The Morningside College Nylen School of Nursing and the Morningside Student Nurses’ Association have named Shelby Kroona of Webster City, Iowa, as the 2014 nursing alumna of the year.

The Morningside College Nylen School of Nursing and the Morningside Student Nurses’ Association have named Shelby Kroona of Webster City, Iowa, as the 2014 nursing alumna of the year.

Kroona graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and a minor in biology from Morningside in 1995. She received her Master of Public Health with a focus in health care administration from Des Moines University in 2002.  She serves as the administrator of Hamilton County Public Health.

Kroona will deliver the keynote speech for the opening of the 32nd annual Maud Adams Nursing Research Day on Wednesday, April 9, at 8 a.m. in the Yockey Family Community Room in the Olsen Student Center, 3609 Peters Ave., on the Morningside campus.

During the opening remarks, the Nursing Alumni Scholarship will be presented in Kroona’s honor to Tatiana Hohenfield of Bladen, Neb., a senior who will graduate this spring from Blue Hill Community High School.  Hohenfield plans to attend Morningside College in the fall. The scholarship is presented each year to a student who shows potential for outstanding professionalism in nursing.

Morningside senior nursing students will present their research projects from 2-3 p.m. in various locations on campus as part of Morningside’s Palmer Student Research Symposium.

Kroona serves on many community boards and coalitions such as PowerUp Youth Board, Empowerment Board, Strategic Frame Work Prevention Board, Upper Des Moines Opportunity Board, Health Hamilton County Coalition, Hamilton County Bio-emergency Coalition, Drug Endangered Children, Health Opportunity for Parent to Experience Success Advisory committee, BE Inspired CAPP Program advisory group, Iowa Directors of Public Health Board, Iowa Association of Rural Health Board, and Iowa Association of Public Health Board.

Kroona received the Iowa Governor’s Award for Public Health Disaster Response for her work in Florida in 2004 after four hurricanes hit the state.  She assisted with environmental assessments and nursing services in shelters during the disaster response. In 2013, she participated in a mission trip to Tanzania, Africa, and was involved with projects related to a school, wells and safe water, and agriculture development.

The nursing research day started in 1983 as a tribute to the late Maud Adams, a former chair of the Morningside nursing department. Before she came to Morningside, Adams served as a staff nurse, instructor, and administrator in various public health agencies and nursing programs.