Paying It Forward: Scholarship Recipient Celebrates Debt-Free Graduation By Sponsoring a Scholarship

Shadé Darnell, RN

“I would not be where I am today if it were not for my time at Mt. San Antonio College,” says Shadé Darnell. “Through my involvement with Phi Theta Kappa and the LEAD Program I learned leadership skills, from the Honors Program I learned research skills, and through the Nursing Program I was able to pass my NCLEX the first time and become a Registered Nurse. All of my involvement at Mt. SAC has brought me to where I am now.”

Where she is now is impressive. After working as a nurse at a correctional facility while also going to school for her Bachelor's in Nursing through the Mt. St. Mary's/Mt. SAC partnership, Shadé went on to earn a Master’s degree in nursing as well, graduating in December of 2022. These days, she works at an acute hospital, which had always been her goal. Her specialty is cardiac telemetry, which involves open heart surgeries, valve replacements, pacemakers, and stents that are placed after a heart attack.

As a way to celebrate earning her Master’s degree debt-free, Shadé is supporting a new scholarship at Mt. SAC, the Shadé Darnell Healthcare Scholarship. Shadé credits her decision to start her education at Mt. SAC with her current financial freedom: “Even though I have a graduate degree, I have such joy in saying that I have zero debt or school loans all because I went to community college first.” And it isn’t just about tuition. “I know what it's like to be a struggling, working student barely having enough to get by and not wanting to bother your parents,” she explains. “Even though Mt. SAC is very affordable (a fact I will never forget), other costs of college like books and materials can really take a toll on any student.”

For Shadé, success is a responsibility: “I wanted to start a scholarship because I know what it's like to receive one. I am so grateful for all my experiences, my education and the wonderful people I met throughout my years at Mt. SAC that I felt so compelled to pass it on. I think the success that I received from Mt. SAC is highlighted in my ability to donate through a scholarship and that's why I decided to start it.”

Shadé with the first recipient of her scholarship