Patricia Ann Kehr and Family
Patricia Ann Kehr’s non-traditional student status began with her taking Joe Plut’s writing course. The course further inspired the 44 year old Pat to go back to school and receive her Associate of Arts degree from Brainerd Community College, twice being named to the Dean’s/President Academic Honors list. In 1994, she graduated magna cum laude from Bemidji State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing. However, she paused her career for the next decade as she attended to her mother’s advancing Alzheimer’s disease, helped her older brother through two hip replacements, and spent over a month with her oldest son (who has cerebral palsy) as he recuperated from a fractured hip. Certainly, these are examples of her sharing and caring attitude. Pat was also able to participate in two medical missions to Belize in 2002 and 2003, but upon her second return from Belize she was diagnosed with Stage 4 Adenocarcinoma of the Lung (non-smoking). Over the next four and half years, Pat put up a relentless fight and penned The Healing Journey, which appeared in the Fall 2005 issue of Her Voice magazine. The article detailed her shock, anger, fight against and acceptance of her fate. It was considered the most requested article to appear in that magazine. Following Pat’s death in August 2007, her family received a stack of sympathy cards that reached 21” in height. As a result, two perpetual scholarships were established in her memory. The Patricia Ann Kehr Memorial RN Fund as well as the Patricia Ann Kehr Memorial BSN Fund now provide educational opportunities to deserving students at Pat’s alma mater, Central Lakes College.
Impact
“I would like to send my sincere gratitude for choosing me as the recipient of the Patricia Ann Kehr Memorial BSN Fund. I am honored to receive this scholarship from your family. I am a non-traditional student pursuing my RN degree at Central Lakes College and plan to continue on with my BSN at St. Scholastica. I am a mother of two beautiful girls and I work in the Cardiology Center at SJMC. this scholarship will allow me to continue my education and provide a better future for my girls. I truly appreciate your generosity.”
- Spring 2016 Scholarship Recipient/Nursing Student
“I would like to thank you for awarding me with the Patricia Ann Kehr Memorial RN fund scholarship. I very much appreciate being awarded this gift for my spring tuition. I am honored to be recognized with it to help finish the registered nursing program. The program is a very difficult and dedicated program. By receiving this scholarship, it allows me to focus more on my school than how I will be paying for tuition. I again thank you for this grateful gift of the scholarship.”
- Spring 2015 Scholarship Recipient/Nursing AS (RN) Student
“I am greatly honored to receive the scholarship from the Patricia Ann Kehr Memorial BSN Fund. I truly appreciate it. I will use it towards my tuition in the hopes of graduating with my associates degree in Nursing from Central Lakes College… This scholarship means a lot to me because I have little money for college and this definitely will help with some of my extra expenses. By awarding me this scholarship, I am able to move forward my goals within my chosen career. This will help me to succeed throughout college and give me something more to look forward too. Thank you again for your generous donation.”
- Spring 2014 Scholarship Recipient/Nursing AS (RN) Student
“Receiving this scholarship is extra special to me knowing that it is in memory of someone special to you. This year has been a rough one for me with the passing of my younger cousin and grandmother. I think it is great that there are scholarships like yours to honor the lives of the people we love. Since I was little, I’ve always been the person trying to take care of everyone else. As I got closed to my high school graduation, I realized that nursing was something I wanted to do and could be really good at. I promise you that the money you have so graciously awarded to me will not go to waste. I am very dedicated to fulfilling my dreams of becoming a nurse not only for myself but also for all of the people who have helped me get there.”
- Spring 2013 Scholarship Recipient/PN (LPN)
“My husband was laid off from his job last fall and has had some recent medical issues that is preventing him from finding other work. I am trying to make ends meet through my work as a LPN at a nursing home, but am finding it hard as the spring semester looms closer and tuition is coming due soon. This scholarship money will help immensely and take a lot of weight and worry off of my shoulders. I have dreamed of getting my RN since receiving my LPN in 2007. I took a break from school to work while my husband furthered his career. Last fall I decided to take the leap and go back to school. It has been hard, overwhelming and time consuming, but so worth it in the end! Thank you so much for supporting me in this!”
- Spring 2013 Scholarship Recipient/Nursing AS (RN) Student
“Receiving this scholarship is extra special to me knowing that it is in memory of someone special to you. This year has been a rough one for me with the passing of my younger cousin and grandmother. I think it is great that there are scholarships like yours to honor the lives of the people we love. Since I was little I’ve always been the person trying to take care of everyone else. As I got closer to my high school graduation, I realized that nursing was something I wanted to do and could be really good at. I promise you that the money you have so graciously awarded me will not go to waste. I am very dedicated to fulfilling my dreams of becoming a nurse not only for myself but also for all of the people who have helped me get there. Once again, thank you so much.”
- Spring 2013 Scholarship Recipient/PN (LPN) Student