A first-year student at St. Clair College has won a $3000 nationwide scholarship.
Matthew Malandruccolo, a first-year nursing student, was one of 20 who won a scholarship from Retired Teachers of Ontario. They are a health insurance provider for retired teachers across Canada. Requirements involved applicants providing suggestions to improve the lives of seniors.
Malandruccolo said winning the scholarship is a good feeling.
“Very exciting. My mom and grandmother are retired teachers, so they gave me the opportunity to sign up for this. I’m very thankful for them, and I’m very excited to receive the funds to help in my schooling and education path here,” said Malandruccolo.
Regarding St. Clair’s nursing program, Malandruccolo said he thinks it is handled well despite the challenges of COVID-19.
“So far, it’s been pretty good. We start our in-person clinical next week, that will be the first time we enter the hospital setting. That will be exciting to get our hands-on skills going,” he said.
He also said expectations and differences in online learning have required some adjustments on his part.
Malandruccolo’s desire to help seniors stemmed from previous experiences he had before studying nursing at St. Clair College.
These experiences include working as a caregiver for Amy’s Helping Hands, a local company providing senior care services.
“The opportunity to sign up for this kind of scholarship lined up to my previous past of working in that field,” he said.
He also said he is open to working in a variety of fields once he graduates.
“I’m kind of interested in working in mental health, with people with mental health issues or addictions, things like that. Or obviously in the hospital setting, helping people in general."