Larson, who was born in Michigan, spent her early years in Door County and Appleton. In 1945, she graduated from Michael Reese Hospital School of Nursing and eventually became the hospital’s nurse administrator. After earning her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Case Western Reserve University, Larson became a nurse educator and served at schools of nursing in several states.

In 1966, Larson returned to Wisconsin to help establish the new College of Nursing at UW Oshkosh. Together with four other founders, she developed the College’s first curriculum, comprised of 142 credits in eight semesters and two summer sessions. The curriculum was uniquely organized around the nursing process, with an emphasis on the nurse-patient relationship and a focus on understanding the patient’s perception of
health and illness.

Rosemary Smith, College of Nursing dean, said Larson holds an important place in the College’s history. “Since our founding in 1966, the College of Nursing’s reputation is one of nursing excellence. Just as she established with the initial curriculum, our curriculum today has a strong patient-centered nursing care focus.”

As an associate professor, Larson taught a variety of adult health and management classes to undergraduate students until her retirement in 1991. During her 25-year tenure, she received numerous honors, including UW Oshkosh’s Outstanding Teacher Award in 1984. She was named the Appleton District Nurses Association’s Outstanding Nurse Educator in 1985.

The College is now Wisconsin’s largest producer of BSNs with more than 230 BSN graduates annually and 5,812 alumni. The College offers multiple Undergraduate Program options, including the traditional option, the accelerated option and the BSN completion option as well as a Graduate Program with emphases in Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL), Nurse Educator and the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP).

Alumni Donors in 2011

1971
Jane C. Mlsna

1972
Mary Gibbons ~
Connie L. Moran

1973
Joan F. Carlson
Rebecca L. Cleveland
Barbara Linton
Tanya L. Shawcroft

1974
Greg Gibbons ~
Joan D. Hauer MSN ’78
Mary Novak Jandrey ~

1976
Marsh L. Brightman MSN ’81
Kathleen L. Cary

1977
Mary Barker MSN ’77
Eileen Lukes

1979
Margaret L. Cardiff
Cheryl L. Mellenthin ~

1980
Gabriele E. Darch
Laurie J. Natzke

1981
Barbara J. Byrne
Mary A. Krevans

1982
Sherry L. Krautkramer

1983
Jamie G. Bonell MSN ’86
Judith A. Westphal MSN ’90

1984
Diane D. Egan

1985
Susan Ashton
Tina M. Bettin MSN ’89
Jane Kreplick
Michael T. Wolf

1986
Patricia J. Vander Loop MSN ’95

1987
William T. Lecher

1988
Luann Danielski
Bonnie Schmidt

1989
Shirley A. Frost MSN ’97
Angelica M. Osborne
Beverly J. Teachout
Patricia M. Stapleton MSN ’89

1990
Timothy L. Sprouse

1991
Joseph J. Redding

1992
Denise M. Klubertanz ~

1994
Sharon Chappy MSN ’94 ~

1996
M. Kathleen Murphy MSN ’96
Traci C. Rohmeyer

1997
Heather K. Klauer
Cori L. Matuszek

1998
Abby T. Swan

1999
Rachelle J. Lancaster ~
Kimberly A. Udlis MSN ’99 ~

2001
Evelyn M. Furrer
Tammy M. Rockweiler MSN ’01

2003
Theresa M. Lenaghan MSN ’03
Maria D. Wolf MSN ’03

2006
Matthew Mangan

2008
Kristi L. Siolkowski

Dean’s Club members are those who have given gifts of $500 or more to the College of Nursing in a calendar year.

