KVCC

The first recipient of the Anastasia E. Schauer Memorial Scholarship is Alice Lopez, who took her prerequisites at Kalamazoo Valley and transferred to Western Michigan University’s nursing program.

The scholarship was established by Dr. Mark Schauer and his wife Cynthia Schauer, a Kalamazoo Valley biology instructor, in memory of their daughter Anastasia, who had a life-long passion for nurturing those around her. Raised in Kalamazoo, she attended WMU Bronson School of Nursing on the Heyl Scholarship. She was a diligent student committed to her aspiration of becoming an excellent nurse. After graduating with her BSN in 2009, she moved to Denver, Colorado, to pursue her new career and experience the allure of the mountains. Her intellect, kindness and skill reflected the potential for a long and noble career, which was tragically cut short in 2012 when at the age of 24 she was killed in a car crash.

Lopez is a native of the Philippines who has lived in the United States for three years. "I was pretty lucky and thankful to get the scholarship," Lopez said. She is now a sophomore in the nursing program at Western Michigan University.

Anastasia's family hopes that the recipients of this scholarship will remember her name and be guided by the overarching themes of Anastasia’s life: live with intention; laugh often; extend a helping hand to those in need; recognize the virtue in everyone you meet.

As a nurse, Anastasia worked tirelessly to bring comfort to the vulnerable, forging bonds with the very young and the elderly alike. She was an outspoken advocate for patients and the care she provided was respectful and compassionate. Anastasia's true gift was to see the beauty in everyone she met; she was known for coaxing this beauty to blossom.

For more information about the Anastasia E. Schauer Memorial Scholarship fund or to make a donation, see: Anastasia Schauer Nursing Scholarship