Two Nursing Students Named Top Ten Scholars
Sara Palma and Mason Shaw, both graduating seniors with double
majors in nursing and Spanish, were named Top Ten Scholars in
recognition of their exceptional academic success.
Presented by the Alumni Association in conjunction with the Honors College, Top Ten Scholar
is one of the highest honors awarded to a Boise State student. Qualified students have a grade point
average higher than 3.8 and are reviewed based on academic breadth of coursework, research, creative
works and publications, presentations at professional meetings or conferences, and extra curricular
community and campus service.
Sara Palma has completed more than 300 hours of volunteer
service at the Boise VA Medical Center in the emergency department and intensive care unit. In addition to studying for a semester
in San Juan, Puerto Rico in spring 2010, she spent a semester in
China as a volunteer English teacher, and a month volunteering
in a rural primary health clinic in Panama. She has presented her
research done in conjunction with Central District Health Department and St. Luke’s locally and at the Western Institute of Nursing
Research Conference in Portland, Ore. She recently completed
a manuscript for her study about intramuscular injection failure
in overweight and obese patients. Palma currently is working as a
registered nurse to gain experience before applying to advanced practice degree programs. She plans to
continue to participate in research and volunteer work. Palma honored Pam Strohfus, assistant professor of nursing, at the awards banquet.
After Mason Shaw participated in the National Student
Exchange program in Keene State, New Hampshire, his desire to
explore the cultures of the world consumed him and he postponed
his nursing studies to live in Heredia, Costa Rica for a year and
become fluent in Spanish. Working hard to maintain his language
skills, he holds a certificate as a Spanish medical interpreter. With
a passion for helping others, he has enjoyed his experiences as a
student nurse and aspires to work as a neonatal intensive care registered nurse to care for infants and families in serious times of need.
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SCHOOL OF NURSING