MONTVALE — The Sharing Network Foundation has announced that Emma Szabo, a Montvale resident, Pascack Hills graduate, and student at Penn State University, has been awarded a Health Sciences Scholarship in recognition of her commitment to healthcare and her personal connection to organ and tissue donation. Emma’s passion for the field stems from her father’s experiences with two kidney transplants.
“When I was just one year old, my father received a lifesaving kidney transplant from his brother,” Emma says in a press statement shared with Pascack Press. “My early childhood was spent in and out of hospitals; too young to fully understand but old enough to feel the weight of it. These experiences planted a seed of hope within me, suggesting that I could one day serve as a guiding light for families facing similar challenges.”
Recently, Emma’s family again found itself navigating the uncertainty of transplantation when her father required a second kidney, this time donated by his best friend.
“Watching nurses and medical professionals care for my father with compassion and skill touched me deeply,” Emma adds. “I saw more than medicine being practiced. I saw purpose. I saw hope. And I saw exactly where I was meant to be.”
Emma says her firsthand experience with organ and tissue donation has shaped both her personal and professional aspirations.
“This mission drives all the hard work and dedication I’ve put into my education: to become a nurse practitioner who treats patients and supports the families beside them,” she says. “My connection to organ donation is not just a personal story; it’s my motivation, inspiration, and my reason why.”
Beyond her studies, Emma volunteers with Penn State’s THON and Teens Against Cancer.
The Health Sciences Scholarship Program, funded by NJ Sharing Network’s Employee Giving Campaign, reflects the commitment of the organization’s team members to foster the next generation of healthcare professionals who will play a critical role in saving and enhancing lives.
The program is open to New Jersey residents enrolled in a U.S. college or university and majoring in fields such as nursing, social work, medical technology, or biology. Applicants must demonstrate a connection to organ and tissue donation through personal experience, advocacy work, or professional goals.
This year’s scholarship winners are:
- Anika Bhatnagar – Edison | Temple University, Biology
- Emma Corradino – Piscataway | Moravian University, Nursing
- Soleil Duvivier – Piscataway | Chamberlain University, Nursing
- Alexander Rausch – Tinton Falls | Case Western Reserve University, Biochemistry
- Angelyna Scheck – Newton | Eastwick College, Mortuary Sciences
- Emma Szabo – Montvale | Penn State University, Biobehavioral Health
For more information about the Sharing Network Foundation’s scholarships and programs, visit SharingNetworkFoundation.org/Scholarship.