WNCC to celebrate 291 graduates on May 8

WNCC

dylan-cecilSCOTTSBLUFF, Neb. - Morrill High School seniors Dylan Cecil and Madyson Lees will attend more than one graduation ceremony this spring. This Saturday, May 8, the pair will walk across the stage at Western Nebraska Community College’s 2021 commencement ceremony to receive their associate degrees, exactly one week before they receive their high school diplomas. 

 

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Cecil and Lees are the first students from Morrill High School to graduate from WNCC using the CollegeNOW! program, that allows high school juniors and seniors the opportunity to earn college credit while still in high school. WNCC has partnerships with more than 20 high schools in the Panhandle. Students can take classes within their high schools, online, or on on of WNCC’s three campuses. 

Both students wanted to take the dual credit classes to challenge themselves and get a headstart on their post-secondary educations.   

“I began taking dual credit classes with WNCC to challenge myself and explore interests outside of what my high school has to offer,” Lees said. 

Lees will receive an Associate of Arts while Cecil has earned his Associate of Science degree. Cecil said that the instructors at WNCC kept the classes fun and interesting. 

“In my personal experience, taking classes at WNCC was very enjoyable,” he said. “My instructors provided so much information that kept me engaged throughout the semesters.” 

Lees said that graduating from college before high school was a big goal to accomplish. 

“Getting to this point was certainly difficult, but it is really starting to pay off,” she said. “Staying dedicated and motivated would not have been possible without all of my instructors, high school faculty, friends, and family who were there to cheer me on when things got tough. This goal is something that has seemed out of reach for the past two years, it is unbelievable that this moment is actually here.”

Cecil said that by taking classes through WNCC, he has an extreme advantage over other students his age and would recommend any high school student to enroll in the CollegeNOW! program. 

“I would highly recommend my fellow high school students to take dual credit classes,” Cecil said. “In doing so has given me an extreme advantage in placing me two years ahead of students my age. This opportunity has also allowed me to grow and mature into a more competitive student, better preparing me for higher level academics and my future career.”

Both Cecil and Lees are planning to transfer to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln next fall. Cecil hopes to become a registered nurse on his way to becoming a nurse practitioner. Lees will continue her studies in psychology with the goal of becoming a psychiatrist or a nurse practitioner. Both students also plan to work as certified nursing assistants while attending UNL and receive their phlebotomy certifications. 

Cecil and Lees are among the 291 students who will be receiving a degree, certificate, or diploma at WNCC’s commencement ceremony. The ceremony will begin at 10 a.m., in the Judy Chaloupka Theater. The general public will be seated in Cougar Palace, where the ceremony will be livestreamed. WNCC encourages patrons to arrive early, as the capacity of Cougar Palace has been limited to 1,000 patrons due to COVID-19.

In addition, the WNCC Nurse Pinning Ceremony will begin at 1 p.m. in the Judy Chaloupka Theater. Graduates are able to bring five guests to the Nurse Pinning Ceremony. As a reminder, WNCC requires all visitors to wear a facial covering while on campus. 

A list of the graduate candidates is as follows: 

Associate of Arts

Colorado

Aurora - Perla Guzman; 

Highlands Ranch - Mitchell A. Mullen

Joes - Sydnee Roth

Peets - Gwendolyn Renee Buss; 

Thornton - Mackenzie Bakel; 

Nebraska

Alliance - Alivia K. Carlson; Carl L. Kohler; 

Ashby - Haleigh J. White

Bayard - Alexander Ryan Araujo; Elisabeth Brown; Wyatt Fiscus; Colin E. Hendrickson; Avery Madelynn Kildow;

Bridgeport - Bethia Gwen Hamilton; Kaeli M. Vergil-McVicker

Cody - Jared Tolliver

Gering - Morgan E. Baird; Dena Chalupa; Marley E. Garcia; Heidi Jackson; Lydia A. Olson-Jones; Valerie A. Vanwinkle

Gordon - Casey Eitler; 

Minatare - Rick Miller; Maddison S. Schlosser

Mitchell - Megan Chrisman; Anabelle R. Gillen; Madyson Nicole Lees; Diamon Arianna Palomo; 

Morrill - Michelle Lara; Sheldon P. Le; Jessica M. Reid; Megan L. Sinks; Jacob M. Strecker; 

Oshkosh - Morgan L. Smith

Scottsbluff - Gabriela K. Aguilar; Brandon Ball; McKeigh Bianco; Stephanie R. Bianco; Heather Brannan; Meghan Leigh Calvert; Jovana Cardiel Ramirez; Jerry Escamilla; David R. Gurney; Michelle Marie Guzman; Jason Hiegel; Richard A. Klemm; Aurora Christa Linz; Amanda Peister; Danielle Celeste Pinet; Vincent M. Quijas; Donovan Michael Reese; Nathan P. Sanchez; Lizbeth Smith; Jennifer M. Wimmer

