Q&A with Camila Echeverri ’28, 2025 NEMNLC Scholarship Recipient
For two consecutive years, UMass Nursing students have been the recipients of this scholarship.
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Sophomore UMass Nursing student Camila Echeverri ’28 has been announced as a recipient of the 2025 New England Minority Nurse Leadership Collaborative (NEMNLC) Scholarship, along with Josie Thomas '27.
According to the NEMNLC website, the scholarship program supports underrepresented nursing students, registered nurses, and nurse leaders in "achieving higher levels of education, professional success, and [enhancing] contributions to the profession of nursing and healthcare." Awardees are selected based on their potential to make a significant impact in nursing through leadership.
This marks the second consecutive year UMass Nursing students have received this award; junior Shaley Lora-Brito was the 2024 recipient.
Get to Know Camila Echeverri ’28
Question: What impact will this scholarship have on your nursing career?
Camila Echeverri: This scholarship is a huge blessing and helps to ease the financial burden of tuition. I pay for almost all of my tuition and expenses on my own, and the rest of what I make goes to my family, so this scholarship will allow me to focus more on school without as much anxiety due to finances.
Q: What is your prior involvement, if any, with the NEMNLC?
CE: Last year, I had the privilege of receiving a scholarship from the New England Regional Black Nurses Association (NERBNA), which is a conference partner of NEMNLC. As a member, I also attended their annual spring conference, where I met the most intelligent and inspiring nurse leaders and learned so much about nurses' roles in dismantling barriers in our communities. Through them, I learned about the NEMNLC and have wanted to get involved since then!
Q: What inspired you to study nursing?
CE: I always knew I wanted to dedicate my life to doing something that would help people and make a difference, but I didn’t know how. I was drawn to healthcare because growing up in a majority Latino community, I was acutely aware of the struggles of immigrants in accessing healthcare due to language barriers, poverty, and other structural and societal inequalities. As a junior in high school, I attended the National Student Leadership Conference’s nursing program and immediately fell in love with nursing. I knew then that this was a career path that would allow me to impact the lives of people in my community on a personal level.
"My dream is to empower Latinos and non-English speakers to take ownership of their health and advocate for themselves in healthcare settings."
—Camila Echeverri, Class of 2028
Q: What advice would you give to students thinking about studying nursing?
CE: If you are feeling called to study nursing, then follow that instinct! It is such a rewarding career, and you will definitely find your niche. For those who are already studying nursing, you can do it! It can be extremely challenging and at times overwhelming, but it is possible! I know that imposter syndrome can feel super real, but you are fully capable and stronger than you know. Every challenge is building you up and bringing you one step closer to becoming an amazing nurse!
Q: What are your future aspirations?
CE: In the future, I aspire to be a pediatric oncology nurse and also do some travel nursing. I hope to use my bilingualism to help the Hispanic community, especially Latino immigrants. I’m currently working towards getting the Spanish & Health Certificate, which will help me better address the needs of my community. My dream is to empower Latinos and non-English speakers to take ownership of their health and advocate for themselves in healthcare settings.