Attending West Chester University changed the course of Aurelio Peter Ojeda’s life for the better, and a new scholarship in his name will allow his family to offer the same opportunity to future students.

Ojeda ’80, who is from Mexico, first encountered the University when his sister, Casiana, invited him to visit her in Pennsylvania, where she was living with her husband.

After that first visit, Ojeda returned to Pennsylvania and began taking classes at what was then known as West Chester State College. He was also learning English.

“It was hard, but having young people around me made a big difference,” he said.

As he became more involved on campus, he received a scholarship that would allow him to stay, as long as he made the dean’s list and remained involved in campus activities. The scholarship was crucial for Ojeda to afford his education.

“Without it I never could have stayed in this country and study,” he said. “They gave me a wonderful opportunity to have a different type of life.”

Ojeda was originally interested in attending medical school and decided to study nursing as a way to get there. At the time, male nurses were rare and sometimes not taken seriously. During his studies, a woman made a point of telling Ojeda she thought men did not belong in nursing.

West Chester had the foresight to choose a student with a dream to fulfill and that really launched a cascade of wonderful things in his life.

His mentor, Mary Kline ’62, who helped create WCU’s nursing program, stepped in and told the woman she was wrong. Her support that day, and throughout his WCU tenure, was incredibly motivating.

It was Kline who encouraged Ojeda to pursue geriatric nursing.

“I feel a lot of ease with older people,” Ojeda said. “Maybe it’s because I didn’t know my grandparents. But I like and love the experiences of my geriatric patients. They have so much knowledge they can contribute to the world.”

West Chester is also where Ojeda met his wife, Lori ’79. This June, they celebrated 45 years of marriage. They had three sons, their youngest following in his father’s footsteps and graduating from WCU with a degree in nursing in 2008.

Ojeda couldn’t believe how much the program had grown. He recently took a campus tour and was again impressed at the advancements the program has made.

“We used to practice on each other,” Ojeda said with a laugh. “We had mannequins that didn’t move. Now they can simulate breathing and looking around.”

Last year, Ojeda retired from the Delaware Valley Veterans’ Home, where he was commandant. His sister, Casiana Hilton, established the Aurelio Peter Ojeda Endowed Scholarship to honor her brother’s retirement and support future generations of nurses.

It’s also a way to repay the scholarship Ojeda received all those years ago.

“West Chester had the foresight to choose a student with a dream to fulfill and that really launched a cascade of wonderful things in his life,” she said. “In many ways it represents the American dream, the goodness of this country.”

The scholarship aims to support students who are compassionate, with a preference for male students and those who are first-generation students or demonstrate significant financial need. Hilton’s hope is that recipients will carry forward Ojeda’s legacy of compassionate care and dedication to the nursing profession.

“He is an exceptional human being,” she said. “We hope this scholarship will help students who dream to help others. Someone who wants to help humanity in all stages of life.”