PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — “Staying in Aroostook County has been beneficial because I have my family and friends nearby while I work through college in one of the most affordable nursing programs in the state,” said Jessica Baldwin, 2015 Gauvin Scholar.
“With the Gauvin Scholarship, I always have a community support group that can point me towards internships, places to get taxes done, or something like the best outlets for assistance with coursework.”
Jessica Baldwin
Baldwin, a 2015 graduate of Presque Isle High School, is currently attending the University of Maine at Fort Kent (UMFK), where she is majoring in nursing, a profession to which she is fully committed. She works as an intern in the operation room and day surgery unit at The Aroostook Medical Center in Presque Isle, and is a unit caretaker at the Eagle Lake nursing home.
“It’s amazing. Just like this county, the hospital employees are like a family. They are so welcoming and caring. They are a great circle of friends to have. I am very blessed,” said Baldwin.
Aside from her studies, Baldwin is the vice president, treasurer, and brother-sister relations chair for Kappa Delta Phi NAS, Kappa Rho chapter. She is also a former UMFK Student Nurses Organization activity coordinator, and a member of UMFK’s Partners for International Relief. This August, she and other UMFK nursing students will embark on a medical mission relief trip to Costa Rica to assist in the community of Alajuelita with clinic operations, collecting vital signs, patient care, charting, and initiating health education sessions.
“This is just a small thing that I can do to show compassion to those who need it. As a future nurse, it is vital to me to do all that I can to show my Christian love, kindness, and compassion in all that I do through what I do best, caring for others,” said Baldwin.
“Demonstrated commitment to service and community is a quality we look for when selecting Gauvin Scholars,” said AAI’s executive director, Kristen Wells. “Jessica exemplifies the ambitious, hardworking, and engaged student that we need in Aroostook County. She is passionate about her future and focused on the opportunities that will help her reach her goals. It’s important to help her continue building her future here.”
After college, Baldwin plans to work as a nurse and pursue a master’s degree as a nurse practitioner, focusing on women’s health, neonatal care and delivery.
To learn more about AAI or the Gauvin Scholar program, visit gauvinfund.org, like them on Facebook, follow them on Twitter at AAI/GauvinFund or e-mail info@gauvinfund.org. Donations can be made online, in person at AAI, 754 Main Street Presque Isle, or by mail: 26 North Street Box 138, Presque Isle, ME 04769.
