Winona, Minn. - The Winona State Athletic Department is proud to present the "Warrior Stories" series, which offers fans and followers of Winona State Athletics a view into the success that Winona State student-athletes have had as they transition from their Warrior careers and into the professional world. Warrior Stories is presented by WNB Financial, a corporate sponsor of Winona State Athletics.
This edition of Warrior Stories features Jessica Blanchard, a former member of the Winona State women's golf program who now works as an overnight nurse Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at St. Cloud Hospital in St. Cloud, Minn.
Blanchard was a Second Team, All-NSIC selection in 2017-18, her final year of competition, earning the best average per round (80.6) on the Warrior squad. Her per-round average score was 11th in the (NSIC) that year and she tied for top team honors with fellow Warrior Madelyn Miller at the 2018 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Women's Golf Championships. In addition to success on the course, Blanchard earned NSIC All-Academic accolades in both 2017 and 2018. In the classroom, Blanchard earned a bachelor's degree in nursing at Winona State, and is furthering her education while also working full time. The Marshall, Minnesota native is on track to graduate from Minnesota State University - Moorhead in 2021 with an advanced degree in nursing education.
Read on for the Warrior Story of Jessica Blanchard, a recent WSU graduate who first enrolled in Winona State University in the fall of 2015.
1) Tell us a little about yourself; when did you compete at WSU? What made you chose Winona State? I was a WSU golfer from 2015-2018. I played three competitive seasons. I decided not to play my final fall as I was graduating and was busy completing my nursing clinical training in the Twin Cities. I chose Winona State because of the beautiful campus and how well the nursing program worked with the athletic department. I was able to be a full-time student and full-time athlete while graduating a semester early. The town of Winona has so much to offer, I knew the endless amount of outdoor activities (in any season) had won me over after my first visit.
2) Where are you working as nurse, currently? I currently work full time overnights as a RN at the St. Cloud Hospital in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). I work with premature and full-term infants as well as their families. I am currently attending MSU-Moorhead to get my Master of Nursing with an emphasis in Nurse Education. I will graduate with this degree May of 2021.
3) How did your academic training at WSU help you in your role in health care? My academic training at WSU helped me tremendously as a nurse. I was able to get a variety of clinical experience, from Mayo Clinic to rural public health to Winona Health to Children's Minneapolis. All this experience, plus more, helped me get an internship in a critical care area, the summer before I graduated. The state-of-the-art simulation lab also strengthened the areas that may have been lacking in clinical experience. The Winona State Nursing Program is very well known across the region and has a great reputation. I can honestly say I would not be the nurse I am today without the help of the WSU nursing faculty. They strive to make honest, hard-working, well-rounded, and reliable registered nurses.
4) What do you miss most about being a college golfer? I miss traveling with the team and the atmosphere. I miss the competitive drive at both practice and tournaments. I miss the passion the coaches had for the game as well as watching us players succeed. WSU also has a fantastic indoor golf facility that sets it apart from others in the conference.
5) Did you have a favorite course to play during your time at WSU?: My favorite course to play during my time at WSU would be the Minnehaha Country Club in Sioux Falls, SD for the Super Regional tournament in 2017. I also loved practicing at the Bridges of Winona. It had a variety of holes that were challenging which pushed me to be a better golfer.
6) Do you still play golf competitively or recreationally? After taking some time off, I have recently started playing golf recreationally a few times per week with my family and friends.
7) Working in nursing, how has COVID-19 affected/changed your day-to-day work? What type of adjustments are needed or have been implemented? COVID-19 has affected my day-to-day work in many ways. We have started wearing masks and eye protection for our entire shifts. I also have picked up extra hours being a door screener/temperature taker for employees and visitors at the hospital and clinic. We had strict visitor restrictions in place which are changing as the pandemic changes.
8) Anything else you would like to share with the Warrior programs? Continue to work hard inside and outside of the classroom. Your college years fly by, so take every second in and have no regrets.
For more on Winona State Athletics, please visit www.WINONASTATEWARRIORS.com and @WinonaStateATH.
About Winona State University Athletics:
The Winona State University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics, as an integral part of the educational mission of the institution, is committed to offering opportunities to experience academic and athletic excellence for our student-athletes through two simple words: Graduate Champions.
Fourteen Warrior programs compete at the NCAA Division II level within the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC). Winona State University competes as an affiliate member of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) in the sport of women's gymnastics.
Media Contact: Pete Watkins, Director of Athletic Communications | Ph: 507.457.5577 |Email: pwatkins@winona.edu
