My Fred Journey

Colin Spehar, Fred Rogers Scholar, Nursing Major, Saint Vincent College Class of 2026

My Fred journey started earlier than most. I grew up in Latrobe, Pennsylvania and have spent my whole life there and am still living there. I was introduced to Fred Rogers from as far back as I can remember. My parents grew up watching Fred and their parents as well. Fred meant a little more in our house growing up, especially since we were from Latrobe, and I would watch his show growing up. As I got older my relationship with Fred  was limited, until my senior year at Greater Latrobe High School, (the same high school as Fred), when I was looking for colleges to apply to and obviously, I came across Saint Vincent College. I was looking for scholarship opportunities and came across the Fred Rogers Scholars program and I thought that there was no better fit for me. This program promoted all the qualities I strived to have on a day-to-day basis. Going into the field of nursing requires me to be kind, respectful, inclusive, and most of all, a good person to all.  You need these qualities to be a Scholar too, and that is why I thought that I would be a great fit for the program. 

After thinking about all of this, I talked to my mom, and she thought it was a great idea to apply too. During my interview for the program, I met two of the nicest and most welcoming people that I still know to this day: Sarah Goehring (current director of the Fred Rogers Scholars program) and Dr. Winters (previous director of the Fred Rogers Scholars program). During and after that interview, I was thinking to myself, how badly I wanted to be a part of that family. The environment that they created with me just over the phone was amazing, and I knew I wanted to be a Fred Rogers Scholar from that day on. Once I found out that I was going to be a Scholar I was so grateful and excited for the opportunity, and I couldn’t wait to get started. 

This program has impacted me in so many great ways. This program taught me how to truly be myself and that being myself is my best self. The qualities that I thought I had coming into this program only got better and I continued to evolve into a true Fred Rogers Scholar. This program has made my college experience special. I am a commuter at Saint Vincent, so I haven’t undergone the full college experience. Being a part of this program has helped me receive some of that college experience whilst also living at home and it’s also let me meet some pretty cool people. 

One of the best experiences that I have had volunteering as a Scholar was during an event for our Gretsch Fellow in Children's Music when families and their kids came. We had three types of stations that the families could participate in and the Scholars that were helping with the event were also included in doing the events. The activities included a musical event where families and Scholars would sing along with the Music Fellow, Amanda Draper. The next event was an arts and craft station for the kids, and they created little puppets out of paper bags. The last little activity they could do was walk around and see artifacts from the Fred Rogers Archive. This event was so impactful on me because when I am older, I want to be a pediatric nurse practitioner. I love working with kids and this event allowed me to not only work with kids but also be able to work with their families. This event not only gave me a little taste of my future, but it also reassured me that I knew exactly what I wanted to be doing when I was older.  

This program has helped me so much in preparing for my future life in so many ways. My future self has benefitted so much from this great opportunity, and it also has helped me with my future career. This program has helped me develop crucial skills that will only benefit me in my future career and endeavors. I will continue to carry Fred’s legacy during my career by treating all patients and people with proper care, kindness, and inclusion. Fred was a very special man, and I hold a special place in my heart for what he did for people and continues to do for people long after his passing. I will do my best to uphold his reputation, and I will continue to use everything the program has taught me to be the best person I can be day in and day out.