Butler’s Nursing Program Celebrates Graduates

As the ceremony was about to begin, a child yelled, “Momma,” and waved to all the graduates as they promenaded into the gym on the Butler Community College El Dorado campus. Graduates span a large age range. Their life experience is varied, but their compassion and steadfastness are similar.

“Butler’s nursing program has prepared you well, but never stop learning,” said Anita Mills, Dean of Health, Education and Public Service. “Never accept status quo.”

Mills told the graduates and their families that the nursing program is as strong as it is today because of the many faculty, students and administrators who have gone before them. Mills also commended nursing faculty members Donna Adams-Zimmerman and Denise Lakous on their retirements, commending them on their combined 60 years of service to nursing education and Butler students.

Butler Community College President Kimberly Krull, Ph.D., told the crowd of graduates how proud she was of their hard work and fortitude.

“You have achieved a huge milestone,” Krull said. “Thank you for your selfless commitment to a tremendous profession.”

Shelby Rawlings Downing of Andover, the student president of the nursing class, rallied the crowd when she told them that all of the 63 nursing students passed the nursing exam. Downing described her classmates as a diverse group, from fresh out of high school to grandparents. For some, she said, America is not their home country and English is not their first language.

“We all know Butler’s nursing program is a sought-after program,” Downing said. “There will be a strong purple presence (in area hospitals).”

Butler’s 2018 nursing graduates include:

Nursing Graduates

Andover:

Shelby Rawlings Downing

Nikki Esparza

 

Augusta:

Emily Alexander

Carrie Arnold

 

Bel Air:

Krista Barrera ^

Jamie S. Black

 

Clearwater:

Alice Blanton

 

Derby:

Anne Maina Bolden

Stephanie Bonebrake

Beth Borko

 

El Dorado:

 

Rachel L. Ciapponi

Rob Cloyd

Nicole Cunningham

Sarah Erpelding

 

Emporia:

Kaitlin Davis ^

 

Eureka:

Emily Eck

Corry Eggert

 

Haysville:

Brooke Gorman

Rachel Habiger

 

Mulvane:

Jordan Hamed

 

Parsons:

Sydney Harder

 

Rose Hill:

Lindsey Hecht

Leah Hobbs #

 

Wichita:

Erin Hunt ^#

Rebecca Isenbart

Douglas A. Jarman

Melissa Johnson

Victoria Lank

Susie Lipke

Mindi Long #

Zsakeé Love

Angela Maina

Pauline B. Maosa

Jennifer Ann McCormack

Kelsea Miller ^#

Emma Momanyi

Briana Moore ^#

Melissa Morris

Patrick K. Muia

Hope Newcomb

Brenda Ngetich

Sarah Nosker-Merlino

Benjamin Ondieki

Tiffany Bui Pham

Julia Ann Risley

Lindsay Rochelle

Jenni Segura

Jen Serreyn ^#

April Shockley

Tabitha Slater ^#

Nikole Streit

Joktan Tanui

Sarah Thomas

William Tice

Mashun R. Tinnin

Brooklyn Tolbert

Edna Tonya

Jen Tucker

Anique Valmont

Vanessa West #

Briana M. Wildoner

Kaili Williams

Kelsie Young

 

Legend:

^ Red Cross Award Recipient

# Mentor Recognition