Roger and Marie Able
Affinity Health System
Agnesian HealthCare
Aurora Health Care
Sharon L. Chappy ’94 MSN and Michael Chappy
Theo H. Cholewinski
Community Health Network
Department of Health Services
Dr. & Mrs. Hugh A. Kennedy Foundation
Nancy Elsberry
Evergreen Retirement Community
Fox Valley District Nurses Association
Greg Gibbons ’74 BSN and Mary Gibbons ’72 BSN
Denise M. Klubertanz ’92 BSN
Rachelle J. Lancaster ’99 BSN
Estate of Elizabeth R. Larson
Phyllis L. Leach
Lutheran Community Foundation
Lutheran Homes of Oshkosh
Cheryl Mellenthin ’79 BSN and Mark Chapman
Mary Novak-Jandrey ’74 BSN and Edward Novak-Jandrey
Gift in Memory of Thomas A. Plein
Oshkosh Area Community Foundation
Oshkosh Student Nurses’ Association
Ripon Medical Center
Theda Care
Kim Udlis ’99 MSN and Seth Udlis

CON Student Donors
Cassandra Cook
Heather Herman
Dragana Radic
Sara Reed
Danielle L. Robach
Collette Swensen
Kelly M. Xiong

Alumni Donors from other UWO Colleges
Marie D. Able ’85 MBA ~
Annette L. Blanchette ’60 BS
Craig B. Darch ’74 MSE
Julie A. Lemanski ’76 BS
Seth D. Udlis ’03 MBA
Daniel W. Westphal ’74 BS

CON Non-Alumni Donors
Roger W. Able ~
Affinity Health System ~
Agnesian Heathcare ~
Janice Andrews
Anonymous Donors
Aspirus Wausau Hospital
Aurora Health Care ~
Ellen Beltz
Theo H. Cholewinski ~
Community Health Network ~
Department of Health Services ~
Dr. & Mrs. Hugh A. Kennedy Foundation ~
Joel Edson
Nancy Elsberry ~
Evergreen Retirement Community ~
Fox Valley District Nurses Association ~
Rosann M. Geiser
Joni Hahn
Kayla J. Hamm
Suzanne Harness
Holy Rosary P.C.C.W.
Colleen Huseboe
Howard and Harriet Iwen
Karen Johnson
Sally Killoran
Kelly A. Lagman
Estate of Elizabeth R. Larson ~
Phyllis Leach ~
Lola Lendrum
Lutheran Community Foundation ~
Lutheran Homes of Oshkosh ~
Suzanne Marnocha
Diane M. Matyas
Mercy Medical Center Volunteers ~
Lisa Mordan
Sandra J. O’Neill
Oshkosh Area Community Foundation ~
Oshkosh Student Nurses Association ~
P.C.C.W.
Rita Pierce
Ripon Medical Center ~
Susan Scheel
Donna J. Schluter
Rosemary K. Smith
Lisa R. Starr-Nelson
The Boeing Gift Matching Program
ThedaCare ~
Deborah M. Walrath
Rosemary C. Wittchow

Opportunities to support the College of Nursing.

*Service on board has ended.

The spring 2011 Kennedy Nursing Fellows are Theresa Buggs, Mayville; Cassandra Cooke, Pestigo; Amanda Morton, Litchfield Park, Ariz; Lindsay Mulholland, Greenville; Kelsey Pekarske, Randolph; Dragana Radic, Appleton; Danielle Robach, Rice Lake; Lindsey Scheel Oshkosh; Collette Swenson, Watertown; and Kimberly VanBuskirk, Waunakee.

The fall 2011 Kennedy Nursing Fellows are Amy Bartelt, Chilton; Mary K. Blank, Ixonia; Bethany Busch, Oshkosh; Heather Herman, Omro; Gina M. Kaczmarek, Stevens Point; Christine Kalies, Denver, Colo.; Jessica Kramer, Lone Rock; Sara Reed, North Fond du Lac; Heather Shantz, LaCrosse; Kalya Stelzner, Winneconne; Gretchen Theis, Winona, Minn.; and Kelly Xiong, Appleton.

“The Kennedy Nursing Fellow Scholarships allow the College to recognize and champion the commitment to excellence of our top nursing students,” said Rosemary Smith, College of Nursing dean. “We appreciate the confidence that the Dr. and Mrs. Hugh A. Kennedy Foundation has placed in our nursing program, and their commitment to advancing our work of developing the very best nurses for tomorrow.”

