A Promising Career

The Senior Student Promise Program allowed Grace Herring ’22 to pursue her dream career without worrying about cost.

Being a Mustang runs in Grace’s family. Her mother and grandmother both graduated from Mount Mercy University. Even Grace’s younger sister now attends Mount Mercy. However, it was more than tradition that drew Grace to the Hill.

“Family wasn’t the only thing that brought me to Mount Mercy,” Grace shared. “It was the people I met on campus that sold me. Everyone was kind and wanted you to succeed. It just felt like home.”

Attending Mount Mercy isn’t the only thing that runs in Grace’s family. While Grace didn’t always know she wanted to be a nurse, she was taught to help people from a young age.

“I grew up being a part of my grandma’s nonprofit ministry for the formerly incarcerated and the homeless,” said Grace. “My time there really gave me the conviction to be there for people on their worst day.”

Grace knew she wanted to pursue nursing after earning her CNA in high school and volunteering at UnityPoint Health-St. Luke’s Hospital.

It was at St. Luke’s that Grace’s passion for the profession grew. Once she was at Mount Mercy, Grace worked at St. Luke’s as a Patient Care Tech in the Emergency Department through all four years of school. Grace had grown to love St. Luke’s, so it only made sense to her that she become a nurse there.

The Senior Student Promise Program gave Grace the opportunity to continue her connection with St. Luke’s while relieving financial stress. The Promise Program is a partnership with UnityPoint Health-St. Luke’s Hospital, providing Mount Mercy senior nursing students with financial support and a guaranteed job after graduation.

“When I learned of the partnership between St. Luke’s and Mount Mercy, I was ecstatic,” said Grace. “It felt great to know my work and dedication was being recognized. I felt like the school and the hospital really had my back.”

“The Senior Promise Program set me up for success by allowing me to focus on graduation, studying for boards, and beginning my job,” shared Grace.

Grace now works at her dream job as a nurse in the Emergency Department at St. Luke’s Hospital.

Grace made the most of her time on the Hill. The nursing program helped her prepare for her career and beyond-the-classroom activities allowed her to pursue her other passions. She was captain of the dance team, a Social Media Intern for the Office of Marketing & Communications, a Student Ambassador, and involved in the Mustang Leadership Program.

One of Grace’s favorite memories from her time at Mount Mercy was going to nationals with the dance team for the first time in school history.

“I loved my time as a collegiate dancer,” said Grace. “It was something I thought I’d never get to experience!”

Whether it was going to nationals or going to clinicals, Grace got a lot out of her time on the Hill.

“Mount Mercy prepared me not only with the skills and knowledge needed to pass boards (NCLEX) and become a competent nurse, but also to be a good person,” said Grace. “MMU’s nursing program is one of a kind, and I truly feel that I got an amazing education. I believe that my time spent involved on campus taught me how to be a great employee, leader, and person.”