RUSSELLVILLE — The Lesley M. Krohn Memorial Endowed Scholarship has been established through the Arkansas Tech University Foundation by her father, ATU professor John Krohn.
Lesley Krohn was the program director for the registered nursing program at ATU-Ozark Campus before passing away on June 15, 2022.
“Lesley put so much of her time and energy into that program,” John Krohn said. “She completed graduate school as a single parent. I wanted to honor her and help the program.”
The new scholarship will benefit ATU-Ozark students in the licensed practical nurse to registered nursing program. Preference will be given to students who are single parents and demonstrate financial need, according to a news release from the university.
When Krohn remembers his daughter, one word comes to mind. “She was stubborn,” he said. “When she set her mind on something, she was going to do it.”
The Krohn family story at Arkansas Tech dates back more than three decades, the release states.
John Krohn grew up in Clarksville. He earned his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and master’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville. John and his wife, Angela, were married while he was in Fayetteville. Lesley was born in 1983.
John Krohn later received his doctor of philosophy degree in nuclear engineering at Texas A&M University. As he began his job search while working on his doctorate, a position came open at Arkansas Tech, the release states. The proximity to Clarksville was beneficial to the family, so the Krohns moved back to the Arkansas River Valley and John Krohn joined the ATU faculty in 1991.
“I’ve never really looked anywhere else because I’ve always enjoyed it,” said Krohn, a professor of mechanical engineering at ATU and associate dean of the College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).
Lesley Krohn lived in College Station, Texas, for eight years before the family moved back to first Russellville, then Clarksville, according to her memorial on legacy.com. She was active in band and choir at Clarksville, and after graduating from Clarksville High School in 2001, she attended ATU.
She earned her bachelor’s degree in nursing from ATU in 2007 and started her career as a nurse at Arkansas Children’s Hospital in Little Rock, the release states.
Like her father, Lesley wanted to teach. She found that opportunity as an instructor at ATU-Ozark campus while simultaneously pursuing online graduate study, the release states. She earned a master’s degree in nursing and a doctor of nursing practice degree, both from the University of Missouri.
As Lesley continued on her professional progression, she successfully led the process to earn accreditation for the ATU-Ozark registered nursing program, according to the release.
The ATU-Ozark program is designed for people who are already licensed practical nurses and wish to pursue an RN degree.
The associate of applied science registered nursing program at ATU-Ozark prepares students to function as an entry level registered nurse, providing direct care to people as individuals and as members of a family or group, according to the university’s website.
The curriculum is designed to prepare the person for registered nursing practice and to be a competent, self-directed and capable nurse with demonstrated leadership in the application of the nursing process in a variety of health care settings, the website states.
“Determination might be a better way to say it than stubborn,” John Krohn said. “At least it’s a nicer way. She had four great loves in her life: her son, ATU, St. Louis Cardinals baseball and college football.”
Individuals who wish to contribute to or apply for scholarships through the ATU Foundation may call (479) 968-0400 or send e-mail to [email protected].
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