You can support future students like Lauren by supporting the the UNL Women's Club Expendable Scholarship Fund today.
Lauren Sturgell could feel the energy at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln when she took her first tour on campus four years ago.
Sturgell, a Wisconsin native, was looking for a new experience at an out-of-state university coming out of high school. Originally, she was drawn to UNL because of its scholarship and academic opportunities.
She quickly realized that the university could become a second home for her, even in the midst of less-than-welcoming Nebraska weather during her first visit.
“Even though it was just objectively terrible weather, I feel like there was just so much going on during my tour,” Sturgell said. “I could just feel the energy of the campus. It really drew me in, and it felt very welcoming.”
That welcoming feeling Sturgell felt during her first visit remained with her over the course of the next four years at UNL. In May, Sturgell earned her bachelor’s degree in microbiology and celebrated the end of her undergraduate career at UNL.
Sturgell was the recipient of a scholarship through the UNL Women’s Club Expendable Scholarship Fund. Through that scholarship, Sturgell said she was able to graduate from UNL without any debt — a goal she has held since she began her studies at the university.
“I’m paying for college myself, so scholarships like the one I received through the Women’s Club have just been so helpful,” Sturgell said. “It feels amazing to know that I have graduated with just a little bit of savings for my future because of scholarships like this.”
Over the next year, Sturgell plans to take time to prepare for medical school. She knows that means more time in the classroom and plenty of additional expenses.
However, the support she received as an undergraduate from organizations like the Women’s Club has made it easier for Sturgell to reach her goals.
“I have a lot of education in the future to pay for, so a gift like this was such a huge weight off my shoulders,” she said.
Sturgell is approaching her postgraduate life with confidence and security. She said that wouldn’t be possible without the support of donors to the UNL Women’s Club Expendable Scholarship Fund.
“Scholarships like this really did make such a big impact on my ability to get through these four years,” she said. “It makes a huge impact.”
