The first all school reunion for the West Nebraska General Hospital School of Nursing and University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Nursing West Nebraska Division will be held Sept. 12 and 13 in Scottsbluff, Neb.
The reunion will be held at Western Nebraska Community College in the Harms Building, 1601 E. 27th St., in Scottsbluff.
More than 90 alumni and guests from classes beginning in 1948 through 2013 and from 12 different states are expected to attend.
“We are excited to welcome our nursing alumni to Scottsbluff to showcase the changes in nursing education, introduce them to current students and take them on a tour of the new facilities,” said Sue Wilhelm, Ph.D., assistant dean, UNMC College of Nursing, West Nebraska Division.
As part of the reunion three alums and two nurse leaders will be recognized for their contributions to nursing education and care. The awards will be presented during a buffet brunch from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Sept. 12.
During the two-day reunion alums will tour Regional West Medical Center, watch the newest class of nursing students receive their white coats during a professionalism ceremony, and learn how nursing education has changed over the years at a special presentation.
“We hope that everyone in attendance will have the opportunity to visit with current and past faculty, reunite with classmates and have a great time,” Dr. Wilhelm said.
The 2014 alumni award recipients include:
Distinguished nursing alumnus: Marie Kreman, Ed.D., R.N., emeritus assistant professor, retired May, 2006, taught at the UNMC College of Nursing West Nebraska Division from 1992-2006.
Honorary nursing alumnus: Joan McVay, M.A., M.S.N., Ed.D., R.N., emeritus assistant professor, retired May, 1998, taught at the UNMC College of Nursing West Nebraska Division from 1988-1998 and at the West Nebraska General Hospital School of Nursing from 1976-1988.
Honorary nursing alumnus: Virginia Miller, B.A., R.N., earned her bachelor’s degree in nursing from Hastings College and Mary Lanning Hospital, director of West Nebraska General Hospital School of Nursing from 1948 to her retirement in 1986.
Nursing excellence award: Betsy Walton, M.S.N.-N.P., M.B.A., R.N., earned a bachelor’s of science degree in nursing from UNMC in 2010. She is the current Healthy Families America program coordinator and family nurse practitioner for Community Action Partnership of Western Nebraska. Her daughter, Jessica Hughes, is in the 2015 BSN class.
Dorothy Patach award: Clark Philson, B.S.N., R.N., earned a bachelor’s of science degree in nursing from UNMC in 1995.
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