With the support of scholarships, UCI Nursing Sciences alumna Stacy Seiler ’17 seized new, incredible opportunities at UCI.
With the support of scholarships, UCI Nursing Sciences alumna Stacy Seiler ’17 seized new, incredible opportunities at UCI.
As a Type 1 diabetic, Stacy Seiler ’17 knows firsthand how difficult it is for children and young adults to take on the responsibility of managing a disease and how vulnerable this time can be, especially during the teen years. In her youth, Seiler benefitted from the wonderful care of nurse practitioners whose warmth and optimism inspired her to enter the field.
“I had such amazing nurses in my life and amazing nurse practitioners as well,” said Seiler. “I knew that I wanted to do exactly what they did for me and help the same amount of people.”
Seiler was awarded scholarships for her academic achievements as an undergraduate in UCI’s Sue & Bill Gross School of Nursing. Grateful to have been selected for that honor and deeply appreciative of the support, she took the opportunity to grow as a leader and volunteer in the community.
“When students receive a scholarship, it encourages them to continue to thrive in their academic pursuits. They have more time to give back to the community. This gives them valuable hands-on training and experience with the individuals they will ultimately serve.”
“I am motivated to volunteer,” Seiler explained, “because I want to create a community that thrives, a really healthy community.”
While attending UCI, Seiler served as a peer academic adviser for the nursing school, president of the UCI Chapter of the College Diabetes Network, and as a national student representative for the College Diabetes Network headquarters. She volunteered at the UCI Outreach Clinic, and she also joined the Phi Beta Phi sorority and the UCI Anteater Ambassador Network.
All the while, she continued to excel academically.
“When students receive a scholarship, it encourages them to continue to thrive in their academic pursuits,” said Julie Aird, director of student affairs for UCI’s Sue & Bill Gross School of Nursing. “Because of the financial support, they have more time to give back to the community through volunteer work. This gives them valuable hands-on training and experience with the individuals they will ultimately serve.”
Seiler’s experience at UCI – her education, hands-on training, volunteer work and scholarship – made all the difference in her journey to become a nurse.
Nominated by her peers, Seiler received the 2016 Undergraduate Excellence in Service Award. In addition, she was one of 30 graduates from UCI’s class of 2017 who received the Chancellor’s Award of Distinction.
