Meet Bonnie Bettencourt, Our 2024 Fall Scholarship Winner!

At AMN Healthcare, we believe in supporting the next generation of therapists and helping them achieve their goals as they work to make a meaningful difference in their communities. That’s why we are so excited to introduce Bonnie Bettencourt, the winner of our Fall 2024 AMN Healthcare Schools Bi-Annual Scholarship Contest.

Selected from a pool of inspiring applicants, Bonnie’s story stood out not only for her dedication to speech-language pathology (SLP) but also for her unwavering commitment to helping her community thrive. Bonnie’s winning essay left an undeniable impression, showcasing her journey, professional aspirations, and her remarkable ability to foster growth and resilience in the students she’s worked with.

We are proud to share Bonnie’s inspiring story and look forward to the incredible contributions she will make to the field as she builds her SLP career.

From Paraprofessional to Future Speech-Language Pathologist

Bonnie Bettencourt discovered her passion for speech-language pathology as a paraprofessional educator in special education. For the past 3.5 years, she has worked alongside students with diverse strengths and struggles, gaining firsthand insight into the power of tailored support.

For Bonnie, speech-language pathology perfectly merges her skills, values, and goals. It allows her to extend her dedication to education while addressing the specific communication hurdles students often face. Her essay vividly described the moments in her career that cemented her passion for this field—stories of empowering students, watching them grow in confidence, and celebrating their triumphs against the odds.

A standout example from her experience was helping a student on the verge of failing to achieve the seemingly impossible goal of graduation. This success, Bonnie explained, was a turning point for both the student and herself. It underscored how individualized support and belief in someone's potential could change the trajectory of their life.

Bonnie’s determination to make a difference stems from not only her professional role but her personal one as a single mother of two daughters. She credits her family as a driving force in her life, constantly inspiring her to push forward toward her goals.

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Inspiring Influences and Professional Goals

Throughout her career, Bonnie has found guidance from a mentor in the speech-language pathology field. This individual’s remarkable blend of compassion and technical expertise inspired Bonnie to envision how she, too, could make profound, positive changes in the lives of others. She reflected on how her mentor’s late-in-life career shift mirrored her own—a testament to the idea that it’s never too late to follow your passion.

Bonnie’s essay also highlighted her deep appreciation for ongoing learning, a concept that resonates within the field of SLP. She discussed the importance of not only mastering the science of language development but also maintaining the empathy and creativity needed to help students find their voice.

Starting in January, Bonnie will begin the Speech-Language Pathology program at California State University San Marcos, where she’s eager to immerse herself in the program’s hands-on curriculum. Bonnie envisions a future where her role as a speech-language pathologist will position her as both an advocate and resource for students with communication challenges. By bridging gaps in service and instilling confidence in her students, she aims to help them succeed academically, socially, and beyond.

“It’s about giving back to a community that has given me so much,” Bonnie shared in her essay. “I want to show my daughters, my students, and my peers that resilience and dedication can take you anywhere you want to go.”

Make Your Mark in the Next AMN Healthcare Schools Scholarship Contest

Bonnie Bettencourt’s story is a testament to everything the AMN Healthcare Schools Bi-Annual Scholarship Contest represents—passion, determination, and the desire to drive positive change through a career in therapy

To Bonnie, we extend our heartfelt congratulations on this well-deserved award and recognition. Your inspiring work and dedication to helping students overcome challenges have already made a lasting impact, and we cannot wait to see the incredible strides you will make in your career.

To the entire AMN Healthcare community, we encourage aspiring students to share their own unique journeys by participating in our next Bi-Annual Scholarship Contest. With a $5,000 scholarship prize, it’s an opportunity to invest in your future and bring your professional aspirations to life.

Think you’re ready to make your mark? Our next scholarship deadline is just around the corner! Start preparing your essay today and take the first step in creating a brighter future for yourself and the students you’ll one day serve.

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