Elise Christine Denton Memorial Endowed Scholarship

Elise Christine Denton was a graduate of the University of North Alabama, receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing in May 2010. While at UNA, she played two years of soccer for the UNA Lions, worked several on and off campus jobs, and made a huge number of life-long friends. Immediately after graduating, Elise began her career at St. Thomas Hospital in Nashville, TN, and was there for the next six years – most of that time as a labor and delivery nurse. During her tenure at St. Thomas, Elise was considered a talented, conscientious, and caring nurse and had assisted in the delivery of 417 babies. According to her patients, coworkers, and management staff, Elise “raised the bar” of nursing care in how she performed her duties with professionalism, high standards, and kind-heartedness. Elise also loved to travel and for that reason, she decided to resign her position in the summer of 2016 and pursue a travel nursing career. Tragically, Elise lost her life just days before she was to leave for her first travel nursing assignment in Seattle, WA.

Elise spent her time well on this Earth. She taught us to embrace joy and laughter, to pursue our dreams, and to work really hard. She showed us how important it is to make someone smile, to push through disappointment, to practice our talents, and to love people. It is our hope that this scholarship will honor Elise’s memory by awarding recipients who demonstrate the same hard-working spirit, integrity, and enthusiasm in everything they do. May this award be a stepping stone for those pursuing dreams of their own. Two of Elise’s favorite quotes were:

“The purpose of life, after all, is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly without fear for newer and richer experiences.” – by Eleanor Roosevelt

“Second star to the right and straight on ’til morning.” – by J.M. Barrie, from Peter Pan

In memory of Elise, may your life’s journeys be as joyful as your destinations.
Recipients of this scholarship shall be full-time undergraduate students who have been accepted into the nursing program and have shown a commitment to service. Preference shall be given to students who have demonstrated financial need. The scholarship may be renewable for the duration of a recipient’s undergraduate education provided the recipient meets or maintains the above mentioned criteria. The recipient recommendations will be selected by the Anderson College of Nursing and Health Professions Scholarship Committee in consultation with the Office of Student Financial Aid.