School of Nursing Student Honored for
Achievements
In one academic year, School of Nursing student Ryoko Pentecost
was selected for two prestigious awards.
Pentecost received a Boise State Research Initiative (SRI) Fellowship, which allows students to pursue independent academic and creative work and research under the mentorship of a faculty member.
School of Nursing faculty member, Jane Grassley, mentored Pentecost, and guided Pentecost’s research,
which focused on investigating the benefits of an undergraduate research assistant in nursing
In addition to the SRI Fellowship, Pentecost was one of 30 undergraduate and graduate nursing
students from among 300 national applicants to be awarded the American Psychiatric Nurses Association (APNA) Janssen Student Scholarship. The scholarship recognizes students with superior academic
records who have demonstrated a commitment to psychiatric-mental health nursing and are pursuing
professional development opportunities in the field.
Pentecost praises the School of Nursing faculty for their mentorship and for encouraging undergraduate leadership through the Student Nurses Association and undergraduate research opportunities that
are available to students. “I would not have been successful without the overwhelming support of the
faculty,” said Pentecost. “The faculty encouraged me to pursue my own research and to attend conferences, which allowed me to network with other nursing professionals.”
Pentecost has no shortage of ideas for the future. Thanks to her many positive experiences while
completing her undergraduate degree at the School of Nursing, she is considering a career as a nurse
educator. Another goal is to become a psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner with a doctor of
nursing practice degree program in hopes of one day opening a
clinic for mothers with postpartum depression.
Pentecost will be continuing her education in Boise State’s masters in nursing program focused on care of populations.
Ryoko Pentecost (right)with
faculty mentor, Dr. Jane Grassley,
at 2011 Western Institute of
Nursing conference with their
research poster on breastfeeding.
BOISE STATE UNIVERSITY
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