U.S. veterans and families assisted by new Nursing scholarship

University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
Contact:
Desiree Yamamoto, (808) 956-2904
Marketing Manager, Nursing
Posted: Mar 31, 2015

Dean Mary Boland, Dr. Lawrence Tseu and Shelley Wilson.
Dean Mary Boland, Dr. Lawrence Tseu and Shelley Wilson.

With the generosity of a philanthropist and retired dentist, Dr. Lawrence K.W. Tseu, U.S. veterans and their families can transition to careers in nursing at UH Mānoa with support from the Shelley Wilson Nursing Scholarship for Veterans, created in honor of Shelley Wilson, founder, president and CEO of Wilson Care Group. 

“I wanted to honor Shelley with a scholarship in her name because I want others to know what a tremendous job she does for others in the community,” said Dr. Tseu.  “Shelley has overcome great adversity in her life and spends much of her time giving back to assist our kūpuna and veterans.”

Wilson was only 18 years old when she was seriously injured in a car accident while on active duty as a medical specialist with the U.S. Army National Guard in Iowa. She was confined to a wheelchair for a year while undergoing a number of surgeries. Her severe injuries left her dependent on others to care for her 24/7, which was a great struggle for both her and her family. 

Through this experience, Wilson realized how valuable that dependable, compassionate home care could be.  After moving to Hawai‘i to complete her recovery, she started Wilson Homecare at the age of 21. The business struggled in its early years, but with determination, grit and hard work, she turned Wilson Homecare into one of Hawai‘i’s largest home health-care service providers with more than 400 employees. She is also the owner/administrator of Wilson Senior Living in Kailua, a new concept in residential senior care. 

In honor of Wilson’s accomplishments and contributions to the community, the Shelley Wilson Nursing Scholarship for Veterans will help U.S. veterans and/or their family members start a career in the field of nursing. The scholarship will complement the Achieving a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing: A Veterans' Initiative Program, which was selected for a $342,472 federal grant awarded to UH Mānoa Nursing to assist U.S. veterans with medical training backgrounds transition into a new career in nursing. 

“As fellow veterans, Dr. Tseu and I both have great respect and admiration for the service men and women who sacrifice to serve our country,” said Wilson. “It’s wonderful to be able to provide this opportunity for veterans to pursue nursing as a career after military service.” 

Said Nursing Dean Mary G. Boland, “We thank Dr. Lawrence K.W. Tseu for his continued generosity and support of UH Mānoa Nursing in honor of his friend and colleague Shelley Wilson. For all that Shelley has accomplished, she is great role model for our students to look to for inspiration.”  

To support students in the Achieving a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing: A Veterans' Initiative Program, or to make a gift in honor of Shelley Wilson, please make your fast, secure online donation at www.uhfoundation.org/givetonursing.

For inquiries about giving to UH Mānoa Nursing, please contact Jennifer Burke, director of development, at (808) 956-3659 or at jennifer.burke@uhfoundation.org.

About UH Mānoa Nursing

UH Mānoa Nursing, the Nursing Capitol of the Pacific, is the leader in nursing education and research in Hawai‘i with outreach to Asia and the Pacific Basin. We support the mission of the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa: to provide an innovative, caring and multicultural environment in which faculty, students and staff work together to generate and transmit knowledge, wisdom, and values to promote quality of life and health for present and future generations. The school offers the BS, master’s, and doctoral programs. To reflect Hawai‘I’s unique cultural diversity and heritage, UH Mānoa Nursing is committed to increasing the representation of Native Hawaiian and other underserved people in all nursing programs. Visit us at www.nursing.hawaii.edu.