Susan Elaine Harrison Memorial Endowed Nursing Scholarship
The late Ms. Harrison was a graduate of the Rowan-Cabarrus Associate Degree Nursing Program. This fund was established in 1995 by the Harrison family, friends, and the Hoechst-Celanese Foundation. Ms. Harrison’s mother, Brenda Smith, presented the following paraphrased speech at the 2011 Changing Lives Scholarship Luncheon:
“Susan Elaine Harrison was my daughter for 23 years of her life. Suzy grew up in Denton where she participated in volleyball, softball, track and all the sports a girl can play. She was very popular, once representing the football team on the homecoming court. Suzy always said she was going to be somebody one day; her goal was to become a registered nurse. Rowan-Cabarrus Community College became her college where she studied hard and then graduated in 1992 as a registered nurse. After graduation, Suzy went to work at Spencer Health Care Center where she enjoyed working with the elderly. After a short period of time she became the assistant director of nursing. After Suzy passed away, I wanted to do something to keep her memory and her dream of nursing alive.I established an endowed scholarship in her name, the Susan Elaine Harrison Nursing Scholarship. If Suzy could not be a nurse, I could help others to fulfill their dream of nursing.
Suzy is continuing to put others through the nursing program at Rowan-Cabarrus. Where there once was one nurse, now there are many. One nursing dream has turned into many nursing dreams and reality.
Suzy wanted to be somebody one day. She wanted to accomplish something worthwhile with her life as a registered nurse. I believe she achieved this goal in life and death.”