Ruppel wins post-grad scholarship

Chandlerville standout takes home conference award.

Kelli Ruppel, a May graduate from MacMurray College, was awarded one of two post-graduate scholarships from the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.

The scholarship, based on the graduating student-athlete’s accomplishments in and out of the classroom, awards a financial stipend towards the first two years of graduate study.

Ruppel majored in biology with a minor in chemistry at MacMurray and graduated with a 4.0 GPA. She is the daughter of Phil and Tricia Ruppel of Chandlerville.

She expects to complete a Certified Nursing Assistant program in June from Lincoln Land Community College and then plans to work as a CNA for one year to attain direct contact hours in patient care. Ruppel then has plans to go on to the Physician's Assistant program at either St. Louis University or Southern Illinois University-Carbondale.

A three-year member of the Highlander's volleyball team, Ruppel was a three-time SLIAC All-Academic recipient. In addition, Ruppel was MacMurray’s 2010 Lincoln Laureate, president of Mortar Board honors society and was voted Homecoming Queen by her fellow students.

She remained active in the MacMurray and local community, volunteering at the local food pantry at her church, and at a local nursing home.