Sidney - Arik Doty; Ashley Pettit; Devon R. Shelor; Devany R. Turner, Lacy J. Wright

Other States

La Habra, California - Kaylee Burns

Jersey City, New Jersey - Arthur James Camaya

Atlanta, Georgia - Karon Ford

Kailua, Hawaii - Anuhea Kaohi

Columbia, Maryland - Jonathan J. Munshaw

Las Vegas, Nevada - Kalli Quicke

Houston, Texas - Matthew Womack

International

Meridan Plains, Australia - Madeline Campbell

Banjul, Gambia - Fanding Ceesay

Leandro N Alem, Argentina - Claudio Sebastian Escudero

Brasilia, Brazil - Laura Lima Ferrao

Osaka, Japan - Rei Kimura

Zrenjanin, Serbia - Marko Rajanovic

 

Associate of Fine Arts

Colorado

Aurora - Stephanie Rae Wieand

Highlands Ranch – Mark W. Babineau

Nebraska

Grand Island - Lemuel A Grady IV

Palmer - Betsy Jane Eckstrom

Wyoming

Cody – Garret Winkler

 

Associate of Applied Science

Nebraska

Alliance – Cynthia Jane Brandon; Elijah A. Budd; Chelsey R. Heredia; Chandler Stinson

Bayard – Adam Scot Ouderkirk; Alan Scot Ouderkirk; Tanner Rafferty

Bridgeport – Levi William Hamilton; Betsy Mitchell; Monica Torres

Crawford – Amanda J. Kissell

Gering – Brodie C. Fritton; Alyssa Greeley; Adam Hemphill; Thomas J. Schildt

Hastings – Josiah A. Bronson

Minden – Patrick M. Rose

Mitchell – Chloe L. Liebsock; Leigh Sauter

Morrill – Benseslado Cantu; 

Ogallala – Truman Wilson

Omaha – Alexandrea B. Bryant

O’Neill – Cindy Nelson

Oshkosh – Connor McCord

Potter – Ken Ries

Scottsbluff – Nancy A. Clinton; Gideon Fink; Kasandra L. Gray; Destiny Adelia Lerma; Alvera Razo Linz; Julia Bernadette Lopez; Vitoria Quezada; John T. Spehar; Monica Zamarripa

Sidney – Ethan Mientka

Wyoming

Burlington – Rae N. Cook

Wheatland – Crystal P. Anderson

Other States

Westfield, Indiana – Mackensey N. Armour

Mililani, Hawaii – Noah Chun

Windsor, Colorado – Jo Duncan

Elkins Park, Pennsylvania – Zenaida E. Gonzalez

Birmingham, Alabama – Joshua Michael Gothard

International

Seoul, Republic of Korea – Yemin An

Xi’an, China – Zhaoxin Chen

 

Associate of Science

Nebraska

Alliance – Yenisey Yadira Heredia; Madison A. Hiemstra; 

Big Springs – Trinity D. Wolford

Bridgeport – Awnathon A. McGrath; Elizabeth Rojas; 

Chadron – William Tidyman 

Chappell – Tabetha J. Hayes; 

Gering – Evelyn Nicole Anderson-Saenz; Sheridan Cristann Blanco; Carlee D. Brester; Nate Harold Fahrenbrook; Zoee Knaub; Sarah Ann Lang; Emma Rose Leggott; Olivia Leigh Schaub; Brittney Spreier; Kade T. Thunderbull

Hebron – Ashley M. Grassia; 

Henry – Peyton R. Gibson; 

Kimball – Michael L. Steele

Minatare – Lexia Y. Aragon; Brianna Jones; Jacqueline Martinez; Briana R. Regester

Mitchell – Peyton Noel Beaver; Ronald C. Sisson

Morrill – Malynn Charlotte Bowlin; Dylan Jacob Cecil;

Rushville – Carson J. Hinn; Gracey Ann Perez; Dylan Schwarting;

Scottsbluff – Anna M. Adams-Hrasky; Harold Baez; Jensen Leigh Bedlan; Karen Sofia Codero Barr; Alexie Cushing; Shanti Nicole Henry; Adeline Hobbs; Jariatou Jallow; Megan Christine Jolliffe; Conner Ryan McCracken; Jonis C. Phifer; Kaiden N. Reinmuth; Trenton J. Richter;  Anna Von Seggern

Sidney – Jennifer Kae Gorman; Natasha Haupt; 

Other States

Miami, Florida – Luis Alcantara

Cheboygan, Michigan – Matthew M. Brooks 

Katz, Texas – Caleb Michael Coats

Charleston, South Carolina – William E. Forbes Jr. 

