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Vanessa Koelling

@vanessasarakoelling

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🎓Concordia University Nebraska ‘30
🩺@cunemicahscholars
✝️Isaiah 41:10
👑’26-‘27 @ntlchristianmissteen
👑’26-‘28 River-Cade Princess
👑‘24 NAM IA JrTeen

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I have officially completed orientation, training, and am now an official volunteer at CHI St. Elizabeth Hospital in Lincoln, Nebraska! This is yet another way I am promoting compassionate healthcare through my platform, “The Comeback Coalition”! 🏥🩺👩‍⚕️

I’m so grateful to be able to spend 4 hours each week volunteering my time. I get to work at the Surgery Area Hospitality Desk by serving as the liaison between the surgeons/surgical staff and the patient’s families. I’m able to provide general updates and comfort family members while their loved ones are in surgery.

I absolutely love being able to share the light of Jesus with people going through some of the most challenging times. Sometimes simply sharing a smile, conversing with family members who want a distraction from the stress of the surgery, and helping them find different locations throughout the building, have the power to brighten someone’s day!

This has already been such a rewarding experience and I’m so excited to continue volunteering here for (hopefully) years to come!

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The Comeback Coalition has reached its SEVENTH state, Illinois!!! 🏥🎗️🩺❤️👩‍⚕️

A huge shoutout to my sister queen, the 2026-2027 National Christian Miss Sweetheart, Liberty Lee, for donating a Healthcare Hero Appreciation Basket to her local hospital!

(Reposted from @christianmiss_sweetheart )
“Delivering a thank you basket at St Mary Hospital Emergency Department Kankakee II for Dr Stephanie! Thank you so much for taking good care of me on my sick days. I am supporting my big sister Vanessa this month whose platform is “The Comeback Coalition” which is about compassionate care and giving back. Vanessa’s kind heart goes to healthcare and giving back to people who gave so much to her!”

Thank you, Liberty, for encouraging compassionate healthcare in Illinois! You have made a lasting difference in your community!

Is your state not filled in yet or do you have a healthcare worker/facility you would like to thank?! Direct message @thecomebackcoalition or @vanessasarakoelling to learn more about how you can support this initiative and thank healthcare workers who go above and beyond!

#thecomebackcoalition #thecomebackisalwaysgreaterthanthesetback #comeback #compassionatehealthcare #healthcareheroes

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Happy World Animal Day!!! 🐈‍⬛🐱🐈

This weekend, I had the opportunity to visit Blue River Pet Rescue and my best friend, who works there, was able to show me around! Can you guess what my favorite animal is?? Definitely cats!!

I got lots of snuggles with all of the kittens and cats that Blue River currently has. Sometimes, simply just giving animals some love is the most meaningful thing you can do and with my busy college schedule, I still found time to get out and do something as a “Paw Prints Across the World Ambassdor,” for my sister queen, Kaylea’s, platform!

Thank you for allowing me to be a part of your platform’s ambassador program, Kaylea!

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September is National Pain Awareness Month! 🎗️💜🦓

Quick Facts:
-Pain can be acute (temporary) or chronic (long-lasting).
-24.3% of U.S. adults live with chronic pain, with 8.5% experiencing high-impact chronic pain (U.S. Pain Foundation)
-Chronic pain doubles the risk of suicide and is heavily linked to severe anxiety and depression (NCBI Stat Pearls Research)

Remember to check in with the individuals in your life experiencing both acute and chronic pain! Your compassionate care matters!

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Tonight, I attended the Concordia University Nebraska President’s Scholarship Recipient Dinner, hosted by President Bull! 🎓✨🏫

I’m so grateful to be recognized as one of only around 15 students in the 2030 graduating class (of over 400 students) who met the GPA and ACT/SAT score requirements to receive this honor! This is the highest academic scholarship that Concordia University Nebraska offers and I worked so incredibly hard to achieve it!

All glory to God and I’m eager to see everything he does in my life over these next 4 years at CUNE! I’m grateful to be at a school where the professors pray for you, Chapel services are available daily, and Christ is at the center!

