By A Northern State student recently got a boost in her quest to become a nurse.
Kailyn Poppen was honored with the Carol and Bruce Anderson Family Memorial Scholarship. The Aberdeen native is a junior in Northern’s new nursing program and plans to graduate in spring 2027.
She said her most meaningful experience at NSU so far has been “learning under highly educated nursing instructors who foster a supportive, safe learning environment and genuinely care about each student’s success.”
Poppen
A member of the Northern soccer team, Poppen has also earned South Dakota Opportunity and Wolf PACT scholarships. The Anderson scholarship, however, is presented by the South Dakota Nursing Foundation and has a unique tie to northeastern South Dakota.
Bruce Anderson lives in Britton and, after his wife Carol died in 2022, wanted to honor her in a special way. He decided a nursing scholarship program would be appropriate. The scholarships are given to college students who are South Dakota residents in accredited nursing programs. Honorees must be from Marshall, Brown, Day, Roberts, McPherson, Edmunds, Faulk or Spink county.
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Poppen said she plans to eventually be a certified registered nurse anesthetist to “contribute to improved patient outcomes through advanced practice nursing.”
She said she comes from a background that values hard work, discipline and teamwork — qualities that will help her in her career.
Poppen said her clinical rotations have been a significant experience.
“Seeing nurses offer empathy and compassion gives each patient an extra glimmer of light and hope, which is rewarding to see and feel,” she said.
Poppen, who also teaches ice skating lessons in the winter, said her schedule is busy, but has taught her the “importance of time management and staying grounded.”
Donations to the Anderson scholarship fund can be made online at shorturl.at/PmAf5.
