Good afternoon. I'm Ellen and I'm delighted to be here today on behalf of the College of Nursing. We want to express our heartfelt thanks to all the wonderful individuals and families who have chosen to support the College of Nursing. We are all so grateful to all of you for the financial aid that you have provided so generously to advance our educational efforts.

I came to the College of Nursing through a circuitous path: I first came through the University in the College of Law. After graduation I worked downtown as a litigator for about a decade. My life changed dramatically in 2004 when I gave birth to my daughter, Vivian, at the U Hospital. Vivian's delivery was difficult because, as a tiny fetus, she had tied her umbilical cord in a knot--a one in 2000 possibility. After an easy pregnancy I presented at the U Hospital with serious comlications that were immediately resolved by a wonderful team of obstetricians, surgeons, respiratory therapists and nurses, nurses, nurses. Without the combined effort of all those individuals working as a smooth, well-functioning team it is likely that my daughter would have died. Instead today she is a healthy, happy toddler.

Becoming a mother opened my eyes to the world and my place in it in an entirely new way. After much "soul searching" I decided to change the direction of my career to enter the health care sector. I'm now in my second semester of the U's Accelerated Nursing Program, which allows people with previous degrees to earn a bachelors nursing degree following completion of a rigorous 4 semester, 16 month program. This is an exciting and challenging time in my life, and I want to say an especial "thank you" to the family of Susan Whittaker, who funded my scholarship. The Whittaker scholarship means so much to me, not only in terms of financial support for my course of study, but also in terms of having a direct connection to a wonderful woman who was herself a highly skilled nurse.

Sadly, Susan died far too early of cancer at the age of 54. Life isn't fair, and we all know that. But not one of us has to accept the status quo. We all have the chance to tip the scales in favor of increased justice, compassion and service through the choices we make each day. Like Susan, we all have the opportunity each and every day to make the world a better place by being here to help, or comfort, or befriend our fellow beings. Thank you to Susan, who I never had the opportunity to know, for all the good she has done and will continue to do through her institition of this scholarship. And thanks to you all for all the kindness, generosity and encouragement that all of you have shown to all of us. We look forward to caring for all of you, when the time comes. Thank you.