Proud Eagle Nursing Scholarship Helping Students

Jessica Avalos

Jessica Avalos grew up in the agricultural community of Grandview, Washington as one of 11 children in the family. Her parents were strict about education – something they did not have the opportunity to complete themselves. Ultimately, this first-generation college student and her siblings were told, “Your happiness is what matters most.”

Jessica has found that happiness in preparing for a career in healthcare. When she was in middle school, she wanted to become a surgeon, but instead moved to Spokane after high school to live with family and pursue pre-med at EWU. She joined the first cohort in the new School of Nursing in the fall of 2023.

Diversity was also a draw for Jessica. “Eastern made it easy to get to know people,” she says. And while her first semester was hard, she is grateful for her professors and Department Chair Donna Bachand, who have listened and responded to student needs.

Bachand supported Jessica and fellow student Brooklyn Parkey in establishing the Eagle Nursing Student Association, to assist future nursing students as they prepare for careers in the Spokane region.

Jessica received the Proud Eagle Nursing Scholarship, which allowed her to move from part-time employment as a barista to working as a nursing technician while she finishes her degree.

“I really needed it,” she says appreciatively. “The Spokane housing market is so expensive, but this scholarship helped me to remain in stable housing while I changed jobs to work in my field.”

Established by alumni donors Kathy and Ken Privratsky, the Proud Eagle Nursing Scholarship Fund honors the heroic sacrifices of doctors and nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic, while helping students in their home community to earn nursing degrees and inspire others.

Jessica hopes to someday meet the Privratskys and thank them in person. “They sound like such amazing and generous people,” she says. “I can’t believe they would do this for me, but I am so happy that they did.”

Brooklyn Parkey

“I love being an Eagle!”

When Brooklyn Parkey was seven years old, her mom went back to school to become a nurse – all while raising four children at home.

“I admire her so much,” Brooklyn says. “I never thought about how hard that was!”

Brooklyn graduated from high school in Spokane and enrolled at EWU. When she learned that Eastern would open the School of Nursing in the fall of 2023, she was excited that she did not have to transfer schools, and could remain an Eagle.

Upon learning that she had been awarded the Proud Eagle Nursing scholarship, Brooklyn recalls being excited: “With a scholarship, I can work less and focus more on my studies,” she says.

When Brooklyn graduates, she plans to stay in Spokane and follow in her mother’s footsteps, helping to meet the health-care needs of families in our region. And like her older siblings, who are also Eastern alumni, Brooklyn’s sister plans to enroll in the School of Nursing having been inspired by her mom and sister in a family of proud Eagles!