my.CSMD
Real Story: Bree Kekesi
Bree Kekesi
Class of 2023, Pre-Professional Health Science
Transfer Institution: Towson University Class of 2025, Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Accolades, Accomplishments, and Highlights: School of Health Sciences Student Speaker; Secretary, Prince Frederick Campus Association; Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society
I would say, deep down, that I’m an advocate, both for myself and others. I’ve come a long way, and I wouldn’t be here if not for CSM—and for fighting for what I believed in.
I was raised in Southern Maryland, growing up in Calvert County. I earned my Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) and Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) while I was still in high school, then started my college career at CSM.
Dr. Melanie Osterhouse was incredibly important to me during at my time in CSM. My journey into nursing really started when I took my prerequisite courses with her. I consider her my first academic mentor and I hope that she would be proud to see how far I have come.
After earning an associate degree in pre-professional health science with a nursing concentration, I transferred to Towson University and graduated with my bachelor’s degree in nursing in May 2025. I am happy to report that I passed my NCLEX and am now officially a registered nurse (RN)!
I’m currently considering two job offers in nursing in the DMV region—one in oncology and one in labor and delivery. My education has prepared me to be a positive force in my community. Wherever I work as a nurse, I am interacting with people’s loved ones and helping people reach their optimal health.
I hope to go back to school in a few years for a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program for neonatology. In fact, my experience at CSM is one of the reasons I’m looking at online DNP programs—I thrived during my time as a mostly online student at CSM!
I worked for CSM as a student employee for two years, and the experience is near and dear to my heart. For me, it set the standard for what a positive work environment should be. Moreover, it helped me develop my bedside manner and social skills. I worked in Student Engagement, so I interacted with a lot of students, both over the phone and in person, and for a lot of people I was the first point of contact. At first, I was pretty introverted, and that experience definitely helped me come out of my shell a little bit.
I’ve tried to continue that trend and get as involved as possible wherever I am. As a student at Towson, I worked on two undergraduate research projects, was a student employee, and joined both the honors college and the nursing honors society.
My advice for anyone who wants to earn their bachelor’s degree after graduation is to start thinking about your transfer school early in your college career and map out your schedule based on the school you choose. It's important to have a plan in place for a smooth transition to your bachelor’s degree program.
Looking back, I would’ve told myself to live life to the fullest and that the steps I was taking at CSM would better my life in so many ways that I hope I can repay.
Bree Kekesi Spring 2023 Commencement speech:
Last updated: 7-17-25