Scottsdale, Arizona – Nira A. J. Henderson

El Paso, Texas – Alexandra Hernandez

Minneapolis, Minnesota – Tayler E. Johnson

Broomfield, Colorado– Ashley Panem

Denver, Colorado – Ashley J. Ruiz-Zuniga

Bangor, Maine – Joshua P. Stasi

Norton, Kansas – David Todd Traylor

Lebanon, Oregon – Juliana P. Von Ruden

International

Hitachi, Japan – Mariko Ishida

Banjul, Gambia – Jariatou S. Jallow

Kinasha, Democratic Republic of the Congo – Margueritte Khonde Masiala

Montevideo, Uruguay – Maria Noel Negreira Paladino

Lagos, Nigeria – Chisom Ogboh

Kincardine, Canada – William Robert Potter

Manila, Philippines – Paula Tactacan

Sofia, Bulgaria – Andrea Tsvetanova

 

Associate of Occupational Studies

Nebraska

Scottsbluff – Miguel Torres

 

Associate Degree of Nursing

Nebraska

Alliance – Hannah Bailey; Tirah L. Cox; Tosha Postell; 

Bayard – Lauren L. Gartrell; Victoria G. Huff; 

Bridgeport – Gretchen A. Hubert; Branden J. Mitchell; Norma Rojas

Gering – Courtney Murillo

Hay Springs – Natasha L. Scherz

Lodgepole – Megan Jeppson

Mitchell – Teresa Coley; Kayla M. Fritzler

Scottsbluff – Makayla R. Comings; Tanisha L. Garcia; Whitney A. Kuxhausen; Amanda L. Munoz; Maggie Prelle; Rita A. Salazar; Rebecca Joe Torres

Sidney – Heidi Nienhueser; Brittany Noel; Jamison Tvrs

 

Certificates

Colorado

Ault – Elliott Friesen

Brush – Trent Mount

Holyoke – Remington Hielscher

Fort Collins – Marcus Lang 

Stratton – Eltan Yarger

Nebraska

Alliance – Matthew Escamilla; Andrew Hanzez; Kristina D. Sanders; Felix Vasquez

Bridgeport – Wesley Christensen; Logan Conley; 

Crawford – Dennis Korey Vogl 

Gering – Eluid Aguilar; Oscar Rios Cruz; Shawn Fulk; David Hernandez; James M. Klemp; Roberto Martinez; Ruben Perez; Rayce Walsh

Lewellen – Terry Sickler 

Minatare – Ceasar Garduno; Dalton Propp

Mitchell – Dale A. Cannia; Jacob Herschfeldt; John Thomas

Morrill – Nicholas Kutkowsk

North Platte – Ty Johnso

Ogallala – Dominic Mayer

Potter – Russell Barker II

Rushville – Clark Orr

Scottsbluff – Kate Bowles; Austin Dolberg; Domingo Galindo; Ican Gabriel Gonzalez; Maxwell Kishiyama; Megan Lindley; Tyler Lintz; Adrian Hunter McKerrigan; Francisco Morales Jurado; Placido Rodriguez; Franc Sanchez; Nicandro Sierra Torres

St. Paul – Lukas Pelc

Whitman – Brock Nollette

Wyoming

Torrington – Eddia Goins; Zane S. Rising; 

Other States

Kanehoe, Hawaii – Makana Vernon

 

Diplomas

Colorado

Sterling – Christopher Cullip

Longmont – Joseph Vahlenkamp

Wheat Ridge – Lindi M. White

Nebraska

Alliance – Jennifer Davis; Amber Knaub; Megan McLaughlin; Madison M. Morgan; Ashley J. Robinson; Amanda Russell; 

Benkelman – Madson Noel Haines       

Bridgeport – Dori L. Schneider; 

Chadron – Tabitha A. Lux; Shawn Raben; 

Gering – Trinidad L. Cueva Ventura; Jessica Renee Marquez; Alysha Sanders; 

Hay Springs – Rebekah R. Edwards

Kimball – Andrew McCloud

Mitchell – Jason Dillman; 

Oak – Kasandra Stricklin

Oshkosh – Shavin Barnhart; Camden Robertson; 

Scottsbluff – Janet Felix; Destany Hill; Shelby James; Leticha Renee Longoria; Patricia Longoria; Toria McGowan; Maria Oliva; Rebecca Smith; Alyssa Strachan; Hannah Vesper

Sidney – Marcela Christofferson; Ashley B. Deeds; Teresa Gayle Skinner; 

International

Sao Paulo, Brazil – Ygor Brito