Merryn Lowery Carries on a Family Nursing Tradition at Owens, Award and All
Winning the Barbara Rood Student Choice Award has turned into a family tradition for Merryn Lowery.
Twenty-five years after her mother, Ragon Lowery, won the nursing award at Owens Community College, Lowery has been named a recipient as she graduates with her Associate of Applied Science in Registered Nursing (RN) in May.
“The person that made a tremendous impact on my life would be my mother. She is a nurse as well, which has influenced me to go into the nursing field. She has always supported my goals and has always been a reliable source for any questions I’ve had,” Lowery said. “It’s very meaningful that we both had the opportunity to win this award.”
Lowery, a student at the Findlay-area Campus, came to college with 30 credits in hand, thanks to taking College Credit Plus classes at Elmwood High School. That head start allowed her to graduate from college two years after high school.
Lowery called out nursing instructors Jacqueline Heilmann and Bernadette Gressman for being inspirations and role models.
“The nursing lab faculty at the Findlay campus was very helpful and willing to take their time to teach us during our lab portions,” Lowery said. “Both Jacqueline and Bernadette were amazing at what they do and have a real passion for teaching. They were huge inspirations and role models of the type of nurse that I want to become.”
After graduation, Lowery will begin a nursing graduate intern position at Blanchard Valley Hospital in Findlay before taking her NCLEX (National Council Licensure Examination) and transitioning to the ICU as an RN.
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Published May 2026