First-generation Butte student leverages full-ride scholarship to become a nurse

Nacole Sestrich says she knew she would go to college.

“I always wanted to be a veterinarian, but as I got older, I realized that was too much schooling. I wanted to have somewhat of a life, and have a family.”

Sestrich decided nursing would be the right fit for her.

“Montana Tech has the #1 nursing program in the state, and I was able to stay at home,” the Butte native  said.

A few weeks after high school graduation, Sestrich learned she had been selected for the Rolin Erickson Montana Resources Opportunity Scholarship at Montana Technological University.

The scholarship is a 4-year, full-ride scholarship for first-generation Butte students.

“I’m really thankful for it,” Sestrich said. “It takes a lot of stress off my plate, not having to worry about the financials of school.”

Now a senior, Sestrich has found her place at Montana Tech. Last year she was a peer mentor for other nursing students through the TRIO office, which provides support for first-generation and low-income students. This year she’s the nursing tutor for the office.

Sestrich is glad she can help guide her fellow students, and says the peer mentor program is particularly important.

“Transitioning from general coursework into the nursing program is so different because the expectations are so high,” Sestrich said. “I wish I would have had a peer mentor to guide me. I did fine in the end, but I wouldn’t have had the same amount of  difficulty.”

Sestrich plans to work as a nurse in Butte for a couple of years to get some experience under her belt,  and then will consider transferring to a larger hospital with more opportunities. During clinicals, she had interactions with patients that reaffirmed her belief that she picked the right career.

“Getting to care for other people at the hospital, I met a lot of patients that didn’t have a lot of family or friends there for support,” Sestrich said. “As a nurse, you get to be there for those people.”

The small classes as Montana Tech and the opportunity to learn in the Lesar Family Nursing Simulation Center were experiences that made learning to be a nurse easier.

“With smaller classes, I built great relationships with my professors,” Sestrich said. “The simulation center is amazing.”

Sestrich’ s advice to fellow prospective students would be that college is worth the work.

“If it’s something you truly want to do, you just have to do it,” Sestrich said. “If you work hard enough it will pay off. Tech’s nursing program is truly amazing. It’s challenging, but very doable.”