Alumni Award: Honorary Lifetime Membership to Jenna Kruse
Published Sunday, September 13, 2026
When Jenna Kruse learned she had been selected as the 2026 Honorary Lifetime Membership Award recipient by the Southwest Minnesota State University Alumni Association, her reaction was immediate and heartfelt.
“I cried,” she said. “Honestly, I did. I was completely blown away and not expecting anything like this. I was very honored.”
It was a fitting response from someone whose connection to SMSU has grown not out of obligation, but out of gratitude, generosity, and a sincere desire to serve. Though Jenna did not attend SMSU herself, she has become one of the University’s most enthusiastic supporters. She is a familiar face at athletic events, alumni gatherings, campus activities, community parades, and volunteer opportunities. In just a few years, she has embraced SMSU as part of her own story and, in the process, has become part of the Mustang family.
Jenna grew up in Winnebago, Minnesota, a small farming community in the southern part of the state. She graduated from Blue Earth Area High School and took a path that was different from the traditional college experience. After attending Minnesota State University, Mankato for a year, she realized it was not the right fit at that time. Life moved in a different direction. She married young, started a family, and later returned to school with a renewed sense of purpose.
Jenna went on to become a licensed practical nurse, then continued her education to become a registered nurse. Later, she earned a master’s degree and built a career in health care, including work in the Twin Cities. Her background as a nurse and her experience in higher education have shaped the way she sees opportunity, service, and support, especially for students who may not always see a clear path forward.
“That’s one thing when I was in college, I kind of felt like I fell through the cracks,” Jenna said. “It just was too much. It was too big, and I didn’t really feel like I had any resources.”
That experience has made SMSU’s student-centered approach especially meaningful to her. Jenna sees on campus a strong commitment to helping students succeed, not only academically, but personally. She has taken interest in areas such as the Student Success Center, health and wellness support, mentoring, and the continued growth of academic programs that serve the region.
Jenna’s connection to SMSU began through her husband, Neil, an SMSU alumnus whose love for the University has long been part of their life together. Through Neil’s stories, Jenna came to appreciate the atmosphere, relationships, and sense of belonging he experienced as a student. Over time, that appreciation became her own.
“My adventure and love for SMSU came through him and his love for SMSU and everything that he’s done for SMSU,” she said. “I kind of lived my college life vicariously through his stories, and loved the atmosphere that he got to experience here.”
Her first visit to campus was for a basketball game with Neil. She does not remember the opponent, but she remembers the feeling. The energy in the gym, the excitement of the crowd, and the visible support from the broader community made an immediate impression.
“What came to mind first for me was, there is such a great community involvement here,” Jenna said. “Since then, I’ve realized how much the community supports SMSU and just that desire to want to see SMSU succeed.”
In June 2023, Jenna and Neil moved from the Twin Cities back to Neil’s family farm in southwest Minnesota, about 40 minutes from Marshall. Being nearby opened the door for even more involvement. Jenna reached out to SMSU to offer her time and experience, especially in light of her nursing background and her understanding of health care workforce needs.
“I know what it’s like to work in higher education,” she said. “But I also know the shortage and the burnout, and I’m here. I can volunteer if you need anything.”
That willingness led to Jenna’s invitation to serve on the advisory board connected to SMSU’s nursing program expansion. For Jenna, the opportunity to contribute to conversations about nursing education and workforce development in southwest Minnesota has been especially rewarding.
“I was thrilled,” she said. “I was so excited just to be a part of those conversations and talk about the growth for SMSU. That area is just really exciting.”
Jenna’s involvement has not been limited to health care. She and Neil have attended alumni events in places such as Florida, Okoboji, and the Twin Cities. They support athletics, attend campus performances, and help build connections between students and alumni. Jenna recalls the way one of Neil’s mentees, a music major interested in graduate school, was connected through their extended network to someone with ties to Boston. To Jenna, those moments show the power of the SMSU community when people are willing to get involved.
“The networks that can happen when you put yourself out there, whether it’s the Alumni Association, or Foundation, or athletics, or the arts area, it’s just nice to be able to connect people so that they can pursue their goals and achieve those dreams,” she said.
One of the most visible ways Jenna supports SMSU is also one of the simplest: showing up. She and Neil regularly represent SMSU in local parades, often walking the route, handing out SMSU items, and greeting community members along the way. What might seem like a small act of outreach is, for Jenna, a joyful way to share Mustang pride and strengthen the University’s presence across the region.
“If you have the time and want SMSU to succeed, or want the students to succeed, or have this area flourish, giving back your time is so important,” she said. “No, you don’t have to be an alum. It’s just important to find something that you are passionate about.”
Jenna believes SMSU is more than a university in Marshall. It is a regional resource and a source of opportunity for southwest Minnesota. She often describes SMSU as a “gem” because of the way it brings people together, supports students, and creates possibilities for the future. She points to programs such as nursing and agriculture as examples of the University’s potential to meet regional needs and prepare students to make a meaningful impact.
“Having students have the opportunity to come here and realize the potential that they could impact in the future is just incredible,” she said. “If they tap into all of the resources that people have here.”
That belief is rooted in Jenna’s deep appreciation for belonging. She sees SMSU as a place where students, alumni, employees, community members, and friends of the University can all find a way to contribute. Whether through mentoring, volunteering, attending events, cheering at games, supporting the arts, serving on boards, or simply encouraging others to visit campus, Jenna believes everyone has something to offer.
“I feel like people just genuinely want to be a part of something,” she said. “There are so many things here on campus that people can be a part of, that there’s got to be something that will help you feel like you’re giving back and that you’re welcomed.”
For Jenna, receiving the Honorary Lifetime Membership Award is meaningful not because she sought recognition, but because it represents the relationships and purpose she has found through SMSU. It affirms that her service has mattered and that her place in the Mustang family is real.
“First of all, I never thought that that would happen,” she said. “It is really cool because I just didn’t have that kind of college experience. It’s nice to know that things that I’ve done, people have seen, and that it’s important. It’s just nice to be a part of something bigger than yourself.”
Jenna’s story reflects the best of what the Honorary Lifetime Membership Award celebrates: loyalty, generosity, and a commitment to strengthening the SMSU community. She may not have arrived at SMSU as a student, but she has found a home here through service, connection, and a shared belief in what the University makes possible.
“It’s important to do things for the next generation,” Jenna said. “It’s good to pour ourselves into people. You always receive more than you give.”
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Alumni and friends are also invited to attend The Southwest Celebration on Friday, Oct. 2. The event will honor all of the 2026 Alumni Award recipients, showcase exciting projects taking place across campus, and officially kick off Homecoming Weekend. This year’s award recipients include Sandy Culhane ’78, Jordan Schuft ’16, Rolly Muller ’85, and Jenna Kruse. [Read article] To attend the Southwest Celebration, register by September 25. Tickets are $50: https://www.smsualumni.com/homecoming/the-southwest-celebration-registration.html
For the full lineup of events, visit: https://www.smsualumni.com/homecoming/
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