Due to generous donors, the College also added four new endowed scholarships in 2011. They include the Patricia M. Noble Scholarship, established by the assistant director of our Advanced Practice Nursing Graduate Program, Kim Udlis Ph.D., FNP-BC, APNP; the Willard and Margaret Blanke Nursing Scholarship, established by Graduate Program Director and Assistant Dean Sharon Chappy, Ph.D., RN, CNOR; the Oshkosh Student Nurses’ Association Scholarship; and the Faculty and Staff-Sponsored Nursing Scholarship. These endowments will strengthen our College and help future generations of students complete their education.

You can make a donation to the College or any of the College’s scholarships online, where you will find a comprehensive list of all College scholarships available and a link to the online giving form. You also can mail your gift to 842 Algoma Blvd., Oshkosh, WI 54901-3551. Checks can be made to the UW Oshkosh Foundation; please reference the College of Nursing or the scholarship of your choosing in the memo. Thank you for your continued support of our College and nursing students.

Through generous alumni support, the College of Nursing was able to offer two alumni-sponsored Excellence in Nursing Scholarships for the 2010-2011 academic year. The scholarships were awarded to Junior II nursing students Ashley Blindert, of Petosi, and Kristen Wolfe, of Seymour. Kristen’s goal is to become a nurse midwife, while Ashley plans to work as a pediatric registered nurse.

The College has added several new endowed scholarships in 2010. They include the Leona and Jerry Dempsey Nursing Scholarship, founded by retired professor Leona Dempsey and her husband, Jerry; the Diane R. Cholewinski Memorial Nursing Scholarship, founded by assistant professor Shelly Lancaster and her dad, Theo Cholewinski; and the Nightingale Scholarship, funded by current staff, retired faculty and former Nightingale Award winners. These endowed scholarships will exist in perpetuity to help future generations of nursing students.

If you would like to make a donation to one of the scholarships mentioned above or any College of Nursing scholarship, you can do so by making a contribution to the UW Oshkosh Foundation and referencing the scholarship of your choice. Please mail donations to 842 Algoma Blvd, Oshkosh, WI 54901-3551.

Thank you for your continued support of our college and our students.

Related Links:

Give to the College of Nursing

Alumni Donors in 2010
1971
Jane C. Milna

1972
Mary Gibbons~

1974
Carol R. Alvin
Greg Gibbons~
Mary Novak-Jandrey ~

1975
Marie C. Maguire
Mary Jo Turner
Diane C. Zanto MSN ’90

1976
Marsha L. Brightman  MSN ’81
Cara L. Dowsett MSN ’06
Francis G. Ircink
Mary J. Ircink
Diane M. Lange
Joseph P. Murray ~

1977
Mary A. Barker-Edson MSN
Eileen N. Lukes
Jolee M. Reinke

1979
Margaret L. Cardiff
Robert A. Fale
Cheryl L. Mellenthin ~

1980
Linda M. Gueths-Pomeroy

1981
Mary A. Krevans
Marypat Knauss
Sandra K. Hartfiel

1982
Irene H. Lynch MSN ’89

1983
Judith A. Westphal MSN ’90

1984
Jill A. Lauritsen
Amy L. Marquardt

1985
Jane A. Kreplick
Susan M. Ashton

1986
Sharon R. Lemerond

1988
Nancy A. Rudd
Bonnie J. Schmidt
Colleen M. Schmidt
Katherine I. Williams

1989
Venancia G. Gamazon MSN ’89
Beverly J. Teachout

1990
Michelle A. Virtues

1991
Joseph J. Redding

1992
William F. Mykel

1993
Mary K. Larson
Pamela A. Roberts MSN ’93
Wendy J. Zuehl

1994
Sharon L. Chappy MSN ’94

1996
David J. Kussow
Traci C. Rohmeyer
Janet R. Bowen MSN ’96

1997
Sarah L. Walder

1999
Anonymous ~
Rachelle J. Lancaster
Kimberly A. Udlis ~
MSN ’99

2000
Annette M. Kaminsky MSN ’00
Anne M. Neeb MSN ’00
Debra K. Compton

2006
Matthew R. Mangan

2009
Rory A. Groessl
Katrina M. Schuh

CON Student Donors
Erin Persson
Sidney M. Quade
Kayla Steckling
Maria Vitale

Alumni Donors from other UWO Colleges
Marie D. Able ~    ’85 MBA
Annette L. Blanchette ’60 BS
Jeremy R. Coenen ’05 MBA
Julie Lemanski ’76 BS
Steven J. Pomeroy’81 BFA
Glenna L. Seyfer ’67 BS
Richard J. Turner ’73 BS
Seth D. Udlis ~ ’03 MBA
Daniel W. Westphal ’74 BS

