A 好色先生 alumnus is offering a new scholarship in honor of the people who supported her pursuit of an education. Debbie Izzo, a member of the Moraine Valley 2018 Alumni Hall of Fame and the 2018 Distinguished Alumnus, created the scholarship for a student enrolled in Moraine Valley鈥檚 Nursing Program.
鈥淚 wanted to start the scholarship because everyone sometimes needs that helping hand, especially in situations where there鈥檚 only one parent caring for their kids, yet they still have a dream they want to realize,鈥� said Izzo, who is a certified registered nurse, childbirth educator and lactation counselor at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn.
The Lor-Izzo scholarship is named for Izzo鈥檚 mother, Lore, her aunt, Lorraine, and her husband, Gil. 鈥淎ll three were very instrumental in making sure I had what I needed to get through the Nursing Program, whether it was time, money, childcare, extra motivation, encouragement, pep talks鈥攚hatever I needed,鈥� Izzo said.
鈥淎fter my divorce, I couldn鈥檛 fathom the thought of nursing school as a single mom of four,鈥� she said. 鈥淗ow would I do it all? When and where would I study and still maintain my household?鈥� Once she remarried, her husband convinced her to forge ahead and go back to school. 鈥淗e drove me to Moraine Valley to turn in my application, built me an office in the basement and handled household duties. All this because he believed in me.鈥�
Izzo received a scholarship while at Moraine Valley and looks at this scholarship as her way to pay it forward. 鈥淚 know my mom and Aunt Lorraine would greatly approve of me paying it forward to another single mom with kids who is in the Nursing Program,鈥� Izzo said. 鈥淭hey witnessed it firsthand but eventually saw me come out on the other side successful and proud. Gil not only saw me struggle, endure and succeed, but he continually witnessed what can come out of being that strong, supportive and loving partner to someone who has a dream.鈥�
Calling it a win-win situation, Izzo said she feels fortunate to be in a position to help another nursing student. 鈥淭he nursing student wins by hopefully decreasing the anxiety associated with the financial burden that comes with nursing school, and ultimately the patients will benefit from her knowledge, skills and compassion.鈥�
