Shyanne Ellenwood, known as Shy to her friends, knew as a teenager that she wanted to be a nurse. As a junior in high school back in her hometown of Bourbonnais, she became a certified nursing assistant and started her career in health care. She was inspired to become a nurse for a practical reason—for the stability that a career in nursing can offer. It didn’t take long to realize that the profession meant more than that to her.  

“I quickly learned I was passionate about providing care and being there for someone in a time of need,” Ellenwood said.

Her commitment to caring for others has not gone unnoticed by those around her, including staff members at Illinois State University’s Mennonite College of Nursing (MCN). Clint Smith, Springfield site administrator for MCN, described Ellenwood as “dedicated and compassionate.”

“Shyanne embodies the core values of ISU’s strategic vision to serve both local and global communities, consistently demonstrating a profound commitment to making a positive impact through volunteerism and leadership,” Smith said. “Throughout her time at ISU, Shyanne has actively engaged in numerous local service initiatives, but beyond local service, she has extended her impact globally.

Active as a volunteer, Ellenwood’s service during her time at MCN has included a rural health care screening event, working with food pantries, and forming community partnerships with local assisted living centers, nursing homes and hospice organizations. She has also contributed to efforts to address hunger in over 70 countries.

A first-generation college student, Ellenwood, 26, has met many challenges along the road to graduation day. She is a single mother of Octavia Rose, her 6-year-old daughter. She works full time for the Illinois Department of Corrections as a correctional officer, and later this year she will mark 10 years as a member of the Illinois Army National Guard. She will be deploying in the fall, and her plan when she returns from deployment is to begin working as a critical care nurse at an area hospital. 

Ellenwood received several scholarships to attend Illinois State, including: the Transfer Student Scholarship, the Virginia Mosbacher Scholarship, the Paul F. and Jean E. Mattingly Endowed Nursing Scholarship, and the Helen Tuxhorn Evans Scholarship. 

Inspired by her daughter and by an aunt, Jessica Sheeler, who has her B.S.N. and is currently completing a master’s degree in nursing, Ellenwood kept putting in the hours. All the hard work is about to pay off with commencement.

“This degree is proof of my resilience,” she said. “I balanced full-time college, full-time work, military service, lone parenthood, and overcame financial struggles, unsupportive relationships, and even discrimination as a single parent. I made tough sacrifices, and I pushed forward. I’m proud because this accomplishment reflects not just academic success, but strength, perseverance, and an unshakable commitment to creating a better future for myself and my child.”

Ellenwood loved the small classes at MCN and will miss her cohort that she said has felt more like a family, especially during this last semester. She’ll also miss the support of faculty members like Instructional Assistant Professor Heather Wiegand.

“Professor Wiegand is an extraordinary leader who actively listens to her students and helps them feel confident and understood,” Ellenwood said. “She has had a major impact on me, and I hope to be as authentic as her in my future endeavors.”  

Smith also praised Ellenwood for her role as leader and liaison for the Student Nurses Association (SNA), where she fostered peer support and professional development.

“As a member of the inaugural cohort of students in Springfield, Shyanne did not have the benefit of learning from the example of a previous SNA Springfield liaison,” Smith said. “She immediately stepped into an unknown role, applied her extraordinary leadership ability, and provided fellowship and learning. Shyanne’s leadership within this organization further underscores her dedication to establishing a community in the field of nursing and her drive to inspire and uplift those around her.

“She not only represents ISU’s mission but actively lives it, serving as an inspiring ambassador of the University’s commitment to community betterment.”

Overcoming so many obstacles inspired Ellenwood to become more politically active. Her experiences as a student and working mother sparked in her a drive to advocate for educational equity alongside health care equity.

“I worked alongside a lobbyist in Springfield and plan on continuing that work in the future, partnering with the American Nurses Association,” she said.

Commencement plans include celebrating with her daughter, her boyfriend, and other relatives. She knows that her young daughter has been paying attention and will be influenced by these challenging years that will have a lasting impact on their life together. 

“I strive to maintain a positive and supportive environment for her,” Ellenwood said. “She is a very intelligent young lady. I want to share with her the power of strength and resilience as well as the values I hold deeply such as empathy and compassion.

“She is a kind child, and she sees her mother work very hard for the things she gets to do and the home I am building around her.”

This story is one of a series of profiles featuring Redbirds who are graduating in May. For more information about how Illinois State is celebrating commencement, visit the Graduation Services website.