Karen Mynssen-Santos Memorial Scholarship
Karen Mynssen-Santos was born February 21, 1983 and lived most of her life in Greensburg, Kansas where she graduated from Greensburg High School in 2001. Her natural capacity to care about people led her to pursue a career in nursing. She received her Associates of Science Degree in Nursing in 2007 from Pratt Community College. She went on to earn her Bachelors of Science Degree in Nursing from Wichita State University in 2008. While attending school, Karen worked at the Kiowa County Memorial Hospital and later at Wesley Medical Center. In January of 2009, Karen and her husband Andre moved to Darwin, Australia where Karen worked as a nurse at Royal Darwin Hospital. In her short time in Australia, she inspired her co-workers by demonstrating techniques she learned through the U.S. nursing programs. Karen passed away unexpectedly on October 16, 2009 only four days after being diagnosed with Leukemia. Karen had a heart for people and loved giving selflessly to those under her care. This scholarship was established by Karen’s family and friends to honor her memory and to continue her legacy of compassion and genuine love of helping others by being a nurse.