Military vet Candice Kundle brings a global view to Naz.

Following a globe-trotting Air Force Career, Candice R. Kundle '12 (North Massapequa, N.Y.) landed at Nazareth to study nursing. Talk about a smooth landing.

"The professors so far are amazing. I'd pay them double if I could," she said. "The way they teach is worth every penny."

A NEW DIRECTION

After eight years opening remote airfields from Bahrain to Turkey and beyond, Candice was ready for a new direction. Studying biology education at a local community college didn't feel quite right.

"I was looking at other options that would relate to biology and the sciences," she said. "Somebody told me that nursing might fit my personality because I'm good at meeting people, teamwork, all that stuff."

But why choose Nazareth?

"Nazareth is known through our whole community, and the pedigree of your education is important. It's considered high-end, a top school, and it lives up to its reputation."

Although she needed a couple of weeks to get back into the academic groove, her biggest adjustment was clothing. "I miss my uniform," she said. "When you wear it for eight years, and then have to pick new clothes everyday, it's a challenge."

A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE

Nazareth's mix of liberal arts education and professional nursing training matched Candice's experience as a global citizen.

"Nazareth doesn't want to just give you a degree," she said. "It wants you to be more understanding of the world around you. That's important to me because I've lived all over the world."

Her nursing classes often include discussions of family roles, eating habits, and social traditions around the globe.

"It's not just America, and that's it," she said.

"I've been in places that people will probably never go to, places they might only see in films, so I can bring my experience with different cultures into the school," she said. "People at Naz really accept and are curious about my experience."

Nazareth's Yellow Ribbon scholarships, which provide $7,500 per year to military veterans, helped make Naz affordable.

"I couldn't have gone to Naz if it weren't for that scholarship," she said.

A SENSE OF COMMUNITY

After years of living in tight-knit military communities, she couldn't imagine being somewhere where she didn't know lots of people. Nazareth made an instant impression.

"Naz really feels like a base, where you can walk down the sidewalk and know everybody. Now friends will call and ask if I'm around, and I'll say, 'Sure, I'm on base.' I keep forgetting it's called a campus!"

Candice is already diving into campus life. She catches dance performances at the Arts Center. She walked in the Strides for Life fundraiser. And she's hooked on Golden Flyer soccer games.

"Every time I see Naz colors or Naz shirts, I get really excited," she said. "I've got lots of school spirit already."