Jaidyn Morales-Devine and Erica Di Corpo both wanted to be nurses since they were 10 years old.

For Morales-Devine, the moment her baby sister was born sealed the deal.

"The nurse asked me if I wanted to help take her vitals and clean her off," she recalled. "From that moment, I was sold. It was amazing."

For Di Corpo, losing her father to cancer in high school was a defining moment.

"He took so much pride in telling the nurses I wanted to be like them," she said. "Those were sweet moments we shared amid hardship," said Di Corpo.

Morales-Devine also faced cancer's impact growing up, as two cousins and a childhood best friend were diagnosed.

"I've always been surrounded by cancer my entire life," she said.

Those early experiences-both tragic and inspiring-fueled the senior nursing majors at the University of Delaware College of Health Sciences.

This summer, both were selected for highly competitive Flynn Fellowships, awarded by the Flynn Foundation, to prepare the next generation of oncology nurses through immersive internships at leading cancer hospitals. Each spent the summer in pediatric oncology units near their hometowns: Morales-Devine at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and Di Corpo at Boston Children's Hospital in Massachusetts.

"When I found out I got the fellowship, I was sobbing," said Morales-Devine. "This is my dream."

Her closest cousin, who lost her battle to acute myeloid leukemia at age 16, was treated at CHOP, which made serving her fellowship there especially meaningful.

"Her nurses had such a big impact, and that made me want to pursue oncology," said Morales-Devine. "I want to change lives the way they did."

Joanne Creasy Thomas, an associate instructor in the School of Nursing (SON), recommended Morales-Devine for the fellowship because of her drive and personal connection to oncology.

"Jaidyn chose her path with a clear sense of purpose," said Creasy Thomas. "Her compassion for children and families facing cancer will make her an exceptional nurse."