National Park College (NPC) announced recipients for the John and Helen Selig Scholarship.
Registered nursing student Robin Newcomer and nursing hopeful Sarah Duran will each
receive the $500 award for the spring semester.The merit-based scholarship is awarded to students with a preferred minimum cumulative
grade point average of 3.50, a minimum of 12 credit hours completed, and at least
one year of coursework left to complete. It is open to students of all majors. Pictured
is Sarah Duran (left) and Robin Newcomer (right).
Newcomer is a registered nursing student at NPC and plans to transfer to the University
of Central Arkansas after graduation to complete a Bachelor of Nursing degree. She
hopes to specialize in oncology, become an infusion nurse or work in at-home care.
Newcomer lost her husband to cancer three years ago and says pursuing a path in nursing
is her way of honoring his memory. “After the loss of my husband, I’m making a life
change. I’m supporting myself now, so any help is beneficial. It means a lot. I wasn’t
expecting anything this semester. I appreciate the donor’s willingness to help people
like me and I hope to give back at some point,” said Newcomer.
Duran is working to complete prerequisite coursework before applying to the nursing program. She hopes to work in labor and delivery and serve as a lactation consultant. Duran says there are very few lactation consultants in our community and no Hispanic lactation consultants registered in Arkansas. She hopes to become the first. Her goal is to focus on breaking down stigmas associated with breastfeeding in minority communities.
Duran is a mother of three young children. She said, “This scholarship actually means more food on the table, and more gas in my tank. I feel like a burden has been lifted this semester. It was a huge surprise and a really big blessing.” She said she is appreciative of the Selig family, stating, “This is something they don’t have to do. This is something from their heart, investing in us and I hope to make them proud. I am so grateful.”
