WKCTC Nursing Student Received First Bailey N. Holt Tribute Scholarship

Paducah, KY (09/17/2018) — Marshall County's Olivia Fiser is a first year nursing student at West Kentucky Community and Technical College. Another first for the 19-year-old is being the first recipient of the Bailey N. Holt Tribute Scholarship, which was awarded to her last month.

The scholarship was established by Paducah Uniform Headquarters' owner Kimberly Davis in tribute to Bailey Holt, who was one of the students who died in the shooting at Marshall County High School on January 23, 2018.

"The scholarship is really a big blessing for me and my family, said Fiser, who was able to use the $500 scholarship toward tuition this semester. "To be the first recipient of this scholarship is such an honor for me," said the 2017 Marshall County High School graduate.

When Davis learned that Holt wanted to be a nurse, she wanted to honor Bailey Holt and her family.

"One of her cousins is an employee of ours for 20 years. Her name is Suzann....when Suzann told me that she (Bailey) wanted to be a nurse, we knew we had to do something."

Davis' first step was to contact West Kentucky Community and Technical College for guidance on designing the scholarship criteria, which includes being accepted in the WKCTC nursing program, earning a minimum 3.0 GPA and exemplifying qualities of scholarship, leadership and community service. Each applicant had to also submit an essay about why they wanted to be a nurse.

"I knew Bailey wanted to be a labor and delivery nurse because she has her own plaque in Baptist Health Labor and Delivery (department)," said Fiser. "I've always dreamed of working in labor and delivery so I knew I would write about that. I can relate to her in that way."

Holt's mother, Secret, said the labor and delivery staff at the hospital had the plaque made and named her daughter an honorary labor and delivery nurse. "She is in the labor and delivery department every single day looking over the nursing staff and the little babies. It's very special."

In her essay, Fiser wrote that, like Bailey Holt, she didn't just wake up one day and decide to be a nurse; she's always known.

"It's unreal, the values she has in place now. Bailey had those same values...it's a shame they couldn't have met," said Holt.

Davis said the Bailey N. Holt Tribute Scholarship will continue for the next five years with plans to provide the 2019 recipient with complete clothing and clinical equipment needs.

A video feature with Olivia Fiser, Secret Holt and Kimberly Davis can be seen at https://youtu.be/xasfmwv9-LM.

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