Butler’s Nursing Program Celebrates Graduates and 50th Anniversary

Butler Community College celebrated the graduation of 63 nurses from Butler’s nursing program with an annual nurses pinning event on May 11, which happened to fall during National Nursing Week. This is the nursing program’s 50th anniversary.

“You are part of an historic event,” said Anita Mills, Dean of Health, Education and Public Service. “Let us honor and pay homage to those who came before.”

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. Like so many nursing students throughout the past 50 years, she told this class, they were high achievers, compassionate and determined.

“It takes a very special person to join the ranks of the nursing profession,” said Kimberly Krull, Ph.D., President of Butler.

Tonika Bruce of El Dorado, the student president of the nursing class, rallied the crowd when she told them that amongst the 63 nursing students, which includes 19 male students and two sets of twins, they have 67 children and six grandchildren. Coming from 17 states and 10 countries, these graduates are also in the midst of planning nine weddings.

“Our class set out to change the world,” Bruce said. “Let’s do it. Everyone deserves our best.”

Butler’s 2017 nursing graduates include:

Augusta:

Shannon Soto

Andover:

Lauren Naill

Elaine West

Cassoday:

Jennifer Lacey

Cheney:

Jennifer Hoyt-Nichols

Conway Springs:

Mohamed Soliman

Derby:

Kay Thorpe

Maria Warren

Douglass:

Kirsten Gray

El Dorado:

Tonika Bruce

Nikie Scates

Eureka:

Brett Fox

Shay Zimmerman

Hillsboro:

Viki Fickes

Leon:

Carolyn Palmer

Marion:

Kelli Hess

Mulvane:

Tess Donohue

Rachelle Karol

Peck:

Matthew Pogue

Rose Hill:

Brittany Campbell

Alyssa Jameson

Salina:

Kathleen Greene

Towanda:

Michele Bushey

Valley Center:

Ryan Albright

Brandon Kraus

Whitewater:

Holly Allmond

Wichita:
Cristina Astegiano

Christa Bathgate

Chelsea Baxter

Shaunee Darrough

Elizabeth Edington

Brittany Gray

Pedro Ibarra Jr.

Wilfred Jandwa

Kimberly Kanngiesser

Hillary Kreutzer

George Makori

Cody Manuel

Sabina Mbeyela

Shannon Moses

Eddie Mutchler

William Okemwa

Laura Ondrovich

Dustin Orlanda

Emily Perez

Aaron Rauber

Brittani Richardson

Catherine Richardson

Adriel Rodriquez

Kellie Salmon

Derik Scott

Punit Shah

Jeffrey Steinert

Purity Tuiya

Dorcas Ukoha

Jeremy Villalobos

Hung Vo

Anna Wagner

Tara Woodard

Amber Zachare

Winfield:

Alicia Feck

Lesa Lewis

Christin Miller

The quality of instruction has earned Butler’s nursing program wide respect in the region.  Butler Community College’s nursing program is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and the Kansas State Board of Regents.