Two successful SUNY Polytechnic Institute (SUNY Poly) alumni have paid it forward to a future graduate through a scholarship established to recognize and support future healthcare workers. 

SUNY Poly senior Nan Han was named the 2020 recipient of the Bikash and Kumari Regmi Scholarship at an award ceremony held March 6 at the Midtown Utica Community Center (MUCC). 

“Receiving this award is a great honor for me, and it's amazing to see other refugees like me giving back to the community,” Han said. “During the award ceremony, I felt inspired to one day do the same and give back to the community by supporting future leaders.”

Han, who came to the United States at the age of 11 as a refugee from Myanmar, has worked the last three years as a medical interpreter for the Mohawk Valley Health System. She is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in biology and will graduate in May 2020. 

Bikash Regmi, who earned his Master of Science in Nursing Family Nurse Practitioner degree from SUNY Poly in 2017, also came to the United States in 2009 with wife Kumari as Bhutanese refugees. Now both Family Nurse Practitioners and adjunct lectures at SUNY Poly, the Regmis have decided to give back to a student who aspires to compassionately improve the lives of others through healthcare and become a model citizen. 

“Nan Han has been chosen as the winner of the Bikash & Kumari Regmi scholarship because of her academic success, her commitment to improving the health in the community, and her ability to overcome the many obstacles that have been in her path,” the Regmis said. “We were especially impressed with the wide range of her contributions, as an interpreter, a participant in medical mission work, her music lessons, and the joy that she takes in helping others.”

Han, a resident of Utica, currently volunteers as a music teacher at Redeemer Church and has worked as a dietary aide for Preswick Glen senior care facility, New Hartford, and a personal assistant for the Utica Resource Center for Independent Living.

She hopes to use the $400 scholarship to help continue her education and put the award toward fees for her future MCAT exam. 

The Regmis would like to thank Dr. Kathryn Stam, Optum, and SUNY Poly families for their continued support to make this successful.