Caleigh Dirks ’23

A nursing major from Danvers, Mass., Caleigh Dirks came to Colby-Sawyer for its outstanding nursing program, small class sizes and family-like environment, as well as the opportunity to play lacrosse while pursuing her dream of becoming a nurse. Though this meant balancing a challenging course load and clinicals with practice and games, Caleigh’s success gave her confidence in her own abilities and the reassurance that hard work really does pay off.

Earlier this year, Caleigh joined 21 other Colby-Sawyer nursing students on an eight-day medical service trip to Quito, Ecuador. In Ecuador, Caleigh lived and shared meals with a host family while she and her fellow students conducted primary care checks on over 600 students at a local elementary and high school. Though she enjoyed hiking mountains, walking along beautiful lakes and exploring rainforests, the trip was especially meaningful to Caleigh because it helped solidify her passion for nursing, especially with the pediatric population.

Caleigh is a member of the Student Nursing Association, and she worked as a fitness center monitor in the Hogan Sports Center. She also served as a teaching assistant for the Fundamentals of Nursing course, where she provided support and guidance to younger students. One nominator wrote, “She is a kind and genuine human being. She works hard for everything she has and is an inspiration.”

After graduation, Caleigh will work as an RN in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at the Children’s Hospital at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center.