ABERDEEN, S.D. — Northern State University nursing student Kailyn Poppen has been selected to receive the Carol and Bruce Anderson Family Memorial Nursing Scholarship, an award that carries a personal connection to the people and communities of northeastern South Dakota.

Poppen is a junior in NSU's new Bachelor of Science in Nursing program and an Aberdeen native who plans to graduate in spring 2027. A member of the NSU women's soccer team, she has also earned the South Dakota Opportunity Scholarship and the Wolf PACT Scholarship during her time at Northern.

The scholarship was created by Bruce Anderson of Britton, S.D., as a way to honor his late wife, Carol, who died in 2022. Anderson wanted to memorialize her in a meaningful way, and a nursing scholarship felt like the right fit. The award goes to South Dakota residents enrolled in an accredited pre-licensure registered nurse program. Preference is given first to residents of Britton, then to residents of Brown, Day, Edmunds, Faulk, Marshall, McPherson, Roberts or Spink county. Applicants must submit two letters of recommendation from non-family members highlighting their leadership, compassion, community involvement and personal character.

"NSU has definitely pushed me to grow, but I've also felt supported the whole way — both in the classroom and on the field," said Poppen.

Poppen has her sights set on becoming a certified registered nurse anesthetist, driven by a desire to make a real difference in patient care. Outside the classroom, she stays busy as a member of the soccer team and teaches ice skating lessons in the winter — a schedule that has sharpened her time management skills as much as her nursing studies.

"Kailyn exemplifies exactly the kind of student our new BSN program was built for — driven, compassionate and deeply connected to this region," said Dr. Lyncee Monson, associate dean of nursing at Northern State University. "Seeing her recognized with this scholarship is a proud moment for our program and a testament to the strong future of nursing in northeastern South Dakota."

NSU's new BSN program, led by Associate Dean of Nursing Dr. Lyncee Monson, DNP RN CCRN CNE, gives students the academic foundation and real-world clinical experience they need to succeed as registered nurses. The university welcomed its first BSN cohort in fall 2025.

For more information about the Carol and Bruce Anderson Family Memorial Nursing Scholarship or to make a donation, visit sdcommunityfoundation.org.