Growing up Catholic, Allison Szewczyk was taught to spread compassion to others through service. Now, she follows that calling each day as a nurse.
In May, Szewczyk earned her bachelor’s degree from Newman University alongside 18 fellow nursing graduates. Graduation was a milestone achievement not only for her, but also for her family.
“I’m the first in my immediate family to graduate college,” she explained. “Knowing that with the help of my parents I can carry that name forward means so much to me. I hope I can provide better for my parents, my brother and even my future kids.”
Finding her footing
Despite being more than 3,500 miles away from home, the Alaska native discovered a sense of belonging at Newman. Her involvement as a student-athlete on the bowling team, a nursing student and even daily campus interactions helped her find a second place to call home.
“I definitely found my group of people,” she said.
Szewczyk started Newman’s nursing program without any prior medical experience. But her interest in science, the human body and physiology led her to a passion she couldn’t ignore.
Clinical rotations at Newman gave Szewczyk hands-on experience in a variety of hospital settings at two Ascension Via Christi hospitals, St. Francis and St. Joseph.
“I’ve been in the emergency department, ICU and different areas like pediatrics, so it’s been a wonderful experience,” she said. “I want to go into cardiac ICU, and I was grateful to be part of that unit on the critical care rotation and also for my capstone. I really found my passion there.”
The community and professors helped me build a sense of confidence.
– Szewczyk ’25
A future as a caring nurse
In August, Szewczyk will transition from her role as a nursing intern to the coronary care unit of a Wichita hospital — a feat that she said wouldn’t have been possible without her time at Newman.
“The community and especially the professors have helped me build a sense of confidence in myself,” Szewczyk said. “Nursing is a career where you have to believe in yourself first, and it’s very knowledge-based. So knowing my professors believe in me and my abilities shows me that I have people I can rely on in a way.”
Szewczyk said she hopes to be remembered for her kindness.
“I also want to be remembered as someone who is passionate about their career and who can spread that passion with those around them and hopefully inspire them to pursue their own calling,” she said.
Prepare for your nursing career at Newman University
The Bachelor of Science in Nursing program at Newman University provides a unique educational experience, highlighting challenges students will face in their careers as healthcare professionals, to equip them to transform society.
