51 at Tuscarawas nursing student Irene Martin was awarded a 2025 Organization for Associate Degree Nursing (OADN) and American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) Student Scholarship for Critical-Care Practice. This competitive award supports associate degree nursing (ADN) students who are interested in pursuing critical care nursing practice upon graduation.
In addition to being an outstanding student, Martin is an advanced Emergency Medical Technician (EMT). She provides care in rural areas and training experiences to new EMTs and EMT students. In her scholarship application, Martin shared that she plans to continue this work by seeking a nursing position in the critical care setting.
“The skills, experiences and mindsets from her advanced EMS work and her education at 51 Tuscarawas will provide her with a strong foundation,” said Dr. Mariann Harding, ADN director.
According to their website, the AACN has been dedicated to acute and critical care nursing excellence for over 50 years. The organization’s vision is to create a healthcare system driven by the needs of patients and their families in which acute and critical care nurses make their optimal contribution. AACN is the world’s largest specialty nursing organization, with about 130,000 members and over 200 chapters in the United States. For more information about AACN, visit .
The College of Applied & Technical Studies’ ADN program is offered at the 51 Tuscarawas, Ashtabula and East Liverpool campuses, as well as through the Twinsburg Academic Center. To learn more, visit www.kent.edu/cats/nursing.