CON Non-Alumni Donors
Roger W. Able ~
Affinity Health System ~
Agnesian Healthcare ~
Ashwaubenon Lioness
Aspirus Wausau Hospital
Selma Brophy
Tammy M. Chapin
Theo H. Cholewinski
Jill M. Collier
Community Health Network ~
Leona Dempsey ~
Department of Health Services ~
Jan Edelstein
Joel C. Edson
Nancy Elsberry ~
Evergreen Retirement  Community ~
Fox Valley District  Nurses Association ~
Arthur J. Gallagher  Foundation ~
Rosann Geiser
John I. Gerzel
Edna J. Giesler
Barbara Gruenwald
Kevin L. Hilbert
Patricia J. Hoogervorst
Horton Lions Club
Candace B. Huebner
Colleen Huseboe
Karen M. Johnson
Dennis Kawski
Dr. and Mrs. Hugh A.  Kennedy Foundation ~
Phyllis L. Leach ~
Lutheran Community  Foundation ~
Lutheran Homes of  Oshkosh Inc. ~
Katherine MacKinnon Fiss Scholarship ~
Peggy J. Maier
Suzanne Marnocha
Mazomanie Lions Club
Leesa Mcshane
Menasha Corporation Foundation
Mercy Medical Center  Auxilliary ~
Charlene Messenger
Jim Mitchell ~
Monroe Lions Club
North East Wisconsin  Chapter of the Oncology Nursing Society
Jacci S. Olson
Oshkosh Student Nurses Association
Elizabeth A. Regan ~
Lynn M. Rinzel
Ripon Medical Center ~
Sue Robl
Sentry Insurance  Foundation
Rosemary K. Smith
Lisa Starr-Nelson
Mary Tamblin
The Boeing Gift Matching Program
ThedaCare ~
Thomas A. Plein Foundation LTD~
Margaret Walker

*Service on board has ended.

Roger and Marie Able
Affinity Health System
Agnesian Healthcare
Anonymous
Anonymous
Department of Health Services
Evergreen Retirement Community
Fox Valley District Nurses Association
Arthur J. Gallagher Foundation
Gregory Gibbons ’74 BSN
and Mary Gibbons ’72 BSN
Dr. and Mrs. Hugh A. Kennedy Foundation
Phyllis L. Leach
Lutheran Homes of  Oshkosh Inc.
Cheryl Mellenthin ’79 BSN
and Mark Chapman
James A. and Liz Mitchell
Joseph P. Murray ’76 BSN
Mary Novak-Jandrey ’74 BSN and Edward Novak-Jandrey
Gift in Memory of  Thomas A. Plein
Ripon Medical Center
ThedaCare
Seth and Kim Udlis ’99 MSN

The spring 2010 Kennedy Nursing Fellows are Jessica Derenne, Casco; Danielle Eisenschink, Whitelaw; Cassandra Gelhaus, Medford; Molly Ireland, Fitchburg;  Jessica Lauretic, Evansville; Taryn Olson, Breckenridge, Colo.; Jennifer Schuh, Oshkosh; Courtney Schuman, New Berlin;  Larissa Smage, Elkhorn; and Jodi Wilhelm, Birnamwood.

The fall 2010 Kennedy Nursing Fellows are Anton Basak, Menasha; Gina Buzzanca, Mequon; Angela Gile, Fond du Lac;  Margaret Higgenbothham, Birnamwood; Chelsea Olson, Waupaca; Erin Persson, Oshkosh; Sidney Quade, Cambria; Kayla Steckling, Winneconne; Brian Taplin, Brandon; and Maria Vitale, Pewaukee.

“I hope my healing hands can extend to touch others as Dr. Kennedy’s have,” Higginbotham said.