Growing up in Bloomington-Normal, Katelyn Steiling aspired to be one of the Illinois State University students she often saw walking to class. Today, thanks to hard work and support from university donors, Steiling gets to pursue her dreams—both inside and outside of the classroom.
As a child, Steiling often found herself on campus for dance competitions or camps or visiting family members who worked at the University. Steiling now carries on the family legacy as a student in the Mennonite College of Nursing (MCN).
Since joining the University as its sixth academic college in 1999, the MCN has continued to evolve, producing expert nurses through undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral programs. In 2011, the Mennonite College of Nursing Simulation Center opened, and today, that state-of the-art facility is expanding alongside the college itself. In addition to a 16,000 square-foot expansion with an enhanced clinical education setting using virtual reality technology, the college also recently opened a new location in Springfield in a newly formed partnership with Memorial Health.
The advancement of the college enhances opportunities available to current and prospective students, such as Steiling, who is the first in her family to pursue working in health care. Throughout her childhood in Bloomington-Normal, Steiling saw firsthand the impact MCN had on her community. The college continues to produce quality nurses through its programs.
So, when it came time to choose where to go to college, Steiling only had one place in mind: Illinois State University’s Mennonite College of Nursing, where she could continue to learn and grow in the community she knows and loves.
“I knew it was always going to be ISU,” said Steiling. “Mennonite has an amazing reputation with so many incredible opportunities and features. It was kind of a no brainer.”
With two college-aged siblings, Steiling and her family have felt the financial pressures of pursuing higher education degrees. The costs, combined with a desire to pursue activities outside the classroom, led Steiling to apply for scholarships, such as the Star for Nursing Education Endowed Scholarship and the Illinois State University Alumni Association Scholarship. Funds from these scholarships opened doors for Steiling. Although she grew up in the area, the support of these scholarships allowed her to fully integrate herself in the college experience and rent an apartment near campus, something she wouldn’t have been able to do otherwise.
“A lot of things in my life would be different right now if it weren’t for the scholarships I’ve received. I’m so grateful that donors took a chance in giving to the University, and I ended up being that chance,” said Steiling.
Steiling’s living situation wasn’t the only thing donor support changed. Ever since she was a child, Steiling has had a passion for dance, which she pursued throughout high school on the dance team at Normal West High School. At Illinois State, she was able to continue exploring this passion on the Redline Express Dance Team, the official dance team of Illinois State University Athletics that performs alongside the Big Red Marching Machine (BRMM).
“When I’m dancing in BRMM, my love for this community and this school is on full display,” said Steiling.
Steiling has been a member of the Redline Express since she was a freshman. With practice several nights a week and games on the weekend, this extracurricular keeps her busy in addition to her classes.
“Donor support is a big reason why I’m able to participate in the Big Red Marching Machine. I no longer have to worry about paying for the credit hours required for it, and I also have plenty of time to participate and attend games and practices, because I don’t need to be employed due to the support I receive,” Steiling said
When Steiling isn’t dancing on the field at Hancock Stadium, she can be found studying and working on homework for her nursing courses. Now in her senior year, Steiling is keeping busy and focusing on her studies before graduating in May.
“In terms of academics, donor support has really helped me and allowed me to put all of my energy into what I’m truly here for, which is studying to become a nurse. Without their support, I wouldn’t have the same amount of energy and commitment to being the student that I’ve become,” said Steiling.
In addition to her own academics, Steiling also serves as a peer support person in the nursing program, where she mentors eight underclassmen entering their first clinicals. Steiling had previously served as an academic peer advisor on campus. Now, she is able to take these skills and provide support for other nursing students.
Steiling hasn’t only supported other students. In the summer of 2023, she had the opportunity to support children in the Peoria area with an internship at Almost Home Kids at OSF Children’s Hospital of Illinois, where she worked with children with complex medical needs.
“Nursing as a profession touches so many lives. I really look forward to being that person for a patient one day,” said Steiling.
Following graduation, Steiling hopes to continue working with children and give back to the community that has already given her so much.
“I have seen what this community has done for me,” she said. “I want to pay it forward and be able to give back how I can as a nurse.”
The donor support that helped Steiling throughout her years as a student not only supported her inside and outside of the classroom, but it also created a cycle of giving that Steiling will carry with her into the medical field.
To fund opportunities for future nurses like Steiling, visit Giving.IllinoisState.edu/opportunities/college-nursing or contact Director of Development Jennifer Sedbrook at jsedbro@IllinoisState.edu or (309) 438-7178.
