St. Ambrose University nursing student Mark Kottman passed away on December 1, 2020, just two weeks away from graduation.
Mark will be awarded a posthumous degree from St. Ambrose, which will be presented to his family.
Mark was not a traditional college student. The Rockford, Illinois, native was 56 years-old and a military veteran. After receiving his associate's degree from Muscatine Community College, Mark enrolled at St. Ambrose in 2018 to fulfill his dream of becoming a nurse.
A virtual memorial service was held on December 9 to honor Mark's life. Members of his family, many of his peers, and faculty members from across St. Ambrose departments attended. A common theme shared throughout the service was Mark's innate curiosity, his dedication to serving others, his love of animals, and his compassion and kindness for everyone.
Rev. Matthew J.M. Coomber, PhD, professor of theology, had Mark as a student in his Introduction to the Old Testament course.
"Mark was one of those students who, through his curiosity and willingness to engage with life's big questions, made my class a better place." Coomber said. "From our discussions it was clear he was passionate about helping others, and loved his family deeply."
Carol McCoy, a learning disability specialist in the Accessibility Resource Center, said that the time she spent with Mark was a learning experience for her, too.
"After three years, you get to know a student fairly well and develop a bond. Mark was the first nursing student I know of at SAU who used an amplified stethoscope. He taught me how to better advocate for students with hearing impairments aspiring to enter a medical profession. He was always cheerful, polite and respectful, even under the most trying of circumstances. He always worked hard and never felt sorry for himself when things were difficult. I shall miss his booming voice saying, ‘How ya doing, young lady?' the most."
Alyse Schmidt, MOL, assistant director in the Accessibility Resource Center, said that the ARC staff will always remember Mark's ability to balance the seriousness of his program with both humor and grace.
"To watch him set a goal and be so close to achieving it makes the loss sting even more. Arguably in one of the most challenging programs at Ambrose, Mark found a way to pleasantly persist. And while he often referred to himself as an ‘old man', he was always open to the idea of learning and growing; evidence that you can teach an old dog new tricks."
Students, alumni, faculty and staff in the St. Ambrose Nursing program all can attest that the bonds formed between one another happen quickly and can last a lifetime.
SAU nursing alumnus Steven Beard ‘20 met Mark in a health assessment course. The connection between the two students was instant.
"When Mark and I first met, we both sat in the front, as we were nervous about missing anything said by the professor." Beard recalled. "As we started chatting, we discovered we had both served in the U.S. military, which gave us an immediate, intimate connection. Soon we were making inside military jokes to one another, which helped make the stress of college easier."
As their friendship grew, Steven and Mark would often team up for smaller group work. They would practice assessment techniques they had learned that day until they had a solid understanding of the material.
"Even then Mark was not satisfied; he insisted we practice assessments from previous classes." Beard said. "He constantly wanted to practice so that he could help his future patients. Although Mark had many traits his peers strove to emulate, it is his grit that I most admired about him. Anytime he encountered a setback in class, he did not buckle to the pressure. Instead, he doubled down on his efforts to overcome the issue. Anyone who goes back to school in his mid-fifties to obtain a nursing degree is a model of determination and perseverance."
Katie Browning, DNP, RN, CNE, chair and assistant professor of the nursing department agreed.
"The perseverance Mark demonstrated with the quick transition to online classes was phenomenal," she said, of the university's move to distance delivery in response to the COVID-19 outbreak last spring."I think he even surprised himself, as he claimed not to be a ‘tech wiz'."
"During one of our classes early in the pandemic, and this will not be a surprise to anyone that knew him, he wanted to see my dogs. So of course, I honored his request and showed off all four of my dogs. He loved animals so greatly.
"His pride in his progression through nursing school was evident, and after one of our last classes together in November, we chatted about how excited he was to be finishing nursing school," Browning added. "He was a kind and caring soul, and these qualities were perfect for nursing. I am truly devastated that he was so close to achieving this goal he worked so hard for and that he deserved so very much. He is greatly missed by so many, myself included."
Ann Garton, MSN, RN, CNE, Mark's adviser, an associate nursing professor and director of the Institute for Person-Centered Care, said in addition to a posthumous degree, Mark will also receive recognition by the local Nursing Honor Guard.
The Honor Guard is a tribute to nurses who have passed and a final farewell to those that have given so much to their profession, patients, and community. A reading of The Nightingale Tribute was recited by Garton and other faculty members during the virtual memorial service. Garton also said that Mark's family will be presented with a traditional Nightingale lamp and his St. Ambrose Nursing pin.
"Mark demonstrated a type of patient care that was truly person-centered. He did not want to know just the medical diagnosis, he always also listened to learn from the person their values and needs to be successful in their health journey." Garton said. "He practiced the Ambrosian way by building his practice and giving intentional, holistic, compassionate care as a nursing student."
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