During the fall 2024 semester, two final year Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) students in the School of Nursing received funds from the CVS Health Caring Hearts Student Scholarship Program to help further their education thanks to Dr. Annette Jakubišin Konicki. At $10,000 each, this scholarship was awarded to Melody Len LoPreiato ’25 (NUR) and John Sklepinski ’25 (NUR), who are both pursuing an MS in Nursing with a concentration in family practice.
Today’s FNPs provide comprehensive patient-focused primary and acute care to individuals across the lifespan — from infants to the elderly. Their focus includes delivering preventive health care services for both acute and chronic conditions, requiring them to diagnose and treat illnesses, perform routine checkups, oversee health-risk assessments, and offer counseling services.
FNPs generally work in practices that focus on women’s health, family practice, pediatrics, and internal medicine. Often FNPs are found in outpatient settings like independent practice clinics, women’s health centers, and community health clinics.
The FNP online Master of Science (MS) and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program at UConn prepares advanced practice nurses to assess, diagnose, monitor, treat, and coordinate the care of individuals across the lifespan and across primary and acute illnesses.
The program is designed for licensed registered nurses who currently hold a bachelor’s degree in nursing and aspire to become advanced practice nurses.
“I am grateful and deeply honored to be a recipient of the CVS Caring Heart Scholarship,” says Len LoPreiato. “This generous support is making a significant impact on my studies, especially as I navigate through some personal and family challenges. The funds will be used to help cover my NP educational costs. Since enrolling in the program, I have significantly reduced my normal working hours and covering my educational expenses has been challenging to say the least. Your commitment to supporting students like me inspires hope and motivates me to continue striving for excellence in my education and future career. Thank you for making a difference in my life!”
Sklepinski says, “Receiving this scholarship will have a transformative impact on my journey to becoming an FNP. As a student at the University of Connecticut, this opportunity allows me to fully commit to my studies without the heavy burden of financial stress.” He goes onto say, “It grants me the chance to focus entirely on expanding my knowledge, clinical skills, and immersing myself in the advanced training necessary for this role. The support helps me stay on track toward achieving my goal of becoming a well-respected and contributing member in the medical community. I am deeply grateful for this scholarship I’m ready to make a meaningful impact in the lives of my future patients.”
