ALBANY, NY—The New York State Nontraditional Employment & Training Program (NET) has announced that Maria AAS Nursing student, Brandon Molloy, is one of eight statewide Vanguard award winners who will be formally recognized at a ceremony on March 26 at the Desmond. The Vanguard Student Recognition Award recognizes outstanding students who are enrolled in programs that are not traditional for their gender.
For the 2014-15 academic year, eight winners were selected from a statewide pool of nominees. Dr. Dina Refki, NET Director, stated, “Vanguard award winners are truly role models who demonstrate exceptional competence and outstanding dedication, wisdom and maturity. The fact that they are excelling in a field that is nontraditional for their gender is a testament of their resiliency. It is also a testament of the student-centered and quality education they are receiving at their institutions.”
In the essay, required for all nominees, Brandon reflected on his lifelong dream to help people in any way he could. On his eighteenth birthday, after graduating from Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk High School, he applied for a patient care associate position at Albany Medical Center and was accepted. His passion for nursing was ignited and he enrolled in the Maria Practical Nursing Certificate Program (LPN). He has since continued in the AAS Nursing program. Molloy stated, “It has been a challenge to balance a full time job with my academic responsibilities, but my passion for being at someone’s bedside with a caring heart and using my nursing education to help those who can’t help themselves have made these sacrifices worth it. I’m looking forward to graduating in May, taking my RN licensure test and then enrolling in the Maria Bachelor Completion Program.” He is currently a LPN at Sunnyview Hospital in Schenectady working with cardio-pulmonary patients.
Dr. John Kowal, Maria College Vice President of Academic Affairs stated, “We are very proud of Brandon’s commitment in his chosen field of nursing. The College prides itself on providing a supportive environment and having faculty who passionately work with students to achieve their dreams.”
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About Maria College
Maria College is a baccalaureate nonprofit, independent, co-educational institution, founded in 1958 by the Sisters of Mercy, and is one of 17 colleges and universities in the United States sponsored by the Conference for Mercy Higher Education. The College serves traditional and nontraditional students through day, evening, weekend and online classes. A student focused and highly affordable private college in Albany, NY with a 99% placement rate—employment and continuing education.
For Immediate Release:
communication@mariacollege.edu