inPractice - Fall 2016 - 6

S usan B. (Nunemacher) Pichini '78 and Guido M. Pichini Endowed Scholarship Fund Born and raised in Schuylkill County, Sue Pichini '78 was inspired to become a nurse during a childhood visit to Lancaster to see the allergy specialist, Dr. Stephen Lockey, Sr. Here she encountered a nurse who was the model of efficiency and skill, in a crisp white uniform and cap, and young Sue thought, "I want to be just like her!" PA College, then the LGH School of Nursing, was the only school Sue applied to and she recalls her time here with pride and affection. While she describes volleyball games in a small patch of grass near the school and escapes to Mama Mia's Pizza, her course of study was challenging from the start. SCHOLARSHIP PROFILE SUE RECALLS HER TIME SPENT AT THE THEN LGH SCHOOL OF NURSING WITH PRIDE AND AFFECTION. On day one, she and her fellow students were expected to report to 4 North in Lancaster General Hospital in uniform and be ready to dive right in. After graduating in 1978, Sue took a night shift position at Reading Hospital and Medical Center. Thanks to her excellent education at PA College, she was soon given the opportunity for further cardiovascular training, which then allowed her to work in the Emergency Room at all levels. She was eventually promoted to second shift Charge Nurse and spent eight years in the ER. Sue later managed a GYN fertility practice in Reading for twenty years until her retirement. When she is occasionally 6 inPractice | FALL 2016 asked if she misses nursing, Sue points out that it never really goes away, noting the caregiving she has provided to her parents late in their lives and the ongoing opportunities to help family members consider their own medical choices. Sue and her husband Guido are passionate supporters of higher education, at PA College and throughout the state. Sue is a member of our Alumni Association Board and the Building Futures Campaign Communications Committee. Guido has served on numerous higher education Boards, including at his alma mater, Kutztown University, and at the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education. Together they have funded scholarships and supported fundraising events at numerous Pennsylvania colleges. As an alumna, Sue calls it her mission to encourage fellow graduates to get involved and give back in support of PA College. We're thrilled to announce that this year, the Pichinis have made a generous gift to the College to establish the Susan B. (Nunemacher) Pichini '78 and Guido M. Pichini Endowed Scholarship Fund for nursing students. Sue and Guido are proud to help to grow the College's scholarship opportunities and are dedicated to removing the financial barriers that can prevent promising students from achieving their academic and professional goals. They are gratified to know that more than half of PA College students are the first in their families to go to college and understand that financial support can provide life-changing experiences for the students and their families. "It was the best school ever," reminisces Sue about her time at the College. She's thrilled to see that the hands-on learning that distinguished her education is still at the heart of the student experience today, in the Center for Excellence in Practice, opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration and so much more. Sue still thinks PA College is the best and she and Guido can't wait to see what the future holds. To learn more about endowing a scholarship or making a gift to an existing scholarship, contact Ellen Wylie at (717) 947-6089 or ebwylie@PAcollege.edu.

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of inPractice - Fall 2016