Direct entry, deep purpose: Nursing Scholars Edge student finds meaning in her journey to BSN
Kendra Fuller knows the impact a nurse can have on a life because of the difference nurses made in hers when she was born at just two pounds, one ounce.
“I was born at 28 weeks—three months early,” she said. “My twin brother and I were born in Great Falls because Helena didn’t have the facilities for premature babies. Unfortunately, my brother didn’t make it out of the NICU, but I did.”
The nurses who cared for her family made a lasting impression.
“A few of them still keep in touch with my parents,” she said. “They helped my mom and dad through one of the hardest times of their lives. I always knew I wanted to do something in health care, but once I learned more about my own story, I wanted to be that kind of nurse—the one who helps families through those moments.”
When Fuller researched nursing schools, she found the Sherry Lesar School of Nursing at Montana Technological University had just what she was looking for. It was smaller, and offered more opportunities for 1-on-1 instruction than larger colleges.
“If I am struggling with learning something, I like having a teacher who knows me, so I feel comfortable enough to ask for help,” Fuller said.
Fuller also earned a spot in the Nursing Scholars Edge Direct Entry Program, which helped solidify her nursing school choice.
“The Nursing Scholars Edge program takes away a lot of the stress,” Fuller said. “It was really nice knowing I was guaranteed a place in the clinical part of the nursing program. Being accepted early gave me confidence going into college. It helped me focus on doing well in my classes, instead of worrying about whether I’d get in.”
The Nursing Scholars Edge Direct Entry Program selects 25 top Montana high school seniors every year from a pool of qualified applicants. Additionally, applicants will be considered for a $500 scholarship. All incoming freshmen selected for the Nursing Scholars Edge Direct Entry Program secure clinical spots in the Sherry Lesar School of Nursing. The Sherry Lesar School of Nursing is ranked the top nursing school in Montana on Niche.com’s 2026 Best Colleges for Nursing in America. The school’s excellent reputation helps draw applicants from across the United States.
By applying and being selected for one of the Nursing Scholars Edge Direct Entry Program spots, the student needs to maintain a 3.5 grade point average in pre-nursing coursework in order to enroll in the clinical portion of the nursing program, after taking prerequisites. Program participants get to bypass one of the major hurdles to clinical selection: the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) exam.
The TEAS exam is a test administered to gain admission into the clinical portion of nursing school. At Montana Tech for students in the traditional nursing track, the exam score is factored into the application, along with one’s overall GPA, and grades in certain prerequisites.
Director of Nursing Janet Coe, calls the program a tremendous opportunity.
"The ability to have direct entry into the clinical portion of a nursing program is a tremendous opportunity for our Montana students,” Coe said. “It awards a prestigious honor for students with a clear understanding of the professional nurse role and who demonstrate high academic performance along with strong work ethic and leadership. Selection criteria gives students from all Montana communities, large and small, an opportunity to be honored."
Fuller is a senior graduating in December. She recently completed her NICU clinicals at Benefis Hospital, the very same hospital where she was born and spent 89 days under the care of the NICU nurses.
“During my clinicals, I actually got to work with some of the nurses who took care of me when I was in the NICU,” Fuller said. “That was such a full-circle moment.”
Fuller’s applying to cardiac and NICU units in Montana. She’s not sure yet where she’ll land, but she’s determined to make an impact. Her advice to students applying to Scholars Edge is to focus on the “why” in their application.
“I really did try to emphasize why I wanted to be a nurse, and why I wanted to work hard for it in my essay,” Fuller said.
Applications to the Nursing Scholars Edge Program are open now. The deadline to submit is 4 p.m. on January 15, 2026. Questions? Email nursing@mtech.edu. Click here to view the Nursing Scholars Edge website.