BY THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION GO RED FOR WOMEN CAMPAIGN

This year, The American Heart Association (AHA) launched its first ever Go Red™ Multicultural Scholarship Fund. While heart disease is the #1 killer among women, African American and Hispanic women are dying from the disease at faster rates than their Caucasian counterparts. By helping these exceptional young women move closer to their dreams of making a difference, AHA hopes to directly address important gaps in treatment that can lead to heart health disparities among multicultural women.

Minority Nurse congratulates all 16 of this year’s winners and is pleased to share a few of their stories!

Charisse Skinner

Age: 19

School: Duquesne University
Hometown: Vandergrift, Pennsylvania

Charisse became inspired to become a nurse after her father was admitted into the hospital for a work-related accident. When two women in her neighborhood were diagnosed with cancer, she worked with others in the community to help raise funds for their chemotherapy. She also volunteered at a park cleanup so that kids can have somewhere to go to be active and stay healthy. She is concerned about childhood obesity and the toll it is taking on youth health. Caring for her grandparents who have had heart disease also served as her motivation to help others become—and stay—healthy.

Brittany Price

Age: 23
School: DePaul University
Hometown: Chicago, Illinois

Brittany is a sophomore nursing student who believes that “caring and a proper education are vital aspects of healing.” She aims to work in underserved communities to help empower people to take charge of their health. In her submission essay Brittany wrote, “Being African American and female means I was born a member of two oppressed populations. Luckily, I learned to transform disrespect and oppression into fuel for ambition. . . . This degree will increase my opportunities for success and will help further establish myself as a mentor for other minority females interested in nursing.”

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Crystal Vazquez

Age: 19
School: University of New Mexico
Hometown: Albuquerque, New Mexico

Crystal lives with a heart arrhythmia and has had to wear a heart monitor at times. Her health battles inspired her to strive for the AHA scholarship. She is a biology major at the University of New Mexico and is one of 11 students chosen for the University’s Health Science Enrichment program for minorities in health care.

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