In keeping with the mission of Fairfield University’s Jesuit values, specifically the concept of men and women for others, the Egan School inspires students to become leaders across social and healthcare environments. Through their comprehensive curriculum, students are actively engaged with faculty in practice, policy, scholarship, and service. This hallmark of a solid educational experience offers students a chance to improve health outcomes with particular attention to the needs of underserved or vulnerable populations.

At this year’s Student Achievement Awards, nursing student Jasmine Nguy ’22 was awarded the William J. Kramer ’60 Humanitarian Award. Nguy was recognized for her “commitment to volunteerism and service to an external community activity that best exemplifies the Ignatian tradition of being men and women for and with others.”

Nguy spoke about being inspired by her parents to help others but it wasn’t until she started at Fairfield that she knew that nursing was the career path she wanted to pursue. She said, “What makes the nursing program at Fairfield special is the combination of the Jesuit values of holistic care, keeping in mind the needs of my patient’s body, mind, and spirit. This allows me to provide the highest quality of care which is exactly the type of care Veterans need.”

As a student at Fairfield, Nguy was a Corrigan scholar, was on the Dean’s list, and was awarded the Bellarmine Scholarship and Alumni Multicultural Scholarship. Nguy is a VALOR student at the VA Connecticut Healthcare system, served as a lab assistant at Egan’s Simulation Center, Covid-19 vaccine clinic volunteer, and is a member of the Student Nursing Association.

“During the summer and second wave of Covid-19, I was able to continue to provide care to veterans which allowed me to learn more about their unique population,” she said. “It was also the perfect opportunity to remind myself before stepping into a patient’s room to think about things they might have been through physically and mentally and not just complete my responsibilities and leave. My purpose there is to listen to their stories, make connections, and help them get back to their original health status.”

It was her experience as a VALOR student and her clinicals at the VA hospital and at Fairfield Egan that has prepared her for life after Fairfield where she will be a nurse resident at the Veteran’s hospital in West Haven, Connecticut.

“The opportunities that were available to me at Fairfield as well as the support I have received from professors have made me feel prepared to enter the field of healthcare as a nurse and I am excited to start this new chapter in my life.”