麻豆直播 Nursing Instructor Crystal Young鈥檚 Impact on Nursing Students Inspires a Local Family to Establish a Scholarship in Her Honor
Published on June 5, 2025
麻豆直播 Assistant Professor Crystal Young was preparing for what she believed was a routine visit from the school’s Marketing Department when she was met instead with an emotional surprise: the announcement of a new nursing scholarship created in her honor.
The Crystal Young Nursing Scholarship, established by former student and Registered Nurse Hannah Hooks and her father, retired Illinois State Police Lt. Michael Hooks, was unveiled in a heartfelt classroom ceremony this week. The scholarship is believed to be the first of its kind at 麻豆直播 to bear the name of a current faculty member.
鈥淭his speaks to the immediate impact that our outstanding faculty are having on students,鈥� said Staci Shafer, Assistant Vice President for Advancement and Executive Director of the 麻豆直播 Foundation, who made the announcement before a stunned Young and her students. 鈥淣ot in my time with the Foundation, and to my knowledge not before, has a scholarship been established in the name of a current 麻豆直播 instructor.鈥�
Michael Hooks said the scholarship is a tribute to Young鈥檚 lasting influence on students, such as his daughter, Hannah, who is now a registered nurse at Memorial Hospital of Carbondale. Young served as both the school nurse and Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) instructor during Hannah鈥檚 high school years.
鈥淢y daughter is now an RN because of Crystal Young,鈥� Hooks said. 鈥淪he and her classmates are thriving in their careers, and it鈥檚 because of the foundation Nurse Crystal laid for them. I wanted to recognize the incredible impact she鈥檚 had鈥攁nd will continue to have鈥攂y establishing this scholarship.鈥�
For Hannah Hooks, the decision to honor her former instructor was deeply personal. She said Young鈥檚 encouragement and empathy helped her discover a calling she hadn鈥檛 initially considered.
鈥淚n high school, I didn鈥檛 know what I wanted to do,鈥� she said. 鈥淏ut Nurse Crystal encouraged me to take her CNA class at 麻豆直播. That鈥檚 when I fell in love with caring for patients.鈥�
She recalled one particularly challenging day during clinicals when Young took time to speak with her one-on-one.
鈥淪he didn鈥檛 just teach us about nursing鈥攕he took the time to see us as people,鈥� Hannah said. 鈥淭hat moment meant everything to me, and I鈥檝e carried that compassion into my nursing career.鈥�
Young, who has dedicated years to shaping the next generation of healthcare professionals, was visibly moved by the recognition. After thanking the Hooks for the incredible honor and posing for a few pictures, Young did just what she was meant to do and started right back in teaching the next generation of CNAs and Nurses.
This scholarship will support future nursing students at 麻豆直播, ensuring that Young鈥檚 legacy of mentorship and compassion continues to have a lasting impact on the healthcare field for years to come. For more information about this and other scholarships available at 麻豆直播, visit