Bridget Ercole, Nu'13, Alison Ercole, GNu'13, and Maureen Mahoney Ercole, HUP'75

 

 

Maureen Mahoney Ercole, HUP’75, holds a round stone in one hand and clutches her daughter Alison’s hand with the other. As she approaches the HUP Legacy Fountain in the Garden Atrium on the fourth floor at Claire M. Fagin Hall, she wells up with tears.

 

“Go on, Mom,” encourages her daughters Alison and Bridget, both currently students at Penn Nursing.

Slowly, Maureen approaches the fountain and opens her hand to place the stone, revealing her name scrolled on the rock as a symbol of her time as a student at the University of Pennsylvania Hospital Training School for Nurses. The HUP School of Nursing, established in 1886, launched the 125 year legacy of nursing at Penn that we celebrate this year.

Maureen places the stone with hundreds of others and turns to her daughters. “This is such a special thing for me to be celebrating 125 years of nursing at Penn,” she says. “I never thought I would be celebrating my education here knowing that not one, but both of my daughters are following in my footsteps.”

Alison, GNu’13, and Bridget, Nu’13, say their mother’s hard work and compassion inspired them to become nurses. It was the legacy of cutting-edge education and care to change the world that brought them to Penn Nursing.

“When we were younger we would go on medical mission trips to Honduras,” remembered Bridget. “And we got to see our Mom as much more than a Mom. We saw her as a nurse – someone who helped people and really made a difference in their lives.”

It was these trips that gave Alison and Bridget the “nursing bug.” Bridget says her family was constantly trying to convince Alison – who did not study nursing during her bachelor’s education – to become a nurse. “Finally I said, what about me?” she remembers. “It was just so inspiring to see my Mom at work and see how rewarding the nursing profession is. And my Mom always spoke so fondly about her education at Penn and the way that they emphasized caring for people in your community and communities around the world.”

Now, Alison and Bridget are making concrete plans of their own to change the world.

“I want to be a part of this profession and dedicate myself to making an impact here and around the world,” said Alison. “It’s amazing to think of the 14,000 graduates that have come through this school. I’m sure each and every one of them has made a difference. My sister and I are so proud to join my Mom in that group.”

To support future Penn Nursing leaders like Alison and Bridget, make a gift to the Annual Fund today.