First Generation College Student Receives Foundation Nursing Scholarships
Meet Laura Guzman Lucatero, recipient of this year’s Norma Melchor Nursing Scholarship and Hansen Memorial Scholarship.
Laura was born in San Jose, California, moved to Mexico with her family when she was in second grade, and returned to the U.S. with an aunt as a teenager, determined to become a nurse and build a career here. After graduating from high school, she attended West Valley College and worked full-time while completing her pre-nursing prerequisites. The first-generation college student, whose parents’ schooling ended after sixth grade, became a certified nursing assistant (CNA) and got a job in El Camino Health’s critical care unit. She is now studying for her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) at Samuel Merritt University in Oakland while working as an administrative assistant in the progressive care unit. She expects to graduate in December 2025.
“I was so inspired by the nurses on the critical care unit. They are amazing caregivers, amazing humans, and generous mentors,” Laura says. Despite the stresses of working on the floor with the most seriously ill patients, many who stayed for weeks, Laura always made time to take care of their hair. “It was nice to see patients recover. It was also important to support families in the sad moments,” she recalls. Fluent in Spanish, Laura aspires to become a critical care nurse, provide the best patient-centered care, and represent Latinos in nursing to make healthcare more diverse.
Every spring, El Camino Health Foundation and El Camino Hospital Auxiliary award scholarships to students pursuing a degree in a healthcare profession. The Foundation draws from three endowed funds: the Norma Melchor Nursing Scholarship, the Hansen Memorial Scholarship, and the Arline Reeves Memorial for the Enhancement of Geriatric Care. This year the two organizations gave $49,900 in scholarships to 13 students.
