The UNC Charlotte Association of Nursing Students (ANS) has met its goal to raise $25,000 to establish the first student-led endowment at the University. The effort funds the Ashley Lutz Memorial Scholarship in Nursing. It honors UNC Charlotte nursing alumna Ashley Lutz, and it will be awarded to a student who demonstrates an extraordinary passion for nursing and a commitment to serving others.
ANS members began efforts to establish this endowment in September 2011; more than 200 students helped to directly raise more than $10,000 for the fund. Contributions were received through a variety of events and activities led by ANS members, including a benefit dinner, chocolate sales and car washes, letters and email campaigns and presentations. ANS members made personal appeals for contributions and collected donations in handmade trunks that read “Loot for Lutz.”
An additional $15,000 was contributed by founding partners, the Gamma Iota Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International, as well as family, friends and UNC Charlotte faculty and staff. Katie Preske DiStefano (’11), under whose leadership the fund was launched, said “the scholarship is testament to what the community can do and how much Ashley impacted all of us, even those she never knew.”
Dee Baldwin, associate dean and director, School of Nursing, stated, “With this first student-led endowment, nursing students have demonstrated that students, many of whom rely on scholarship support themselves, can achieve extraordinary things by banding together and inspiring others to get involved. “
ANS was honored by the Charlotte chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) as the Outstanding Student Philanthropy Award recipients in 2012.
Association members explained that Lutz was fondly remembered for her many talents and unwavering passion for nursing. Despite being diagnosed with cancer during her final semester of nursing school, Lutz never missed a day of clinical practice. She insisted on taking her final exams from her hospital bed and passed the tests with high marks. Lutz said one of her happiest moments was being pinned at commencement in May 2011, a symbol that she had achieved her dream of becoming a nurse. Days later, she passed away.
Learn more about the scholarship online.