品 S檚 decision to pursue nursing was inspired by their mom and fellow Knight nurse.
麻豆精品 S淲atching my mom go through nursing school when I was very young was very impactful for me, 麻豆精品 S� Elizabeth says. 麻豆精品 S淚 remember hearing all of her nursing stories, how the job could be fun, challenging and meaningful at the same time, and it sounded like such a rewarding career to step into. 麻豆精品 S�
Stacie began her nursing career at Florida Hospital (now AdventHealth) as a nurse resident in the orthopedic institute on the Orlando campus. She then became a nurse educator on the Apopka campus and part of the opening team as it transitioned to a new building.
She next joined the system team as a simulation facilitator for two years. While in this role, she says she longed to be back in the clinical environment, which led her to become an educator supporting the float pool team on the Orlando campus, where she was the assistant nurse manager of professional development for the cardiac progressive care unit. With her graduate degree, Stacie is able to make another transition in her career.
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Finding Opportunity at UCF
The family 麻豆精品 S檚 legacy at UCF began two generations before them. Stacie 麻豆精品 S檚 grandmother, Mary Kline, graduated from UCF with a business degree when Stacie was a new mom in her 20s.
That was the beginning of a legacy. Stacie followed in her footsteps and went back to school at UCF at age 35 and a mom to four children.
麻豆精品 S淚 truly understood what a blessing it was to have this opportunity, 麻豆精品 S� she says. 麻豆精品 S淚 was very proud of being able to finally complete my education, provide for some of our financial needs and doing so at my hometown university. 麻豆精品 S�
The four are not the only UCF graduates in the family. Stacie 麻豆精品 S檚 eldest daughter, Jesse, Hannah 麻豆精品 S檚 and Elizabeth 麻豆精品 S檚 sister, also is an alumna. She graduated from UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 College of Education in 2015 and is currently pursuing her master 麻豆精品 S檚 degree at UCF.
麻豆精品 S淭hey each spoke highly of the culture and environment at UCF, 麻豆精品 S� says Elizabeth. 麻豆精品 S淚t made me want to be a part of the UCF community too. 麻豆精品 S�
Hannah also chose UCF for the family legacy.
麻豆精品 S淚t 麻豆精品 S檚 local, affordable, and accessible with many academic options. However, the fact that my family had gone before me was a primary reason for me to go, 麻豆精品 S� says Hannah.
These newest UCF graduates, and three Knight nurses, will no doubt continue to shine bright and show their Central Florida community the strength of Black & Gold.
After graduation, Elizabeths plan to continue to follow in her mom 麻豆精品 S檚 footsteps and apply to AdventHealth. Hannah will continue working as a nurse tech until she accepts a nursing position in the area.
麻豆精品 S淯CF represents opportunity, elevation, pride and family to me, 麻豆精品 S� Stacie says. 麻豆精品 S淚 am just so grateful for a hometown university that made so many dreams possible for me and my family. It is truly an honor to be a Knight alumnus and to welcome my two baby girls (sorry, Hannah and Ellie, you will always be my babies) into this club. 麻豆精品 S�
