Giving that changes lives

From epiphany to impact: Cadence Mclin’s journey as a coug nurse

When Cadence McLin graduated cum laude from the WSU College of Nursing and completed the Honors College in May 2026, it marked the culmination of a journey that began with an unexpected moment of clarity during her senior year of high school.

During a meeting with her academic counselor, McLin was asked a simple question that would change everything: Have you ever considered nursing?

“I had never thought of it,” she recalled. “I remember sitting in my car afterward and crying—it felt like an epiphany.”

That moment set her on a path to becoming a Coug Nurse. After graduating from Lewis and Clark High School in Spokane, she completed her prerequisites at WSU Pullman before earning her BSN in Spokane.

Driven by a passion for maternal and infant health, McLin focused her honors research on neonatal substance exposure in utero, including how hospitals can support infants experiencing withdrawal while keeping families close.

Her project, “The Effectiveness of Eat, Sleep, Console on Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome,” earned a Crimson Award at the 2026 Showcase for Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities (SURCA).

Reflecting on her time at WSU, McLin credits both the university and its community for shaping her experience:

“The best part about being a Coug nurse is that anyone who is part of WSU knows that Cougs help Cougs.”

Cadence McLin, BSN ’26

Scholarship support played a vital role in her success, helping ease financial pressures and allowing her to focus fully on her education and clinical training. McLin is deeply grateful for the donors who made that support possible. She emphasizes that every contribution—no matter the size—makes a meaningful difference:

“Every little bit matters. Small donations really do add up to create life-changing support for students like me.”

Cadence McLin, BSN ’26

The College of Nursing Annual Scholarship Fund reflects this collective impact. With gifts ranging from $25 to $5,000, the fund provides an average scholarship of $1,000—support that helps students persist, succeed, and become the next generation of Coug Nurses.