Working toward the reward
Sydney Morgan has it all figured out. She’s a hyper-involved high school student with an academic record that proves she’s ready for nursing school.
“I think I wanted to be a nurse since the second grade. One day they told us to dress up like who we wanted to be when we grow up. I dressed as nurse.”
Sydney, Belton High School senior, is the recipient of the top scholarship from Cass Community Health Foundation (CCHF). Sydney will attend Missouri Southern State University in Joplin to study nursing.
The Daniel F. Sheehan Nursing Scholarship is an award of $2,500 and was created to honor Daniel F. Sheehan. Sheehan was the former CEO of Research Belton Hospital, now Belton Regional Medical Center. The scholarship honors his commitment to improving the health of residents in Cass County.
“The health field is something that has interested me for a long time, so I am excited to finally be able to pursue this passion,” Sydney said. “I want to be able to move around, interact with people and see how that’s helping patients first hand.”
Sydney has been busy during high school. She is a three sport athlete competing in softball, swim and track and field. Upon graduating from Belton High School, she will have acquired 12 varsity letters and three school records in the 100 meter breaststroke, 200 meter medley relay and pole vault. She’s a member of Future Health Professionals of America (HOSA) and National Honor Society and played in the Pirate Pride Marching Band, concert band and jazz band all four years of high school. Her junior year she served as a drum major and was honored with the title of head drum major her senior year. She also volunteers for Belton Regional Medical Center, Abundant Life Church, Special Olympics and HELP Humane.
On top of her extracurricular activities, she maintained a high grade point average and will graduate twelfth in her class. She will start her college experience with enough credit hours to be classified as a sophomore.
“People always say college will be hard, but my priority is school. I’ve figured out what study methods work best for me and how to best manage my time. I’m excited to be in classes that interest me.”
Sydney has dreams past nursing school. Her long term goal is to become a nurse practitioner or a nurse anesthetist. This scholarship was unexpected, but offers significant support for her future to go as it has been so methodically planned.
“I am a people person; I love working with and being around others. There is tremendous reward in helping someone live a longer and healthier life, and there is no better way to do that than to serve in the health field.”
