Bea M. always felt in her heart that her life purpose was to help people. However, initially, she stayed away from nursing, wanting to forge her own path. As a child, she observed her mother and aunts working as nurses after arriving in the U.S. from the Philippines. Bea went on to try acting, dancing, music, sports, and social work before realizing nursing was her true calling. In March 2024, she graduated with her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from 国产主播鈥檚 Los Angeles campus.

Growing up in the suburbs of the Bay Area, Bea recalled the pressure to succeed. 鈥淎s children of immigrants, there was a lot of competition with one another,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 was bullied a lot as a kid. I didn鈥檛 pick up things as fast as the others. I thought maybe I wasn鈥檛 smart enough to be a nurse.鈥�

After working in social work, Bea determined it was not the career for her. She decided to study abroad in Seoul, South Korea. 鈥淚 did some searching within myself,鈥� she said. 鈥淲ith these new experiences and meeting people from all over the world, I gained a new perspective that I should give nursing a try.鈥�

After returning, she began a vocational nursing program just as the world entered the pandemic. Afterward, Bea recognized that nursing had been her path all along. 鈥淭hat was the first time in my entire life that I finished something with academic honors, and I realized that maybe I was actually good at this,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 made it this far — I might as well continue.鈥�

While working at an acute psych clinic, Bea applied to the LVN to BSN program at WCU. 鈥淚 moved out here with just luggage and couch surfed until I finally got an apartment and job that I could balance with my schoolwork.鈥�

Throughout the program, Bea said she faced imposter syndrome. 鈥淏ecause of my past being bullied, I struggled a lot with my mental health,鈥� she shared. 鈥淏ut as soon as I started nursing, I felt like this was the way I could make a difference.鈥�

Bea quickly bonded with her fellow classmates and faculty. She particularly appreciated her time with Professor Jennifer Uebe. 鈥淲e still keep in touch to this day. She inspired me to be more confident in my clinical decision-making and to stand up for myself,鈥� Bea said. 鈥淪he always treated her classes as a team sport. I was used to doing things on my own, but knowing there is a team behind you helps so much.鈥�

Today, Bea works as a critical care nurse in the intensive care unit at a Southern California hospital. She described being proud she has made it this far, noting that her mother worked in the same unit and specialty. During harder moments, Bea has been able to lean on her mom through their shared experience. 鈥淭he first time I ever lost a patient, I remember going to my car and crying, and my first thought was to call my mom,鈥� Bea said. 鈥淢y mom told me, 鈥楧id you do everything you could? Did you give it your all?鈥� I said yes, and she said, 鈥楾hen that is enough.鈥� It gave me a sense of peace. Especially in this career and unit, that is it. We do our best. We give it our all. At the end of the day, that is all we can do.鈥�

Bea is proud of her status as a WCU alumni. 鈥淚鈥檝e met a lot of coworkers and whatnot who were also WCU nurses or alumni, and they鈥檝e always been the best people to work with in my experience,鈥� Bea said. 鈥淭o be one of them and to hopefully carry on that same care is to embody the pride and reputation I’ve been given.鈥�

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It was a night to remember at the fifth annual 国产主播 Alumni Awards held on February 7 at in Glendale, California. Hosted by the Alumni Association, the evening began with a warm welcome reception, providing alumni, faculty, and staff the opportunity to reconnect.

The awards ceremony, led by WCU Alumni Relations Director Chini Carmargo, MHA 鈥�21, honored recipients across 11 categories and celebrated the remarkable dedication of our alumni and WCU/ACC community.

鈥淭his past year has been extraordinary for the WCU Alumni Association. Our alumni have continued to exceed their commitments to the university and our community years after graduation. This is our time to honor them,鈥� Carmargo said.

In addition to their awards, recipients were honored with a green cord for alumni or a silver cord for staff, which they wore throughout the evening for recognition. The celebration continued, featuring delicious Mediterranean cuisine, , exciting photo opportunities, and complimentary caricature drawings from a local artist.

“This is absolutely amazing, being able to connect with my community here at West Coast,鈥� said 2025 WCU Proud Award winner Celeste J. 鈥淚 love being a West Coast alumnus, and every time I meet with the students who are about to become nurses, I always welcome them into the alumni family.”

Thank you to everyone who joined us and made the fifth annual Alumni Awards ceremony a success. We look forward to seeing you at future events as we continue celebrating the achievements and connections within our alumni family.

