Three Rivers College’s Poplar Bluff Teacher of the Year is one her colleagues say is dedicated to students and is a natural leader.
Stephanie Rundquist recently was named as the school’s Poplar Bluff Teacher of the Year.
“Stefanie is dedicated to helping our students become highly skilled nurses,” said Dr. Staci Foster, chair of Nursing and Allied Health at Three Rivers. “She is innovative and always open to looking for new ways to improve student learning, both in the classroom and clinical environment.”
TRC President Dr. Wes Payne echoed Foster’s assessment of Rundquist.
“Rundquist exemplifies the definition of a nursing educator. She is dedicated and committed to nursing education and to the success of nursing students,” Payne said. “Stefanie fosters meaningful relationships with students through the nursing progression and retention program and takes advantage of our institution’s resources and support services to assist in meeting the needs of each student.”
Rundquist is “genuine and embraces collaborative teamwork, which is crucial to the success of a nursing program,” Payne continued. “Stefanie was promoted to coordinator of the nursing program as it became clear she is a natural leader who gained the trust of her colleagues and quickly became the ‘go to’ person for help with many situations.”
In addition, Payne said, Rundquist “contributes to the nursing curriculum, especially in the development of theory packets that are used in the classroom to promote learning of the material being presented.
“This has led to successful ‘flipped’ classrooms and active participation with students,” he said. “Stefanie, along with her teaching partner, has developed numerous clinical activities used to promote critical thinking in the clinical environment.”
A native of Senath, Missouri, Rundquist holds an associate’s degree in nursing from Mississippi County Community College, a bachelor’s degree from Southeast Missouri State University and a master’s degree, earned in 2018.
“My career in nursing started as a critical care/emergency nurse. I achieved my goal in 2006 and became a flight nurse for an air ambulance service,” Rundquist said.
After “many years” in that position, Rundquist said, “it was time to stop doing that and start teaching the future nurses.”
Her goal as an instructor, she said, is “to pass on the knowledge and experience to the new generation of nurses.”
Rundquist lives in Poplar Bluff with her husband and two cats, and in her spare time enjoys spending time with her husband and extended family.