On May 29, 2026 we met Hannah Oltmans who is the recipient of the Lincoln South Rotary Club Foundation Scholarship. We have partnered with Bryan Health Sciences the past few years and, with the generous additional donation from one of our members, have been able to provide a $5,000 scholarship.
Pictured are Valerie Hunt of Bryan Health Sciences, Hannah Oltmans and Lincoln South Rotary Club Scholarship Chair Matt Horak.
Here is information from her application:
As you reflect on your high school experience, what activity of service to others left an impression on you and/or will you remember the most?
One service experience from high school that has always stuck with me was through my church. Every year, my youth group would meet after church to put together Thanksgiving baskets for families in our community who needed a little extra help. We filled them with everything needed to make a full Thanksgiving meal. This experience always stood out to me because it was more than just donating, it was knowing that we were helping put food on someone's table and easing the holiday season a little. It made me realize how much small acts of kindness really matter, especially during the holiday season.
What personal characteristics do you have to improve the community, and Lincoln? Provide examples.
One of my biggest strengths is staying calm in stressful situations. While I'm not in class or at clinical, I work as a server on the weekends, and it has helped me a lot with fast-paced, busy environments. I have learned to juggle multiple things at once, while still making people feel taken care of. As I finish up nursing school, I reflect a lot on what my server career has taught me, prioritizing, thinking quickly, and keeping my composure under pressure, which I know will help me be a successful ER nurse. I also believe and am proud that I am a very dependable and hardworking person. I grew up on a farm and learned this mindset at a young age, which has helped me get through my schooling and be successful. These qualities will help me make a positive impact in Lincoln by providing good care and supporting people during life-changing moments.
What are your future education and career goals?
My goal after graduating is to start my nursing career as an ER/Trauma nurse. I am really drawn to the fast-paced environment and the opportunity to care for patients during some of the most critical moments in their lives. I hope to build strong clinical skills, gain confidence, and learn as much as I can in my first few years as a registered nurse. After that, I would love the opportunity to work in a rural hospital. Coming from a rural area of Nebraska, I understand how important access to healthcare is in a small community and am committed to helping fill that need. In the long term, I plan to continue my education as a nurse practitioner or pursue flight nursing. Both of these paths allow me to expand my knowledge and skills in patient care. Receiving this scholarship would mean a lot to me as I finish my nursing degree. It would help ease some financial stress that comes with being a full-time nursing student and allow me to stay focused on my education and clinical experiences. More than that, it would be an investment in my future as a nurse, and in the communities I hope to serve.