See awards recipients below:

Young Alumni Award recognizes alumni within five years of graduation, who have shown career growth and have made contributions to the community and/or the University
Recipients: Patricia B., OTD 鈥�22 and Elizabeth W., BSN 鈥�21, VN 鈥�18

Distinguished Alumni Award recognizes alumni who have shown outstanding career achievement and significant contributions to the community and/or the University
Recipients: Justin C., DNP (c), BSN 鈥�20; Meg B., PMFNPC 鈥�21 and David O., PMPMHNP (c), DNP 鈥�23, MBA 鈥�21, MPH 鈥�19, BSN 鈥�18

WCU Proud Award recognizes alumni volunteers who support the Alumni Association鈥檚 principles of connecting, giving back, and celebrating WCU pride through extraordinary service to WCU
Recipients: Daniel C., BSN 鈥�15; Yelda D., BSN 鈥�24, VN 鈥�18, DMA 鈥�99; Mercedes G., MBA 鈥�22; Melanie G., MSN (c), BSN 鈥�20; Celeste J., MPH 鈥�23; Jimmy N., MSN 鈥�24, BSN 鈥�21; Devon W., BSN 鈥�22, VN 鈥�18; and Kaley W., BSN 鈥�23

Outstanding Alumni Faculty Award recognizes faculty members for extraordinary contributions to students as an alumnus of WCU
Recipients: Ashley S., BSN 鈥�18; Valerie C., OTD 鈥�20; Amanda W., MSN 鈥�21, BSN 鈥�18; Diane R., PMPMHNP 鈥�22, ADN 鈥�09; Kristen M., MSN 鈥�21, BSN 鈥�18; Lauren D., MSOT 鈥�15; and Keiko M., BSN 鈥�15

Community Service and Impact Award acknowledges the exceptional dedication of alumni who actively contribute to their communities
Recipient: Jennifer P., MSN 鈥�24, BSN 鈥�21 and Roberta S., MPH 鈥�20

Healthcare Influencer Award recognizes a WCU Alumni who advocates for the healthcare industry through the utilization of their social media platforms.
Recipient: Nune S., DNP 鈥�21, MSN 鈥�19, BSN 鈥�16  

Excellence in Entrepreneurship Award is presented to alumni who have shown remarkable accomplishments within entrepreneurship.
Recipient: Adam B., BSN 鈥�18

Outstanding Faculty and Associate Award recognizes faculty and staff members who were influential in supporting your education and career goals.
Recipient: Michele M., WCU Online Programs Public Health dean/program director

Outstanding Department Award recognizes the WCU department that has supported the Alumni Network through various initiatives and collaborated extensively in support of the mission of the University.
Recipient: Student Affairs, Accounts Payable and Finance 

Outstanding Supporter Award recognizes individuals who have gone above and beyond their duties to assist the team in a wide variety of initiatives and programming.
Recipient: Seram L., WCU-Orange County Student Affairs director

People鈥檚 Choice Award celebrates outstanding feedback on department customer service and support based on our alumni survey results ranking across campuses.
Recipient: WCU Faculty and 国产主播

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Paola B. BSN’21 WCU-Texas

Scholarships offer much more than just financial relief鈥攖hey can be transformative in multiple aspects of the academic journey. By reducing reliance on student loans, scholarships help recipients graduate with less debt.

In addition to financial aid, scholarships often provide additional opportunities, such as networking and mentorship programs. The recognition that comes with being awarded a scholarship is a testament to one鈥檚 merit and can enhance any resume. The application process itself fosters personal development by encouraging reflection on one鈥檚 goals and achievements.

The WCU Alumni Association scholarship was created to provide financial assistance to alumni and current students aiming to further their education and enhance their skills.

Here are 5 valuable tips for applying to WCU Alumni Association Scholarships:

1. Start Early
   • What makes the Alumni Association scholarships unique is the acceptance of applications year-round. Two deadlines are set each year: April 1 and October 1.
2. Tailor Your Application
   • There are 7 scholarships available: WCU Alumni Association Professional Development Scholarship, WCU Proud Scholarship, WCU Texas Proud Scholarship, WCU Alumni Association Scholarship, Alumni Association Legacy Scholarship, WCU Sigma Theta Tau Scholarship and ACC Alumni Bridge Scholarship. Tailor the application to the specific scholarship by highlighting relevant qualities and experiences that match the scholarship鈥檚 criteria.
3. Write a Compelling Essay
   • The essay is a key component of the application. Be authentic, share a personal story, and articulate goals clearly. Proofread multiple times and seek feedback from professors or mentors.
4. Gather Strong References
   • Seek references from individuals who are well-acquainted you鈥檙e your strengths and potential, such as a professor or supervisor. Supplying them with a resume and a summary of the scholarship will help in creating a personalized letter.
5. Stay Organized
   • Keep track of the deadlines and the required documents. A spreadsheet or calendar can help manage the process.

Remember, the deadline to apply for the next round of Alumni Scholarships is October 1, 2024. Take the first step towards a brighter future!

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