The Women and Girls Fund of Waukesha County recently awarded three Waukesha County students a $3,000 New Hope Scholarship. One of the recipients includes Clara Erickson, a UWM at Waukesha student pursuing her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree.
“The New Hope Scholarship Fund was created by Tom and Karie Stupek to ease the financial barrier of tuition for women returning to school to seek a chance at a better life through education. The Stupeks established the scholarship fund to support women who have faced obstacles in realizing their dreams, and to celebrate the strength and resilience of the proud women of Waukesha County.”
More about Clara (from the Women and Girls Fund of Waukesha County website):
Clara Erickson has experience as a critical care technician in a hospital cardiovascular intensive care unit, but her dream is to earn a bachelor of science degree in nursing. With the help of a $3,000 New Hope Scholarship, she is on her way.
Five years ago, Clara moved to Wisconsin from Seattle, where she had begun her nursing studies. In the intervening years, she worked two jobs to save money to resume her college career. She also married, had a son and went back to college. Then things got busy.
“I finished one semester before I found out I was pregnant with our second son,” she said. “I continued at an accelerated rate to finish my prerequisites and applied for nursing school in December 2021 for the fall semester 2022.” Logan was born in February and Clara was accepted into the bachelor of science degree in nursing program at the Waukesha campus of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Now a Pewaukee resident, she hopes to graduate in 2024.
“My motivation and ambition are continually driven by the support of my family,” Clara said. “We strive to teach our sons that, despite any obstacle life might throw in your path, you can achieve your dreams through hard work and never giving up.”