Dekiah Parson, a junior nursing student at UNC Pembroke, has won a $25,000 scholarship from the Taco Bell Foundation.

Parson, an employee of Taco Bell in Fayetteville, was among 26 students nationwide to receive the full scholarship amount. She plans to use the money toward graduate school.

Parson discovered her passion for medicine after her godsister, London, was born prematurely. Her birth led to several health issues.

“It was amazing to see the neonatal nurses working with her while she was in the incubator,” she said. “At that moment, I knew I wanted to become a nurse and to help people in need of medical assistance.”

“Through her education and future career as a nurse, she hopes to spread awareness in low-income communities about the risks and complications of early labor and teach preventative health methods,” the Taco Bell Foundation said in a release.

This year’s scholarships range from $5,000 to $25,000 per student. More than 10,000 students applied for the Live Mas Scholarship program this year.