Busy nursing student writes his way to national scholarship

By Kate Day Sager
Source: Olean Times Herald

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When Keith Weekley wasn’t taking nursing classes at Jamestown Community College (JCC) this year, he was working as a full-time groundskeeper at St. Mary of the Angels Church and managing the Genesis House men’s shelter.

In addition to all that, Mr. Weekley found time to write an essay about nursing character that was good enough to win a national contest sponsored by Cherokee Uniforms.

Mr. Weekley was recently notified that his essay was one of 10 selected in a contest that drew 350 entries from nursing students around the country. He was awarded a $2,000 scholarship as well as the online posting of his essay and photo on the nurseiam.com Web site.

For Mr. Weekley, news of the scholarship came as something of a surprise. He noted that he is the first JCC nursing student to have won the contest.

“I wasn’t sure if I would win because of the number of applicants from around the country and from different schools who entered,” Mr. Weekley said.

He said those who entered were required to watch a “Nurse I Am” documentary about nursing that reviewed the nursing careers of three individuals. In his essay, Mr. Weekley reviewed two individuals in the documentary and wrote about their convictions to the profession. In particular, Mr. Weekley reviewed another male nurse’s career who was profiled in the documentary.

“I will face similar obstacles that I am sure (the other male nurse) has encountered being a male in a predominately female career,” Mr. Weekley wrote. “The ability to express genuine compassion toward others who will look at me as a source of support and hope is a quality in (the other male nurse) that I wish to emulate.”

Mr. Weekley also wrote, “Every individual in my care is special and deserves personal attention. Even through the future rising needs of competent nurses and the increasing number of clients, exceptional care is still expected. It is simply not enough to possess higher education or advanced degrees. If one is impersonal in the application of their nursing training, then mankind suffers.”

Those who know Mr. Weekley say that his actions match his words.

Lenore Lounsbury, executive director of Genesis House, said Mr. Weekley has been an attribute to the men’s shelter since it opened in December.

“He is a good role model for everybody,” Mrs. Lounsbury said of Mr. Weekley. “He’s also a good listener for the men, and helps them with their goals in finding employment and services.

“We’re very proud of him, he’s a sweet, gentle man and multi-talented,” she added.

Mr. Weekley said he expects to graduate from JCC in May 2010 with his registered nurse certification. From there he plans to attend Penn State University to obtain his bachelor’s degree in nursing. His long-term goal is to become a certified nursing anesthetist.

Mrs. Lounsbury said Mr. Weekley plans to move on from Genesis House to seek other opportunities, and she’s hopeful of finding a solid replacement for him. While the position doesn’t pay a salary, it does offer room and board.

“We just have to believe that God will send the right person” to fill his position, she said.

(Contact reporter Kate Day Sager at kates_th@yahoo.com)