Home-Grown Dream Makers
TTU System Regent Pat Gordon and Laura Gordon Establish Scholarship Empowering Future Nursing Heroes
Generous gift to Hunt School of Nursing aims to address nurse shortage and educational opportunities for El Pasoans
Alexandra Lozano's dream of becoming a nurse almost ended as soon as it started.
The native El Pasoan was accustomed to a life surrounded by her family, with whom she was is very close. However, as she embarked on her nursing studies in an out-of-town program, she soon discovered she had little time to dedicate to activities she once cherished with her parents and siblings.
On top of all of this, she quickly realized that studying nursing out of town not only created debt that made her uncomfortable but also made learning difficult.
Little did she know her journey would lead her back home, where she found the key to unlocking her success: a $2,500 scholarship to her hometown university: Texas Tech Health El Paso.
Pat Gordon, a Texas Tech University System Regent, and his wife Laura generously gifted the scholarship, which Lozano received at a luncheon hosted by the university on Monday, February 26. Richard Lange, M.D., M.B.A., president of Texas Tech Health El Paso, and Stephanie Woods, Ph.D., M.S.N., dean of the Hunt School of Nursing, attended the event.
The $10,000 scholarship benefits students like Lozano in the Hunt School of Nursing. This initiative aims not only to eliminate financial obstacles but also to inspire a new generation of nursing heroes who can navigate and transform the region's health care landscape.
“This scholarship is a blessing,” said Lozano, who had applied for over 100 scholarships for nursing school. “It allows me to fully focus on my academics and excel in the areas I want to without the added stress of working a part-time job. When you have a job, you don't do as well as somebody who's committed to school full-time.”
Home-grown dream makers
El Paso business leaders and graduates of Texas Tech University School of Law, Laura and Pat Gordon believe in giving back not only to their community but also to the university system that holds a special place in their hearts. In addition to serving on the TTU System Board of Regents, Pat Gordon is a Certified Public Accountant and Board Certified in Tax Law and co-founded the law firm, Gordon Davis Johnson & Shane P.C. in 1994.
Laura Gordon is a lawyer and currently serves on the Texas Tech University School of Law foundation board. Previously she worked for the Texas 8th Court of Appeals and served 30 years as an El Paso city attorney. Together, the Gordons established the Pat and Laura Gordon Endowed Scholarship at TTU School of Law in 2006, reinforcing their dedication to education and community advancement. They're making an impact locally through this scholarship fund for Hunt School of Nursing students, most of whom are from El Paso.
As a nursing student and resident of our Borderplex region, Lozano is a perfect example of why our community needs more nurses to improve health care access by spending more time with patients and their families.
“A nurse saved my life when I was young,” recalled Lozano. “My mother once took me to a clinic. The doctor said I was OK, but the nurse looked at me and said, ‘Go get blood work done, just to be safe.’ If I hadn’t done that, I would have likely developed sepsis. She saved my life, and for that, I'll always love nursing.”
Pursuing a dream
Many aspiring nursing students need help to pursue their dreams. The cost of training to be a nurse can be difficult for students with limited incomes. This type of financial challenge also limits diversity in the nursing workforce and worsens the ongoing nursing shortage in the U.S.
At the Hunt School of Nursing, many students are nontraditional in the sense that they are attending school while working and caring for family, or have already pursued other degrees before nursing. This results in unmet financial need for approximately half of all incoming classes.
“I am thrilled to see the immediate impact this scholarship has already made on the community,” said Laura Gordon at the luncheon. “Alexandra has a long path ahead of her but we hope this gift will make a difference.”
Thanks to Texas Tech Health El Paso and partnerships such as the Laura and Pat Gordon Scholarship, Lozano now has financial support that will allow her to pursue her nursing education without worrying about tuition costs. Inspired by the Gordon’s generosity and Lozano’s persistence, another donor recently matched the $2,500 that she received.
These scholarship funds will enable her to engage in extracurricular and clinical experiences. Additionally, the scholarship will help her attend conferences and invest in resources that enrich her learning journey.
“This scholarship allows me to relax and not experience the financial challenges I endured living outside El Paso,” said Lozano. “It affected my grades. Now I can at least enjoy my family’s regular movie nights and succeed academically.”
“We’re behind you, and the community is too,” Pat Gordon told Lozano. “We realize how important the Hunt School of Nursing is to this underserved region.”
Present at the luncheon were Lozano’s parents, Sandra and Sergio, and her older sister, Cassandra. Both parents nurtured her devotion to the health care profession at an early age. One Christmas, they presented her with a toy medical kit. The gift sparked a keen interest in helping others, which has stayed with her ever since. They also encouraged her artistic talents. Her father, a musician himself, ensured that music played a significant role in her life.
Lozano is currently the youngest member of her nursing cohort and is on track to graduate by her 20th birthday. Even before enrolling in the Hunt School of Nursing, the first-generation college student earned two associate degrees by participating in the early college program at Americas High School, along with her certified nurse aide license.
Straight out of high school, she went to work as a CNA, often pulling 12-hour shifts that left her exhausted.
“I didn’t mind the hours,” said Lozano. “I was helping others, which was all I’ve ever wanted to do.”
Investing in the future
Back at home, Lozano now has time not only to pursue her career as a nurse without worrying about debt but also has time to once again enjoy those family activities that make life rewarding.
The Laura and Pat Gordon Scholarship at the Hunt School of Nursing benefits students like Lozano and addresses the shortage of health care professionals along the U.S.-Mexico border. Scholarship recipients bring their expertise and passion to provide quality health care services to underserved populations, creating a healthier, more resilient community.
“After I graduate, I plan to remain in El Paso for a couple of years to get some hospital experience under my belt,” said Lozano. “I plan to specialize in the ER or the ICU to excel in becoming a nurse anesthetist. I like the broad opportunities that come with a Texas Tech Health El Paso nursing degree.”
For over a decade, our Borderplex region has been enriched by exceptional students like Lozano, thanks to the generosity of individuals like Laura and Pat Gordon. As El Pasoans and members of the TTU family, they're committed to giving back to students in our community.
For more information on how to support future health care heroes through scholarships, visit give2.ttuhscep.edu, or contact Craig Holden at 915-215-5943 or craig.holden@ttuhsc.edu.
About Texas Tech Health El Paso
Texas Tech Health El Paso is the only health sciences center on the U.S.-Mexico border and serves 108 counties in West Texas that have been historically underserved. It’s a designated Title V Hispanic-Serving Institution, preparing the next generation of health care heroes, 48% of whom identify as Hispanic and are often first-generation students.
Established as an independent university in 2013, Texas Tech Health El Paso is a proudly diverse and uniquely innovative destination for education and research.
With a mission of eliminating health care barriers and creating life-changing educational opportunities for Borderplex residents, Texas Tech Health El Paso has graduated over 2,400 doctors, nurses and researchers over the past decade, and will add dentists to its alumni beginning in 2025. For more information, visit ttuhscepimpact.org.