Compelled to Care

Rose Boroch in Memory of Helene Boroch ’76

Sisterly love. Rose, Mary, and Helene were sisters. Mary Boroch Savoy ’73 influenced her younger sister, Helene, to attend IUP in her footsteps.

Helene fell in love with IUP and graduated in 1976 with a degree in sociology. Though her dream was to become a social worker, she spent her career as a successful computer analyst instead, but her love of people and the greater good continued to thread through her life. She gave back to IUP throughout her life because she had a keen sense of responsibility to participate in the growth of others—especially in the pursuit of education. She wanted the university to be successful because, in turn, students would be successful and become successful contributors to society. That was important to her. Ultimately, her lifelong giving influenced her sister, Rose. When Helene passed away, Rose knew exactly how to honor her sister’s memory by directing Helene’s estate gift to establish the Helene L. Boroch Memorial Scholarship. Rose, a nurse, has ensured that her sister’s legacy of giving continues and will continue to give back for generations by directing the funds to support the nursing program at IUP. She recently directed additional funds to be used for the purchase of an automated medication system used by nursing students in their simulation labs. It is commonly used in hospitals and health care facilities and gives the students first-hand experience with real-world tools. Automated systems like this one eliminate mistakes and help to save lives. We know Helene would be proud.

Monica Ramirez Perez

It is well known that IUP’s nursing program has been ranked as one of the best in the state.* That alone is a reason to choose IUP, but Monica had an even more compelling reason—her beloved grandmother, who she lost to cancer. It is in her memory that Monica aspires to become an oncology nurse, driven to provide compassionate care for other patients facing challenges, medically, emotionally, and mentally. As a first-generation Latina student, Monica relies on scholarship funds to make her dream a reality. “The scholarship monies I have received have made an outstandingly huge impact on my life. They are the reason I am able to attend nursing school.” Having come from a very low-income household with multiple siblings, Monica appreciates the selflessness of others and one day hopes to give back just as selflessly to her patients. She also credits the program for offering simulation labs that ensure she is learning to use equipment that is in use at the top medical facilities. Equipment donation— like the ones made possible by Helene and Rose— ensure students can quickly acclimate from the classroom to the hospital room.

*Nursing Schools Almanac – October 12, 2021

IUP Nursing Program Ranked as Top Program in the Commonwealth – IUP Now - IUP