Two honored for perseverance
Mary Lock Albrecht
Two adults who have returned to continue their university studies were honored April 16 with the Dean of Students Outstanding Undergraduate Returning Adult Student Scholarship Awards, offered by the Adult Student Services Center.
Merla Mersereau first viewed the Madison campus at the age of 17 when she attended a Badger game. At that point, she said, “This is the place for me.” It took her a couple of decades to finally make it back.
The other winner is Alison Warren, who has worked as a cardiac-thoracic nurse with a two-year certificate while all along wanting to nurture her artistic side.
Both were honored for their diligence and perseverance in completing their bachelor’s degrees.
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Mersereau |
Mersereau loved the UW–Madison campus at first sight but fate pulled her to study at UW-Stout and UW-Milwaukee. She had always dreamed of earning a four-year degree in nursing even though she studied business. For many years she worked in marketing to help support her five children.
Through an associate degree in nursing program at Moraine Technical College that she could attend part time, Mersereau took night and weekend classes and even correspondence-by-mail courses.
“One summer I took two weeks of vacation and went to class every day from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. to fit in a crash course in microbiology,” she notes.
After beginning her nursing career, Mersereau continued to desire a bachelor’s degree, even as life presented obstacles: serious illnesses, the activities of five children and the death of a parent, among others.
In 2000, she learned of the UW Collaborative Nursing Degree that would allow her to study online. “This meant I didn’t have to drive long distances or hire babysitters,” Mersereau says.
Although she lives 30 miles from UW-Milwaukee, Mersereau proudly lists UW–Madison as her home campus. She will graduate in May with a bachelor’s degree in nursing from UW–Madison and be cheered on by her family, including her daughter, who is a freshman on campus.
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Warren |
Warren recalls that she was “a very poor student as a child — easily distracted,” except in art class. Growing up in England, Warren earned praise for her artwork and was completely dismayed when she failed her final exam in art at 16. She gave up her dream of studying art. “I changed direction and became a nurse,” she recalls.
She completed a nursing certificate program and at first found fulfillment. Eventually, though, she became disenchanted and sought out art courses at a college.
Meanwhile, Warren married an American and moved to the United States. But, in time she became unhappy in her new homeland.
“I wasn’t prepared for living in another culture,” she says. “After some time, I was diagnosed with depression.”
A turning point was discovery of the Memorial Union craft shop where she met another artist who has helped her sell her work. At the same time, she entered a cardiac nursing fellowship at UW Hospital.
“I had not practiced for two years and needed to adjust to the American system of nursing. It wasn’t easy,” she says.
In spring 2000, she started work on a bachelor’s degree in fine arts. “I was certain I had found my niche when I took my metals class,” Warren says.
But upon discovering her mother had contracted multiple sclerosis, Warren again was treated for anxiety and depression.
Her condition is improving, and she is teaching ceramics at Cornucopia, an art center in Madison for people with mental illness, while continuing to go to school.
Following graduation in December, Warren hopes to pursue a master of fine arts degree.