Turning dreams into reality
Nursing scholarships expand opportunity
Written by Story by Marti LaChance
Attending Purdue University is a dream come true for Audrey Caprio.
Smart, energetic and passionate about helping others, she applied to Purdue’s School of Nursing on a whim — to please her mom, herself a Purdue graduate. But when Audrey visited the West Lafayette campus, she knew Purdue was for her. “I just fell in love,” she says. As an out-of-state resident, however, the cost of attending Purdue was beyond her reach.
So, when Caprio obtained a scholarship that enabled her to attend her dream school, she felt the need to work extraordinarily hard — to show her gratitude as well as to prove she had earned the gift.
If it were not for the Miller Incentive Scholarship, I wouldn’t be at Purdue,” she says. “And I don’t think I’d be half the person I am today if it weren’t for Purdue.
Caprio, currently a junior, maintains a 3.8 GPA and has won Mortar Board honors. Among her extracurricular pursuits, she’s president of the campus chapter of Nursing Students Without Borders.
Gifts with direct effects
Mark and Maureen Miller could not be more pleased. In their philanthropic efforts, they appreciate seeing exactly how their contributions benefit people. “We like to see the impact we’re making,” Maureen says. “And their feedback helps us evaluate our efforts.”
Both Purdue grads, Mark in computer science and Maureen in nursing, the couple gives to many organizations — focusing on health, well-being and education — and always directed at people. “We’re not looking to put resources toward a new building or auditorium or pavilion,” Mark says. Maureen adds: “We like to target opportunities we can connect with, when we can see what’s actually happening. Where we can see we’re having an impact.”
Naturally, nursing has always been Maureen’s passion. And a conversation with Purdue President Mitch Daniels helped the Millers decide that scholarships in the School of Nursing were a perfect way to help.
In the grand scheme of things, their incentive scholarship addresses the nation’s uncertainties about health care and helps fill the growing need for registered nurses. More directly, their scholarship enabled the Purdue School of Nursing to recruit four exceptionally high-achieving students: Amy Bennett, Emily Field, Kylie Smith and Caprio. More personally, the Millers have changed the lives of these four young women.
Field says that with the help of this and other scholarships, she is debt-free, which is a huge advantage for any college graduate. “I’ve not had to take out any student loans. It’s a big relief for me and my family.”
Secure in knowing her education is paid for, Field has freedom to explore. “I have more opportunities to expand my horizons beyond campus.” For example, this summer she can afford to support herself while taking advantage of a nursing internship out of state. After she earns her baccalaureate degree, Field plans to continue her education and become a nurse practitioner.
Maureen Miller sums it up: “We’re really proud of our four students. They are all performing beyond what we would expect. They’re proactive, they’re working hard. They’re all going to be great nurses. And we really need that.”
Professional schools: A sweet spot
For students, a professional degree like nursing is a smart choice. Job prospects in the field are excellent. The increased demand for health care in the U.S. is driven by a new emphasis on preventive care, growing rates of chronic conditions such as diabetes and obesity, and the large population of baby boomers — who are living active, longer lives.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of registered nurses will grow 16 percent between 2014 to 2024, much faster than the average for all occupations. For advanced practice nurses — nurse anesthetists, certified nurse midwives and nurse practitioners — employment is expected to grow by a whopping 31 percent.
Another Dauch family legacy
Another individual passionate about Purdue’s nursing program is Sandy Dauch. For more than 30 years, Sandy, with her late husband, Dick, has been a generous Purdue supporter. The Dick and Sandy Dauch Alumni Center is named in their honor. The Dauchs’ twin daughters, Teri (BSN ’87) and Jane (BSN ’87), are both Purdue nursing grads — one of the reasons Dauch supports professional programs at Purdue.
Recently, Sandy established a multimillion-dollar challenge gift to encourage others to create scholarships in Purdue’s professional programs. Dauch directed $1 million of that gift toward establishing the Dauch Nursing Scholarship Challenge, a 2:1 match for new scholarships for out-of-state students enrolled in the School of Nursing.
When Mark and Maureen Miller learned about the Dauch challenge, they were inspired to match the entire amount. “Our initial scholarship gift was so successful, we saw this as a prime opportunity to concentrate our giving and build up a substantial gift to Purdue,” says Mark.
Thanks to the combined generosity of the Dauch and Miller families, Purdue Nursing is now endowed with the $1.5 million Mark and Maureen Miller Nursing Scholarship. Next fall, the first award will be given to several out-of-state students with financial need and academic merit. Over the coming years, the Millers hope to benefit hundreds of nursing students with their endowment, a permanent gift to the school.
Paying it forward: Another dream
“The nursing program is so important — and this is a way to pay it forward,” Mark Miller says. “With a scholarship, you’re helping educate people. And in turn, these educated individuals can give back to society for the rest of their lives as long as they are engaged and working in nursing.” With their scholarships, it’s the Millers’ dream to create a chain of gratitude and giving among Purdue Nursing graduates.
It is unsurprising to hear student Audrey Caprio echo the Millers’ philosophy: “That’s why I want to be a nurse. I wanted to repay that kindness that someone had for me. I really think paying it forward is the best thing you can do.”
