MCC student continues family nursing legacy, receives state scholarship
Coming from a family with deep roots in nursing, it was no surprise that Lauren Lewis
would pursue a career in the medical field.
“I’ve always been interested in the nursing profession. It gives you the opportunity to help people live long, healthy lives by educating and providing resources,” she said, adding, “It also gives you a direct way of making a difference in someone’s life.”
Lewis, a 39-year-old resident of Rose Hill, is nearing her goal of becoming a nurse for in December, she’ll graduate from Meridian Community College’s Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) Program. Her commitment to making a difference in patients’ lives and her demonstrated skills have earned her the Mississippi Nurses Foundation Scholarship.
The Mississippi Nurses Foundation is a private, non-profit organization that raises, accepts, and disperses charitable donations to promote professional nursing and better health in Mississippi. According to Amanda Crawford, executive director of the Mississippi Nurses Foundation, its School of Nursing Scholarships are offered in spring and fall semesters to students in the 24 nursing schools in Mississippi. “We work very closely with faculty in each school to identify these students,” Crawford noted.
During a surprise announcement, Lewis was presented with the $1,000 scholarship and considered it an honor to receive the gift.
While attending MCC, Lewis also works part time in the stress testing department at Meridian’s Cardiovascular Institute of the South, where she has been for seven years. Her passion for cardiology has led her to learn more, and she plans to work in critical care after graduation. “I think the heart and how it works is so interesting,” she said.
The family also fuels her drive for a healthcare career. “My mother was an RN for 40 years and graduated from MCC’s ADN program in 1982. My husband, Clay, is a 2008 MCC ADN graduate and has been a nurse for 15 years. My sister is an RN specializing in wound care,” she explained.
To learn more about MCC Nursing, visit meridiancc.edu/nursing.