Career path ID’d with brother’s top nursing care: Richey part 3
Christine Sprague presented a heartfelt account of her brother’s struggle with cancer.
Her observations, in fact, have affected her career path.
Sprague, a Farragut High School students, is among three area Knox County Schools recipients of the Evan Richey Memorial Scholarship.
Tina Richey, mother of the namesake, the late Hardin Valley Academy graduate Evan Richey, said this year four $2,000 scholarships were awarded.
“Their essay on how cancer affected them is a major part of the selection criteria,” said Tina, as she and Mark Richey established the scholarship in memory of their son, who lost his life to osteosarcoma on the day he received his high school diploma in 2019.
Sprague
“Christine wrote about her brother’s battle with T-cell leukemia and how the nurses caring for her brother inspired her career choice,” Richey said.
“I feel I earned this scholarship because I was able to relate to his family and what it feels like when a family member is so sick,” said Sprague, daughter of Kim and Doug Sprague and sister of Andrew and Elise, who will be attending the University of Kentucky and majoring in nursing. ”It means a lot to me that I was chosen.
“Evan’s story really touched my heart, and I am honored to be able to use his story along with my brother’s through my future career,” she added.
“Through my brother’s long journey of cancer, and the many nights on the oncology floor, I really admired the nurses. Along with all the medicine, they brought the joy we needed in such dark times.”
She plans to obtain her certified nursing assistant license next month, and plans to become a pediatric nurse.
About the emotion of it all, “I was shocked and full of excitement when I learned I was a recipient of the scholarship,” she said.
Two additional scholarships were awarded this year, in part due to proceeds raised from mask sales made by Tina Richey.
