THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, March 17, 1995 TAG: 9503150100
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JENNIFER C. O'DONNELL, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 83 lines
Judith Schnobrich is still recovering from what she described as ``one fantastic weekend.''
Schnobrich, a third-year nursing student at DePaul Medical Center, went to the Virginia Nursing Student Association's annual meeting last month to campaign for association president. But when the association presented her with the ``Nursing Student of the Year'' award, she was stunned.
``I was very surprised to hear my name called,'' said Schnobrich. ``I thought I was having an out-of-body experience.''
As surprised as Schnobrich was, members of DePaul Medical Center's nursing program thought she was a natural choice for the award.
``Judith has been very active with the association the past few years and she's been instrumental in helping the association grow,'' said Rose Saunders, program director of DePaul's nursing school.
Schnobrich didn't have much time to celebrate the honor. The day after the award ceremony, she campaigned for president of the Virginia Nursing Student Association.
``I made my speech on Saturday and found out I won Sunday morning,'' she said. ``It was an exciting weekend for me, but by Monday morning I was back to changing bedpans,'' she joked.
Schnobrich's enthusiasm for her work keeps her busy. She works part-time as a nursing assistant in the oncology department at Chesapeake General Hospital. In addition, she's senior class president at DePaul, and last year she served on the board of the association's ``Break Through to Nursing'' program, a recruitment and retention campaign for disabled and minority nursing students.
``I've put in a lot of time with the program,'' said Schnobrich. ``It's my way of giving back.''
Although Schnobrich is proud of all her accomplishments, she's especially proud of her work with ``Break Through to Nursing.'' Last year, Schnobrich was the program's liaison to local chapters and was active in recruitment.
``I think `Break Through' has encouraged many students to enter nursing,'' she said, ``students that normally wouldn't have considered the profession.''
Schnobrich couldn't imagine a career outside of nursing, but there was a time when she, too, considered other career paths.
``When I was younger I once thought of becoming an attorney. I knew I was a good communicator and that I had to utilize those skills in my work.''
Schnobrich did use her communication skills and her desire to help people when she became a counselor and therapist for an alcohol and drug rehabilitation program for the Navy.
After eight years with the Navy, and at the age of 39, Schnobrich decided to enter nursing school.
``I had nursing in the back of my head for some time,'' she said, ``and I knew it was time to make the change.''
Schnobrich entered DePaul in 1992, and she'll receive her nursing diploma in May of this year. But that won't end her education.
``I'm going to continue my schooling,'' she said. ``I'm planning on pursuing additional degrees in my field.''
When she's not studying or working, Schnobrich can be found spending time with her husband Norm, a retired musician with the Navy, or in Results Fitness Club working out with her personal trainer.
``I've gone down three dress sizes since November,'' said Schnobrich.
Why all the hard work? ``I plan on joining the Army or Air Force Reserves, and I need to get my weight down.''
Schnobrich's other long-range plans are just as ambitious. As she puts it, ``I'm leaving my options open. I don't know where my road will take me, but I'm very excited about the future.''
Already, Schnobrich has applied for an internship in neuroscience research at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Md.
``Eventually, I'd like to end up researching women's health issues,'' she said.
As for her plans with the Virginia Nursing Student Association, Schnobrich has many.
``I want the association to be ready for the next century. My job as president will be to ensure that the association is financially sound. That means we'll have to tighten our belts a bit, but if the organization is to remain strong, we have to make sure it can maintain itself.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by STEVE EARLEY
Judith Schnobrich is a nursing student at DePaul Medical Center.
by CNB