09/23/2026
Congratulations to our AAUW scholarship recipients!
A special thank-you to the AAUW Colorado Springs Branch for its generous support of our nursing students! On September 12, the branch celebrated its 2026 scholarship recipients at its Scholarship Awards Welcome Coffee. Of the eight $3,000 scholarships awarded this year, five went to students in the UCCS Beth-El College of Nursing and Health Sciences, from both our Accelerated and Traditional nursing programs.
Please join us in congratulating:
👏 Marissa "Rizzy" Bergere: A former dancer and educator, Rizzy has taught children ages 5–18 and supported mothers and newborns. Her journey has taken her from Texas to London and now to our Accelerated Nursing program. She plans to become a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA). In her words: "My goal is not simply to enter the nursing workforce, but to lead within it—to model emotionally intelligent care and pursue advanced certification."
👏 Julia Di**le: Watching her twin brother face a serious undiagnosed illness inspired Julia to become a nurse. She wants "to be a source of comfort, strength and advocacy for others facing uncertainty in their health journey." Julia is a CNA, works in the UCCS nursing office, has volunteered with Canine Partners of the Rockies, and volunteers at Children's Hospital. Her goal is to become a pediatric nurse.
👏 Bethlehem "Betty" Getachew: Raised in Denver by her single mother, Betty battled leukemia through much of her childhood and underwent years of chemotherapy before being declared cancer-free. She worked twice as hard to catch up in school and is now excelling as a junior nursing major. She hopes "to return the compassion that was freely gifted to me to my future patients."
👏 Jennifer Hansen: A student in our Accelerated Nursing program, Jennifer returned to school after raising her children and recovering from a traumatic brain injury. She completed 45 credits in one year with a 4.0 GPA. She plans to work as a pediatric RN while pursuing graduate study to become a pediatric mental health nurse practitioner, bringing accessible, holistic mental health care to her community.
UCCS nursing professor Tricia Hester, who is also a member of the AAUW Colorado Springs Branch, encouraged our students to apply. "These students bring dedication, resilience, and heart to everything they do, and I'm so proud to see them recognized," said Hester.
