President Richard Meyers presents Barb Krzewinski with the 2007 Distinguished Alum Award at Webster’s graduation ceremonies in St. Louis.

“It is a fantastic honor to receive this recognition, and I am humbled that I was chosen,” she said.

Krzewinski’s career of service to others started just after she earned her undergraduate nursing degree.  Krzewinski saw a need for nurses in the military to care for the wounded from the Vietnam War and joined the U.S. Navy Nurse Corps. She volunteered to serve aboard the hospital ship, USS Sanctuary, in Vietnam.

“It was the most fantastic year of my life,” she says. “I have never felt so needed as a nurse.”

According to Krzewinski, there was an international ward aboard the ship to take care of the innocent victims of the war, namely women and children. Word spread quickly about her creation of care packages full of toys and clothing for these victims and her work inspired “Project Barbara” – a community outreach program in California that gathered and sent supplies to the ship for the war victims.

In her 21 years in the military, she left her indelible and caring mark on all the communities she passed through: establishing battered women’s shelters; visiting orphanages armed with presents and treats; changing tax laws to help fund shelters; counseling families to break abuse cycles; serving at crisis hotlines; organizing fundraisers for multiple veterans’ organizations; establishing award programs to honor those who made invaluable contributions to their communities; and establishing community gardens for the beautification and enjoyment of all, to name a few of her accomplishments.

While stationed in Arizona, Krzewinski held numerous positions and appointments including first president of the board of the Safe House Shelter and representative to the Arizona Governor’s Council on Children.  She received the Teddy Bear Award from the Arizona’s Governor’s Council for her work with military children and orphans in Mexico.  She has served as coordinator of medical programs with the Red Cross as well.

Reflecting on the importance of Webster, she says, “Higher education is vital in this day and age. The more you learn, the more you realize there is to learn. One needs to be well-versed in a variety of subjects and not just one field. Higher education keeps your mind active and up with the times.”

She retired from the Navy in 1986 and returned to her roots in Ohio. She has since been inducted into the Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame, co-organized Support the Troops Group for the families of those in the war in Iraq and continues to help plan monthly visits to Ohio-area nursing homes to spread cheer to veterans and residents. A life member of Disabled American Veterans and AMVETS, she has received the National Defense Service Medal, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Republic of Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Humanitarian Service Ribbon, Navy Unit Citation and Presidential Unit Citation, among others.

Currently the Director of Health Services for the Gibsonburg Exempted School District, Barbara remains a child advocate, working with hundreds of students in crisis as well as with Children’s Services and the Ohio court systems year after year.  Throughout it all, she credits what she learned at Webster.

“My Webster degree as been an invaluable asset to me in my position at Gibsonburg. In dealings with students, parents, teachers, administrators and the public, I call on the lessons and techniques I learned in my classes. The knowledge also has been extremely useful in the many roles I play in other organizations,” Krzewinski said.

“To the new graduates entering the work force—listen and learn,” she says. “You have plenty of time to change the world. Learn from your predecessors. Be professional and not casual in dress. If you don't care about yourself you are not going to care about others.”

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