Class of 2016
Associate of Arts, General Studies / St. Charles Community College
Bachelor of Science, Nursing / University of Missouri-St. Louis
“Never forget where you came from, and remember who opened the door for you…”
Kimmie Sorden graduated summa cum laude from University of Missouri-St. Louis in December 2016 with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree. She completed and passed her NREMT-B (National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians – Basic) boards while she was attending nursing school. She has since passed her NCLEX (National Council Licensure Examination) nursing boards and is working as a Registered Nurse in the Neurology and Neurosurgical Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Barnes-Jewish Hospital. Kimmie’s greatest professional achievement to date is being hired as a new graduate nurse in the Neuro ICU, which usually hires nurses with many years of work experience.
Kimmie is an amazing young woman who has persevered in attaining her goals while overcoming significant obstacles. Anxiety has sometimes been overwhelming for her, and her father has also had some health issues. Fortunately, Kimmie has a strong support system and received help during a particularly difficult period while in nursing school. She is most gratified at graduating from nursing school with honors. As a child who was abused and later adopted from an orphanage through the foster care system, she states, “Statistics show that only 10% of former foster youth will attend college, and of that 10% only 3% will graduate. Well I am PROUD to say I am that 3%.”
She received an interest-free loan through the Foundation’s Designated Scholar Loan Program. She also received the Mid-America Transplant grant from The Scholarship Foundation. She is most appreciative of this support, which she says, “made it possible to help me finish my degree when I could not afford the tuition increases during my time in the nursing program.”
In the future, Kimmie plans to earn a PhD or DNP, work in critical care/emergency medicine and teach, so she can share her knowledge and skills and make a difference in medical treatments and care. Her advice to other students is to “Stay hungry. Do not give up, and use your obstacles/failures as fuel to drive your successes. Never forget where you came from, and remember who opened the door for you, because I would not be where I am if it were not for the people at The Scholarship Foundation of St. Louis and Mid-America Transplant to help pay for my education. Be that door for somebody else and pay it forward!”
Kimmie is committed to paying it forward in many ways. There are great accomplishments in her future.
