Emily Medeiros, a graduating Mt. Hope High School senior who plans to study nursing this fall, is the recipient of the 2021 Jane Creel Memorial Scholarship.

The $5,000 scholarship is given in memory of the late Jane Creel of Warren, a 1956 Warren High School graduate who dedicated her life to nursing and helping others. To be considered for the scholarship, students must be entering into an LPN or RN program, and must "routinely display the qualities of dedication, loyalty and selflessness. GPA, school attendance, financial need and the strength of an application essay are also taken into consideration.

Emily wrote in her essay that a series of tough life events — the death of close loved ones, personal injuries and self-doubt — have helped her grow as a person, and made her realize that she has a passion for caring for others.

Though Emily volunteers as a CCD teacher and works 30 hours a week, she also found time during her senior year to participate in the high school robotics club, the color guard and the unified basketball team.

During her sophomore year, she ran a fund-raiser for Hasbro Children's Hospital, and during her senior year was in charge of "Operation Gratitude," which prepared and sent out care packages for those in the military. She also organized a drive to send Thank You cards for first responders.

"My dedication to my school and community made it all possible for me to be able to juggle all these events, clubs, school work, and practices," she wrote in her essay. "I was also able to learn a lot more about the needs in my community and more about the people living in my community. I realized that more people needed someene to listen to when they were down and needed more people to lend a helping hand."

"I am also the girl who dreamed of becoming a nurse since I was in eighth grade, because I realized that being a nurse reflects who I am as a person and who I want to continue to be as a person," she wrote.