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Last Tuesday, I volunteered with the other Concordia University Nebraska Micah Pre-Health Scholars by playing BINGO and socializing with the residents at Ridgewood Retirement Home in Seward, Nebraska! ✨❤️

This was such a fun experience being able to interact with residents from the community, play some awesome rounds of BINGO, and enjoy the night with other like-minded college students! I’m super excited to be one of eight students in the freshman class selected to be a part of the Micah Scholars Program!

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Day in the Life of your National Christian Miss Teen as a Freshman in College! 📚✨✏️👑📓

I thought I would share what a regular day in the life looks like for me right now at Concordia University Nebraska! It’s definitely taken a little bit of adjusting to get used to the college atmosphere, but I’m absolutely thriving here at CUNE! I’m ready for my first college exams this week and am so excited to be beginning a new regular volunteer opportunity in the next few weeks!

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I’ve completed my first week of college and it’s been AWESOME!!! 🤍👑✨

I’m so excited for the semester ahead and all of the fun activities/clubs that I am a part of! It’s definitely been a bit of a whirlwind, but overall I have adjusted great to my new life as a college student so far! I’m excited to be more involved in the town of Seward and the state of Nebraska while at CUNE!

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Wishing a (belated) Happy Birthday to the UNSTOPPABLE, Kayla Blackwell!!! 🎁👸🎂✨🎈

My long distance best friend, biggest cheerleader, and an inspiring mentor— wow I am so grateful to know this PHENOMENAL queen!! Kayla and I quickly became best friends during our year of reign together as National Christian Miss Queens in 2023-2024! We instantly clicked and now I can proudly say I have a close friend from Arizona! Kayla is truly the most beautiful person you will ever meet, both inside and out!

Kayla, I pray that you will have an amazing year of living life to the fullest and praising the Lord! Miss you girly!!

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I am a 2026 Paw Prints Across the World Ambassador! 🐾👑🐈

Super excited to support this incredible initiative that my good friend, Kaylea, created! Her motto is “Adopt, Rescue, and love FURever!” I’m excited to give back on October 4th, 2026 to support animal rescues!

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And just like that, my first two days of college at Concordia University Nebraska are complete! 🎓📚☑️✏️📓

If you’re wondering why I’ve been a little inactive on Instagram recently, it’s because I’ve been preparing for and adapting to my life as a college freshman! I participated in LAUNCH weekend, saw distant family members that live near the CUNE campus, attended the university’s opening worship night, and have already made so many incredible friends!

I’m blessed to be at a university that celebrates my Lutheran (LCMS) faith! We had worship music dance parties (aka my favorite part of launch) and all of my professors lead us in prayer before starting lectures! We also have daily chapel services and Bible studies around campus!

At CUNE, I’m grateful to have been one of only 8 students selected from the freshman class to be a Micah Pre-Health Scholar and I also received the Presidential Scholarship, earned for my high ACT score and 4.0 high school GPA! While academics will be my top priority, besides my relationship with Jesus, I also will be involved in speech and the mixed chorus while at Concordia!

I’m excited for my next chapter of my life, but it will definitely take some adapting! Please pray for me as I begin this new journey!!

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Last Thursday, I had my final High School Golf Tournament with the Junior Golf of Northwest Iowa!!! ⛳️

This organization has poured so much into me over the last 4 years and has truly given me a love for the sport! Though I may not be golfing in college, I’m excited to continue using the skills that golf has given me in other aspects of life (including pageantry) and enjoy the game in a non-competitive environment! This sport has taught me to persevere through challenges, remain calm in difficult situations, stay focused on the present moment, and build connections with other individuals.

As I close this chapter of my life, I am also so blessed that this organization selected me as a college scholarship recipient for my involvement in their program, high GPA, and letters of recommendation from teachers/community leaders! Our incredible National Director for Christian Miss, Mrs. Yvette, even wrote one of the letters that helped me receive this honor!

I couldn’t be more grateful for all of the wonderful organizations that have supported me along my journey, including Christian Miss and Junior Golf of Northwest Iowa!

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