Mikayla Srnka ’22, Traditional BSN Program
Badger Future Nurse Leader Award recipient
Leadership and volunteerism have played a major role in Mikayla Srnka’s life, from volunteering at her local food pantry to hosting donation drives for families of children with cancer. Through her coursework as a nursing student, she learned about health equity issues, including social determinants of health. She quickly realized she wanted to address these social determinants both at the bedside and in the community. One way Srnka does this is by hosting events to inform others about causes she cares about and to inspire them to take action. She hosted a supplies drive for Afghan Refugees at Fort McCoy who were awaiting resettlement. She also hosted a fundraising drive for Be The Match, the international bone marrow donor registry, after learning about the importance of stem cell transplants.
“I believe a great leader is someone who builds up others to be leaders and do good for themselves and others. Leadership and volunteerism have been a huge part of my life, and I plan on continuing this passion into my career and future as a nurse,” says Srnka.
About the Badger Future Nurse Leader Award
The Badger Future Nurse Leader Award recognizes a student who is an exemplary leader and embodies the ethics and values of nursing. Nominees must demonstrate leadership; prepare, motivate, and impact other students as leaders; participate in community activities and giving back to others; mentor fellow students; promote activity in nursing organizations; make a significant contribution to the overall excellence of their school; set a healthy example and promote a healthy lifestyle; and demonstrate a clear sense of direction for their future nursing career.