The Austin APNs Scholarship Committee is pleased to announce the selection of Deborah Castro and Jennifer Heinz as the recipients of the 2011 Scholarship Awards

The Austin APNs Scholarship Committee is pleased to announce the selection of Deborah Castro and Jennifer Heinz as the recipients of the   2011 awards.

Ms. Castro is attending Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in the Family Nurse Practitioner Program; with an expected graduation date of August 2011. Ms. Castro has maintained a 3.888 grade point average while working as an Emergency Department nurse at Seton Northwest Hospital. One of her accomplishments during the past 2 years was as the principle investigator for the phlebotomy study which helped to maintain recognition of Seton Northwest Hospital’s Magnet Certification. Ms. Castro also volunteered her emergency department expertise as part of the medical team in the field clinics during the AT&T marathon and Tour d’Cure bike race.

Ms. Castro’s career goal is to practice in a rural setting providing preventative health care to underserved communities.

Ms. Heinz is attending The University of Texas Austin School of Nursing; Neonatal Nurse Practitioner Program; with an anticipated graduation date of May 2012. Ms. Heinz also holds a BA degree in Cultural Anthropology from the University of Texas. Ms. Heinz is currently employed at Seton Medical Center in the Neonatal ICU; where she has won an Excellence in Action Award for her activities as a trainer for new medical equipment. According to her co-workers and manager, she has become an invaluable resource for the staff sharing the knowledge she is gaining in her advanced practice program. All of her references have praised patient advocacy as one of her many strengths. Ms. Heinz has also served her community as a volunteered for The March of Dimes Organization.

Ms. Heinz career goal is to continue to provide quality care in a level III NICU.