Rita Glazebrook, chair of the nursing department at St. Olaf sees Busch's award as both a credit to Busch's own hard work and as a benefit to the college's other nursing students.

"Having Rebecca named as one of two baccalaureate nursing students in the United States is a tribute to her academic accomplishments and her ability to articulate her passion for others," Glazebrook said.

For the nursing department, the scholarship is a way to "recognize the quality of nursing students at St. Olaf," Glazebrook said

For Busch, the scholarship helps her achieve a lifelong goal of serving others. She had an interest in the medical field from an early age, but it was not until her last year of high school that she decided to pursue the nursing profession. Her mother suggested nursing as a better fit for her than a physician. Busch discovered this to be true from her nursing experience at St. Olaf, and is grateful today for her mother's advice.

Busch especially enjoys "getting to know her patients and their personal needs" as a nurse. She also credits her St. Olaf liberal arts experience for giving her the skills to see her patient "holistically & considering every sort of influence that affects their wellness."

Busch counts the "unexpected tuition help and being able to advocate for St. Olaf's wonderful nursing program" as the highlights of receiving the award.

An internship at Gillette Children's Hospital this past summer inspired Busch to embark on a future in pediatric nursing.

"It was so rewarding to see the resiliency of children and to watch their progress," Busch said. She hopes to continue supporting the children of the hospital in her future work.

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