I was a single mom of 4 children ages 3 to 7 years of age. I was on public assistance with very little education. I went back to school to get a GED, then took some college preparatory classes to go to college. I started at Maria College in 1978 and graduated from the nursing class in May 1981. I had so much help from the nuns with finances to allow me to stay in school as long as my grades were a C average.
I am eternally grateful for everyone who helped me to succeed in graduating and becoming a nurse. I have worked several years in critical care and able to keep my children out of the welfare system. I am now almost 70 years old but still working full time but now I work in the field of addiction. I just wanted to say thank you after all of these years, which I probably should have said sooner.
-Carolyn Novak, R.N.
Youngest graduate class of 1981. RN LNHA. Worked at AMC hospital. ICU, ER and PACU. Moved to Henderson Nevada. Continue to work. Great college experience. Curriculum allowed me to pass boards first round. Also while working as a NA.
Submitted by Jennifer Shuler Fuller on
As a member of that class of 1981, I remember that many of us in the class , surely the minority, were “mature returning students “, struggling to take care of our families and maintain our acedemic status as well. I too am still working full time, but am grateful as well for the education I received at Maria, that was the foundation for an amazing career. Bravo Carolyn Novak!
Submitted by Patricia Davis on