Keiser University’s West Palm Beach Campus Commencement Ceremony recently held special meaning for student Veteran Shanna Frerichs as she was awarded her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree at Keiser University’s Flagship Campus.

A mother of five and the wife of a fellow Veteran, Frerichs was inspired to enter the healthcare field due to her time administering aid as a First Lieutenant in Operation Iraqi Freedom, along with the example set by her husband Chris, a Navy SEAL. She is also proud to have served as Vice President of Keiser University’s West Palm Beach Campus Student Veterans of America (SVA) association.

Frerichs said that she and her family look forward to celebrating the accomplishment and that she is proud to enter a profession with such a high demand for healthcare professionals.  “We all go through trials and tribulations, and quitting was not an option for me,” she said. After graduation, Frerichs hopes to gain experience in emergency room intensive care and eventually enter the field of flight nursing.

Keiser University’s College of Nursing provides a number of pathways and degree levels for students who want to prepare to become successful in the field. Among them, its Bachelor of Science in Nursing program enables students to provide evidence-based collaborative care to diverse patient populations in varied settings.

Student Veterans of America is the premier organization leading service, research, programs, and advocacy for Veterans in higher education. With the vision of empowering student Veterans to lead their best lives, its mission is to act as a catalyst for student Veteran success by providing resources, network support, and advocacy to, through, and beyond higher education.

Keiser University is a private, independent, non-profit university serving nearly 20,000 students at 21 Florida campuses, online, and two international sites. Co-founded in 1977 by Chancellor Arthur Keiser, Ph.D., and Evelyn Keiser, Keiser University currently offers more than 100 degrees from associate to the doctoral level. Keiser University is a designated Hispanic-Serving Institution, a member of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities, and was ranked No. 1 in the U.S. in providing Social Mobility by U.S. News and World Report in 2023.