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Cass, a Seymour native, served with the U.S. Air Force while on active duty in Texas, Alaska, and Ohio. She received a $2,000 scholarship from the Exchange Club of Danbury.
Now in her second year of studies at WCSU, Cass received the award at the club’s Veterans Day dinner on Nov. 12.
The award is given to full-time WCSU students who are currently members, or veterans. of the U.S. armed forces, and who maintain a grade point average of 2.5 or higher.
Once she completes her college education, Cass plans to return to Air Force duty as a commissioned second lieutenant.
In the essay on “true patriotism” submitted with her scholarship application, she observed that service to the nation can take many forms to achieve the common goal of caring for neighbors and lifting up the community.
“That sense drove me to nursing school,” Cass wrote. “Nursing is an opportunity to continue my mission in patriotism, finding a niche to help my neighbors.”
Until she can return to active duty as a commissioned nurse, Cass said she plans to help others on the local level – “from blood drives to hospitals.”
“No matter where I am ‘stationed,’” Cass wrote, “I continue to serve because true patriotism is part of who I am.”
Cass’s longest assignment during her active duty was with the Pacific Command deployment section in Alaska, where she worked 12-hour shifts for the largest food and facility program in the Air Force.
“There were many long days,” she wrote in her essay. “Yet what makes a true patriot is knowing your work matters, enjoying the long days just for the fact that you are protecting the people you love.”
Cass added that her military training has provided a solid foundation for entering the nursing profession.
“The military gave me a lot of responsibility at a young age, making just about everything else I face in life seem much easier,” she said.
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