When Kristy Uyechko walked across the stage at St. Luke’s School of Nursing graduation on April 16, the milestone represented far more than the completion of a degree. It marked the continuation of a remarkable family legacy—one rooted in compassion, perseverance and a shared calling to care for others.
Kristy became the third member of her family to graduate from St. Luke’s School of Nursing, following her mother, Tetyana Uyechko, and older sister, Anna Uyechko. In a moment that was rare and deeply personal, Tetyana and Anna placed Kristy’s nursing pin on her themselves, symbolizing her entry into the profession and celebrating a journey all three women have shared in different ways.
According to Tetyana, she and her daughters’ decisions to pursue nursing were shaped by a common desire that has long defined their family: They have always wanted to help people, and this instinct ultimately led them to the calling of nursing.
“I am so proud of them. It gives me the most satisfaction when your children grow up and want to change someone's life.”
The Uyechko family first drew attention several years ago when Tetyana became the second family graduate, behind Anna, from the St. Luke’s School of Nursing. Tetyana, then 48, achieved a dream she had worked toward while employed as a medical assistant at St. Luke’s. Anna completed the program earlier that year and went on to begin her career as a Labor and Delivery nurse at St. Luke’s Allentown Campus. Their shared achievement laid the groundwork for what would become a multi-generational nursing story.
Growing up, Kristy watched closely as her mother and sister navigated the demands of nursing school and the realities of the profession. Those experiences left a lasting mark.
“I always knew I wanted to be in health care, and I felt inspired by watching my mother and sister work through the ups and downs they did over those two years.”
As she reflects on her education, Kristy says the experience extended beyond textbooks and exams, shaping how she views the world and her role within it.
You learn so much through clinicals, lectures, and exams. You feel safe knowing you have people to support you and get close to other students and the people you meet every semester. You put in so much time and work. Seeing people in a clinical scenario, you learn to appreciate health and life, and the knowledge and experience you take away, you can apply to all areas of life.”
The memory of watching her mother and sister graduate remains especially meaningful now, as she has finally experienced that same moment herself.
Three years ago, when I watched my mom and sister graduate, I hoped that would be me someday. They are my two role models in life and in nursing.”
Tetyana, who was born in Ukraine, immigrated to the United States in 1998 with her husband, Orest, and Anna, who was just 18 months old at the time. Kristy was later born in the U.S. and raised in a household shaped by resilience, opportunity and hard work. Since her own graduation and transition into nursing, Tetyana has continued to expand the ways she can support patients. She has since completed a Nurse Coaching course and said she feels it could truly change someone’s life by helping patients avoid repeated hospitalizations. Continuing the family’s commitment to growth and education, both Tetyana and Anna are also graduating with their Bachelor of Science in Nursing degrees this year—another shared milestone in careers defined by continual learning.
Founded in 1884, St. Luke’s School of Nursing is the oldest continuously operating school of nursing in the United States, and it has educated generations of nurses who serve their communities with skill and compassion. For the Uyechko family, the School represents more than an education. It is where aspirations were realized, inspiration was passed from one generation to the next, and a lasting legacy took shape.
As Kristy received her pin from the two women who inspired her path, the moment celebrated not just a graduation, but a family story still unfolding: three nurses, one shared calling, and a deep connection to St. Luke’s that continues to grow.
