CU Nursing - Fall Commencement 2023 - 6

FA L L COMMENC EMENT 2 0 2 3
Continued - Bachelor of Science
Candidates for Degree December 2023
Arleny Muñoz*
Adam Norman
Chris Rinaldo***
Matthew Rockwell***
Jennifer Shanor***
Kayli Short***
Emily Simonaitis**
Valerie Steinmetz*
Amanda Taylor***
Sydney Waite***
Samuel Wellman***
Jordan Wilson*
Julie Winn**
Mathew Hrenya-Wood*
Shelby Wright***
Akofa Zannou***
From despair to dedication. When Sam Wellman
graduates in December 2023, it will be with purpose and
community. The 26-year-old attended CU Nursing full-time for
a solid year through CU Nursing's Accelerated Nursing (UCAN) program. Earlier in
life, Sam struggled to find his footing, lost in alcoholism. But the very people who
helped him recover set him on an exciting new path to becoming a nurse, taking
care of himself, and serving others.
" I think it's a hard thing to learn how to balance and do self-care until you've
experienced what it's like not to do those things, " says Wellman. " I'm excited that
I already have a good foundation for how to take care of myself in my long career
ahead of nursing. "
Wellman thrived during the UCAN program and like a beacon of hope, in his spare
time, volunteered in several organizations helping other people in
substance abuse recovery find new ways and new reasons to live.
You might say his experience at CU Nursing truly changed Sam
Wellman into a well man.
SCAN THE QR CODE TO READ MORE ABOUT SAM.
If Arleny Muñoz had a motto, it
would be sin miedo. No fear. She
faced uncertainty when her parents
emigrated from Mexico and she
became a child of DACA (Deferred
Action for Childhood Arrivals). She
faced nervousness translating for
6
her family wherever they went. And
she faced the worst fear of all when
she saw...blood. That fear blocked
her from becoming a nurse like
her mom had been in Mexico. But
Muñoz finally overcame it by getting
a job as a medical assistant.
" I went from this dumb fear that held
me back and realized I'd always
wanted to be a nurse, but I was too
scared to do it, " says Muñoz.
Now nothing's off limits. She
tackled an intense year in the
University of Colorado College of
Nursing's Accelerated Bachelor's
in Nursing UCAN program. She's
ready to work in an emergency
department, help people in her
community pursue their dreams,
and show them there's nothing to be
afraid of.
" It's important they can trust
somebody, and I want to be that
bridge and forge a
path to affordable
healthcare. "
SCAN THE QR CODE TO READ
MORE ABOUT ARLENY.
CU Nursing - Fall Commencement 2023

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