Cole Shirkey is navigating his second year at The Ohio State University at Newark with a host of resources and experiences that have put him on his current path.
While a student at Newark High School, Cole channeled his energy into playing the saxophone in The Pride of Newark Marching Band, participating in the Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps and tennis team, and putting forth hard work academically resulting in his induction into the National Honor Society.
As a graduate of Newark City Schools, Cole benefited from programming provided by A Call to College, the district’s college access program. Aside from the guidance they provided in showing the steps towards college, A Call to College also awarded Cole Last Doller Grants, funded by a scholarship held by Newark Campus Development Fund, to support his educational costs.
This financial assistance, as well as scholarships created by NCDF donors that he has been awarded by Ohio State Newark, have proven invaluable in Cole’s educational attainment as he pursues his nursing degree. “I truly need scholarships to help make college a possibility for me,” he shared, “and The J. Gilbert and Louella H. Reese Next Generation Scholarship and The Everett D. Reese Scholarship are a huge blessing not only to me, but for the many people I will take care of one day when I become a nurse.”
When it came time for Cole to decide on the right college, he knew he did not want to distance himself from his family too quickly. Staying local while completing his prerequisites for the nursing program has given him the chance to get a feel for college and be fortunate to continue to live at home.
With a longtime interest in helping people, Cole figured that nursing would be a great way to convert his passion into his profession. “I have wanted to be a nurse for several years. I watched many wonderful nurses take care of my mother when she was battling breast cancer. I saw compassion and I want to give that care back. I’ve always wanted to help other people, so that has been my leading motivation for it,” he said.
Cole plans to complete as much of his coursework as possible at Ohio State Newark before finishing his degree on Main Campus.
