The Dickinson State University’s (DSU) Nursing Students’ Association (NSA) recently held their annual Student Nurse of the Year (SNOY) competition. Three outstanding junior nursing candidates from the baccalaureate nursing program were nominated: Sarah Kruger of Bowman, North Dakota; Abigail Brooks of Rocklin, California; and Jessica Summers of Medicine Lake, Montana. The SNOY candidates were chosen by the NSA student body for their leadership, community service and passion for serving others.

This year’s judges were Bernie Krebs, St. Benedict’s Health Center spiritual counselor; Tania Brost of Sanford Health; and Bobbie Johnson, a Dickinson High School educator. They had an incredibly tough job and ultimately selected Abigail Brooks as the 2018-19 Student Nurse of the Year.

“I cannot speak enough about how much respect I have toward the profession of nursing and the role of the nurse today,” said Brooks. “Being a nurse means a great deal to me and I am very excited for my future career to begin.”

As a Theodore Roosevelt Honors Leadership Program scholar and DSU softball team member, Brooks has been preparing to be an exceptional nurse by honing important skills such as time management, teamwork, leadership and empathy.

She will represent DSU at the Nursing Students’ Association of North Dakota (NSAND) convention held in Fargo Jan. 24-26, 2019, where she will compete for the state Student Nurse of the Year title.

Brooks is currently a licensed practical nurse (LPN) at ABLE Inc. Before that, she worked for one year as a nursing aide at Evergreen Assisted Living before moving into a nursing role there as well. “At both jobs, I use my nursing knowledge to enhance the lives of the residents and keep them both safe and healthy,” she said. “It has helped me gain knowledge to many different medications, treatments, first-aid care and decision-making.”

Dickinson State University and the department of nursing wishes her the best of luck competing at state.