Though K. Becky Zagor, BSN’80, RN, MN, decided very early to become a nurse, she says the decision to attend Duke wasn’t as clear-cut. First, she didn’t think she was strong enough academically to compete. And second, her father had been out of work for six months during a tough 1970s recession, meaning her family couldn’t afford Duke.
Even after being accepted at Duke, the Ohio native was still planning to attend a nursing school in Indiana. But with encouragement from her determined dad, Zagor’s plans changed. The family worked with the Duke financial aid office, and thanks to scholarship support, Zagor became a Blue Devil.
Today, Zagor has a fulfilling career in provider relations, which blends her clinical and business expertise.
“I owe much of my success to the strong foundation of learning built at Duke,” she says. “Many times over the years I have recalled the knowledge, the arduous process, or the sheer joy of becoming a better nurse that all began at Duke.”
Zagor wants today’s students, regardless of their finances, to have the same opportunities she had. That’s why she gives back in a number of ways, including by leaving Duke in her estate plans and supporting the Duke Nursing Annual Fund. Gifts to the Annual Fund support scholarships, research, and innovation.
Your gift will help make a substantial difference in the lives of future nurse leaders. Show your support today.
August 23, 2018