Schererville resident helps cancer patients and families; raises $3,000 for scholarships

Shawn-Kristin Reynolds says she believes in the "pay it forward" way of living. After all she has done to help others, her bill is paid in full.

Reynolds-a 38-year-old Schererville resident-has comforted people dying from cancer, helped their families in coping and raised thousands of dollars for a nursing scholarship at Purdue Calumet.

"She single handedly raised almost $3,000 for the Gloria Smokvina Scholarship Fund," Purdue Calumet Dean of the School of Nursing Peggy Gerard said. "She is a nontraditional student who has overcome some adversity and believes in living the 'pay it forward' philosophy."

Said Reynolds, "Unfortunately, I have had many friends who have had cancer. When families were overwhelmed and tired, I provided respite for them. But, I've also had friends who have beaten cancer…who have triumphed over the disease."

Reynolds, who has served as a nurse fellow in the oncology department at The Community Hospital of Munster for almost a year, has accepted a registered nurse position in oncology beginning in July at the University of Chicago Hospital.

After living through personal adversity growing up, she received help in pursuing her education. She received scholarships, loans and help from a philanthropic group, her church, her aunt and a doctor friend's sister, Carole Moore. Reynolds cared for Dr. Bernie Calza when he was dying from cancer.

"Oddly enough he was a patient at University of Chicago, and that's where I'll be working," Reynolds said.

Reynolds enrolled in classes part-time at Purdue Calumet in 1996 while juggling two or three jobs. After receiving the financial help, she began taking classes full-time.

"Because of all of this I asked myself, 'How am I going to pay it forward or continue the acts of kindness?,' That's how I live my life," she said.

Then, she set a somewhat lofty goal of raising $10,000 in just a few months. Although she did not reach that level, the almost $3,000 she raised was enough to endow the Gloria Smokvina Scholarship Fund. Smokvina is the recently retired dean of the School of Nursing.

"I want to give back what was given to me and help a nursing student go to school," said Reynolds, who plans to continue her education by pursuing a bachelor's degree in nursing at Purdue Calumet.

"I felt very privileged to be her faculty," Purdue Calumet Professor of Nursing Delores Huffman said. "I feel with experience and advanced education, she has the potential to make significant contributions to nursing. She demonstrated hard work and dedication when she initiated this idea of raising money for the scholarship on her own."