One of the biggest hallmarks of the college experience is discovering who you really are – whether that be through classes, adventures with friends, clubs and organizations, or real-life professional experiences. For Storm Pendleton ’25, ’26 MHA, choosing Valpo was the first step to discovering his true path.
When Storm was first looking at colleges, his ultimate goal was to become a physician assistant (PA). Valpo was close to home, provided personalized instruction through small class sizes, and offered a direct-admit bachelor of science in health science to master of science in physician assistant studies (MSPA) program. Combined with generous scholarship opportunities, Valpo was an easy choice.
As his first year commenced, Storm discovered his true calling was pulling him in a different direction. “As I progressed through the coursework, I realized my interests aligned more closely with the administrative and operational side of healthcare,” Storm says. “I have always enjoyed business-oriented courses, and [a major in healthcare leadership] provided the perfect combination of healthcare and business, making it a natural fit for my interests and career goals.”
Storm transferred shortly after into Valpo’s healthcare leadership program and immediately began building the skills needed to meet the demands of evolving healthcare landscapes. “My experience in the [program] was exceptional. One of its greatest strengths was the faculty! Each professor brought extensive real-world expertise to the classroom, with many having more than 20 years of professional experience in healthcare leadership,” Storm shares. “Beyond their knowledge, they were incredibly accessible and genuinely invested in both our academic success and personal growth. Their mentorship created an engaging and supportive learning environment that made the program truly outstanding.”
This strong mentorship prepared Storm to apply all he learned in the classroom to impactful field experiences, like his internship with the Visiting Nurses Association (VNA). The position grew out of Storm’s previous volunteer work with the organization, as well as a friendly connection with the VNA Hospice of Northwest Indiana President and CEO Robert (Bob) Franko, MBA – who created a position specifically for Storm to help support the Meals on Wheels program. Meals on Wheels is a community-based program that delivers nutritious and affordable meals directly to the homes of senior citizens and individuals with disabilities, utilizing local networks of both staff and volunteers to help foster independent living among neighbors in need.
During his internship, Storm designed and conducted a research study that provided the VNA with data to support informed decision-making. The goal: to better understand participants’ existing knowledge, beliefs, and attitudes toward hospice care in order to identify opportunities for education and outreach. “It was an incredibly rewarding experience because it allowed me to apply the knowledge I had gained throughout my coursework while contributing meaningful insights to an organization that serves the local community,” Storm says. “Bob has always been a strong advocate for providing students with meaningful professional opportunities, and I am grateful for the experience he made possible!”
Storm later shared his findings at the 2025 National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR), an annual gathering of student scholars dedicated to celebrating undergraduate research and achievement. “I applied research methodology, statistical analysis, and healthcare leadership principles to produce findings that could help inform organizational decision-making,” Storm reflects. “Presenting this work at the National Conference on Undergraduate Research was both professionally rewarding and personally fulfilling.”
This incredible milestone was made possible in part by Storm’s time in Christ College – The Honors College – Valpo’s historic honors college that served as his personal intersection between healthcare and humanities. Because Storm’s research with the VNA served as part of his senior capstone internship, Christ College was able to help Storm acquire the scholarship that funded his presentation at NCUR. His time in Christ College was also, unsurprisingly, one of the best experiences he had as a Valpo student.
“I initially joined [Christ College] because my sister had been a student in the program and spoke very highly of her experience,” Storm explains. After completing the first-year curriculum himself, he quickly developed his own appreciation for the college and its interdisciplinary approach to academics. “Although the coursework was rigorous, I found Christ College to be one of the most meaningful aspects of my education,” he says, citing the development of exceptional, highly complimented writing skills, encouragement of deeper critical thinking and reflection, and an enduring sense of community. “The relationships I built with both professors and fellow students made it feel like a second home.”
After graduating with his bachelor of science in healthcare leadership – with complementary minors in public health and human biology – Storm turned toward the next career-defining milestone: earning his master of healthcare administration (MHA). “I chose to pursue an MHA for two primary reasons,” he says. “First, I believed it would provide a strong foundation for long-term career advancement within healthcare leadership. Second, Valpo’s 4+1 [healthcare leadership to healthcare administration program], combined with the Back to Valpo scholarship, made earning a graduate degree exceptionally affordable. It was an opportunity that offered tremendous value while allowing me to continue building on the education I had already received.” His experience in the program was overwhelmingly positive, with extensively experienced faculty encouraging the expansion of undergraduate foundations through advanced strategic thinking and problem-solving. “It was an excellent bridge between academic theory and practical leadership in healthcare,” Storm adds.
Now serving as an associate data analyst at local healthcare network Powers Health, Storm serves as a beacon for incoming students who are called to improve healthcare access in their communities. “Overall, attending Valparaiso University was one of the best decisions I have ever made. The university provided me with countless opportunities for personal, academic, and professional growth while introducing me to mentors and experiences that have profoundly shaped my future. If I could speak to my high school senior self, I would confidently say that choosing Valpo was the right decision. I truly believe it offered opportunities and experiences that would have been difficult to find elsewhere,” he reflects. “I would strongly encourage anyone considering this path to pursue it wholeheartedly. The combination of healthcare leadership, Christ College, and the MHA program provided me with an exceptional education while helping me develop the critical thinking, leadership, communication, and analytical skills necessary for success. More importantly, these experiences challenged me to grow as both a professional and a person, and I believe they have prepared me exceptionally well for a career in healthcare leadership.”
Storm’s path could inspire your own. Explore Valpo’s 4+1 bachelor of science in healthcare leadership to master of healthcare administration pathway – a unique academic opportunity that allows you to earn two degrees in just five years – with the College of Nursing and Health Professions at valpo.edu/healthcare-leadership.
