School of Nursing Class of 2015 Graduate Honorees
The School of Nursing is proud to select Michelle Rait and Melissa Estrada Diaz as class of 2015 graduate honorees.
Please join us in congratulating Michelle and Melissa!
Michelle Rait
Michelle was a highly motivated student in our Entry level Master’s program. She consistently exceeded expectations in clinical practicums. Michelle achieved this while juggling the demands of the rigorous nursing program and responsibilities of being the single mother of two young children. While volunteering at her children’s school, she also found time to volunteer Haight Ashbury Free clinic providing nursing care in addition to volunteering at CPMC neonatal ICU providing parental support. In her Culminating Experience, Michelle created a grant proposal to fund internet access for a school of nursing in Kenya. Michelle continues activities within the SoN supervising students at Head Start and mentoring graduate students during their practicum.
Michelle will be honored at the Graduate Recognition Reception on May 20th.
Melissa Estrada Diaz
Melissa is a BSN student in the SFSU/Sequoia Hospital nursing program who will graduate this May. Nursing students begin their clinical practice in the first semester and Melissa demonstrated "star" qualities consistently from that point forward. She has a maturity and calmness that invokes security from her patients and engagement from those she touches, including her fellow students. She is intelligent and a truly kind practitioner of nursing care. Her level of exceptional care continues beyond the requirements of her coursework as Melissa has spent countless hours volunteering in so many areas of need. Because she is bilingual, she has spent many effective hours working with the SFSU Latino Nursing Student Association running flu clinics for Hispanic/LGBT homeless, working with the ‘Take Care of Yourself for a Better Tomorrow’ campaign for Latino families in San Mateo County, and she is currently volunteering at SF General and Stanford Hospitals. She has taken trips to Peru and Guatemala to better understand global nursing needs. She has mentored new nursing students and was recently inducted in Sigma Theta Tau Honor Society, the Honor Society of Nursing. It is with pride that the School of Nursing chooses Melissa Estrada Diaz for this recognition.
Melissa will be recognized at the Undergraduate Honors Convocation on May 21st.