Katy, Texas-native Avery Frank is the 2023 recipient of the Nurses Can Do Anything scholarship. Sponsored by Dr. Patrick Hickey through the Foundation of the National Student Nurses' Association (FNSNA), the scholarship is awarded annually to a limited amount of nursing majors in the amount of $2,500. In his book, 7 Summits: A Nurses’ Quest To Conquer Mountaineering and Life, Dr. Hickey demonstrates how, through hard work and persistence, anyone can achieve their dreams. Nursing students can find inspiration from Dr. Hickey’s experiences detailed in his book and make their dreams of becoming registered nurses a reality.

As a student in the first cohort for TLU's Houston Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program, she sees first-hand how much the administrative and faculty teams care about the student experience and success.

"If there was not a campus in Houston, I would not be able to attend Texas Lutheran University," she said. "Most of the students in my cohort live with their parents or family to save money for school, and having a campus in Houston allows them to do this while still getting a quality education."

Frank has plans to become an ICU or oncology nurse after graduation and says she would also love to one day be a clinical instructor or nursing professor later in her career. Her advice to prospective students interested in health care is to get involved locally.

"I would advise interested students to become active in volunteering," she said "I recommend looking into Camp For All or local hospitals. Volunteering is an opportunity to meet other health care professionals such as nurses, child life specialists, and occupational therapists. These individuals can serve as your support team through your education."

More About FNSNA

The FNSNA was created in 1969 to honor Frances Tompkins, the Association’s first Executive Director. Organized exclusively for charitable and educational purposes, the Foundation awards scholarships and other programs for student nurses. Since 1974, the FNSNA has awarded over $20 million dollars in scholarships to undergraduate student nurses, graduate faculty fellowships and school grants. Contributions to the FNSNA are tax-deductible. The Foundation is organized as a 501 (C) (3) charitable foundation.