Mary Frances Clarke Scholarship Recipient: Amber Haack
When Julie O’Neill, BVM shared news of recent accomplishments of Amber Haack, Julie remarked, “Isn’t Mother Clarke smiling from her heavenly home on this amazing young woman?”
Amber received Mary Frances Clarke Scholarships for Women from the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary for four years. She started at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville and transferred to Clarke University in Dubuque, Iowa, for her last three years.
The scholarships and university are named for BVM Foundress Mary Frances Clarke. Amber graduated with honors from Clarke in May 2021, earning two degrees: Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Bachelor of Business Administration.
In her last year at Clarke, Amber served as president of the Clarke Association of Nursing Students and was inducted into the Sigma Theta Tau Honor Society—an honor reserved for only nine graduates this year.
In addition, she was selected as the student speaker for the Pinning Ceremony for nurses in April 2021.
Workplace Offers Scholarships
When she worked for the BVMs at Mount Carmel in Dubuque as an aide from 2015–2021, she learned about the possibility of applying for scholarship assistance through the congregation.
Marie (Dona) Corr, BVM served as Amber’s sponsor for her first scholarship and the late Alice Marie (St. Gerard) Dunphy, BVM served as Amber’s sponsor for her second scholarship.
For the first scholarship application, Marie wrote in her letter of reference, “Amber has shown her gift for personal and educational skill development. She presently is a student completing her bachelor’s degree and is academically accomplished. I believe Amber would benefit from and make good use of our BVM support and financial assistance.”
For the second scholarship application, Alice Marie stated in her letter of reference, “She [Amber] is very professional, a caring person, has great communication skills, and is respectful to all the sisters. To my knowledge, she knows the BVM core values and has told me how she puts them into practice. There are many challenges that present themselves every day. She meets every one of them with a happy disposition.”
Amber and Julie met several years ago when Amber began working as a medication aide in the Motherhouse. Julie served as Amber’s sponsor for the scholarships for her last two years at Clarke.
“Since meeting Julie, she has taken great interest in getting to know me as a worker, student, and friend. I feel that as my sponsor Julie will continue to motivate me as I aim to earn my degree,” wrote Amber in one of her scholarship applications.
Core Values at Work
In her initial letter of recommendation to support Amber’s application for a Mary Frances Clarke Scholarship, Julie commented that Amber’s “serious attention to her class assignments and her strong work ethic easily convinced me that she was a delightful and determined young woman with very clear life goals.
“My relationship with Amber continues to be a delight,” writes Julie in support of Amber’s application for a Mary Frances Clarke Scholarship for her final year at Clarke. “Amber continues to offer evidence of our BVM core values in her daily life:
- Education–recognizing her gifts
and developing her potentials; - Freedom–continuing to make
loving choices; - Charity–striving to bring charity
to an uncharitable world; - Justice–reflecting concern about
the whole hurting person.
“Mary Frances Clarke would be pleased to have Amber receive a scholarship in her name,” notes Julie.
Shortly after graduation, Amber left her part-time position to join the neurology/oncology unit at Genesis Medical Center in Davenport, Iowa. As she began this next phase of her journey, Amber reflects: “I have many fond memories of my time spent at Mount Carmel. I grew so much—mentally, physically, and emotionally—during my years spent with the sisters. I am forever grateful, especially to Julie, my biggest supporter!
“My hope is that one day I will also be able to help financially struggling students reach their goals in higher education by assisting them in the same way you are helping me. Thank you very much for your generosity; it does not go unnoticed,” Amber says.
About the author: Ann E. Sweeney is development director and grand administrator of the Sisters of Charity, BVM in Dubuque, Iowa.
This story was featured in the Fall 2021 issue of Salt magazine: Be Alert! Be Present! We Are Doing Something New!
If you would like to receive Salt, contact the Office of Development for a complimentary subscription at development@bvmsisters.org or 563-585-2864.