Undergrad Briana Schram shares her passion for pediatric nursing, along with her secrets to success.
On Saturday, Feb. 21, Concordian Briana Schram was crowned Miss Milwaukee 2026. With a smile on her face and a heart for service, she carried a lesson to the stage that reaches far beyond the classroom: leave the baggage at the door.
Today, still in awe of her recent win, Schram recalled a teaching moment that has stayed with her.
“A professor taught us that when you are going into a patient’s room, you should always walk in with a smile and leave your baggage at the door,” she said. “You might be having the worst day, but when you’re caring for a patient, it’s about them, not you.”
Winning the pageant for her was more than a dream come true — it is an opportunity to serve in the year ahead.
With just a few months to prepare, she will return to the stage alongside contestants from across Wisconsin to compete for the state title June 14-20 in New Berlin. The winner will serve as Miss Wisconsin 2026.
With the competition approaching, Schram remains grounded in what led her to the role. “It’s not about me,” she said. “It’s about how I can best serve and impact the city.”
A network of support
She recalled seeing her grandmother in the crowd. With tears in her eyes, Schram said, “Grandma, I did it!”
This was not Schram’s first pageant. With the support and encouragement of her grandmother, she has participated in several and enjoys each one.
She values the sense of community and sisterhood the pageants offer. “It’s really about girls supporting girls,” she said, noting it may not be what some expect from a pageant. “Everyone is so nice and supportive. There is no stereotypical ‘big hair’ or ‘crazy moms.’”
Schram said she felt grateful to compete alongside 13 other contestants and that reaching the top three felt “crazy.” When her name was announced as the winner, a longtime dream became reality.
“It’s just incredible that I get to represent Milwaukee — competing there was surreal,” Schram said.
Leading by example
Schram’s life as a CUW nursing student centers on service and campus involvement, including her role as a resident assistant, where she continues to grow as a leader while supporting a community she values deeply.
“You are the leader of your hall, so you’re setting an example for the other girls,” Schram said.
She stepped into the role during her sophomore year, serving as a mentor to first-year students — an experience that pushed her beyond her comfort zone. “I believe all of those out-of-comfort-zone experiences have taught me a lot about myself and how I can lead,” Schram said. “I’m able to visibly impact these girls through the conversations I have with them.”
After witnessing the challenges some students face, including anxiety about classes or feeling like they do not fit in, she has become passionate about women’s mental health.
“It is crazy how often that happens,” she said. “A girl will come to me with a concern, and then someone else from the same room shares the same struggle. A lot could change if they felt more comfortable talking to each other.”
To help address this, Schram organizes activities that encourage residents to connect, communicate and spend time together.
Resident Director Joshua Warlick said he has been blessed to watch Briana invest in her residents over the past two years.
“She’s someone others can truly depend on — whether she’s cheering on the women on her floor or walking alongside them through difficult moments,” he said. “Bri understands how to be a friend while also encouraging growth where it’s needed most.”
Warlick said he has mixed feelings about Schram graduating soon and added, “She will be an incredible nurse, but her presence through her programming and the way she connects with both RAs and residents will be deeply missed. Wherever she goes, I know she will continue to lead with compassion for everyone she meets.”
A true passion behind the crown
Schram received a scholarship through the Miss America organization, which supports young women as they pursue their goals. As the organization describes it, Miss America serves as “the nation’s most iconic platform for women to rise, lead and inspire.”
As she looks ahead to her year of service, Schram plans to expand her platform, Little Champions: Building Positive Self-Image in Kids. Her goal is to bring the program into schools and develop a curriculum that introduces children to age-appropriate mental health strategies.
By focusing on confidence and self-worth early in life, she hopes to help students build habits that support long-term well-being and a healthy sense of identity.
As the oldest of five, Schram has watched her siblings navigate difficult moments. “Comparison is hard, and friendships can be hard,” she said. After volunteering on a field trip with her youngest brother, she noticed a girl crying because her friends were not including her.
“It’s things like that,” Schram said. “Not knowing how to navigate those feelings or what to do with them can be really tough.”
Purpose beyond the classroom
Since high school, Schram has felt called to become a nurse.
“The opportunities are endless in nursing — nurses are needed everywhere,” she said. “I want to help and serve people, and I feel God has called me to this path.”
Passionate about working with children, she feels specifically drawn to pediatric nursing — a calling that aligns closely with her Miss Milwaukee platform.
As she develops her rhythm in clinicals, Schram says the example set by her professors has meant the most in her CUW nursing experience.
“They are good reminders of what servant-heartedness looks like. Just seeing the passion they have as they teach — sharing what they do in practice, how they care for patients, communicate with them and show love — it is really impactful,” Schram said.
Giannina Vernon, DNP, RN, assistant professor of nursing and one of Schram’s professors and mentors, said she demonstrates a genuine passion for patient-centered care.
“She listens attentively, offers comfort and advocates for her patients, maintaining a calm and reassuring presence. Her commitment to learning and her support for both patients and the health care team reflect the heart of what it means to be a nurse,” Vernon said.
For students considering nursing school, which can be challenging, Schram encourages them not to give up or compare themselves with others.
“God has a plan for everyone,” she said. “When you compare yourself with the person next to you — like, ‘they’re one step ahead of me,’ or, ‘this person achieved this big goal, but I’m stuck in this place in my life’ — it’s all subjective. It doesn’t help to compare yourself with others, because your journey is unique.”
That perspective continues to shape her daily presence. Her personal motto is simple: “I want to walk into every room with a smile on my face.”
Get involved
To stay connected and support Schram’s efforts, follow her on Instagram or contribute to her fundraising campaign below:
- Spotfund: BrianaSchramWI2027 — Fundraiser by Briana Schram on Spotfund
- Instagram: @missmilwaukeewi
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Concordia University Wisconsin is a Lutheran higher education community committed to helping students develop in mind, body and spirit for service to Christ in the Church and the world.