Students honored at annual Health Professions banquet

Students advancing to graduate schools were recognized in the following disciplines: Dental Hygiene, Dentistry, Chiropractic, Medical Laboratory Science, Medicine, Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Pharmacy, Physical Therapy, Physician Assistant and Biology and Ecology.

“This year was an especially amazing group of students. On the one hand, we hate to see them leave since they are all such great campus citizens and will be sorely missed. On the other hand, we can’t wait to hear about all their future successes in professional school and as health care providers,” said Kristal Kuhnel, director of Health Professions.

Dr. Jordyn Stevens, a CSC alumna and optometrist in Chadron, was the guest speaker. She encouraged students to take advantage of access to faculty.

“Having the ability to talk one on one with your professors and receiving assistance on an individual basis is something to truly appreciate. Your professors here are dedicated to each and every one of you succeeding,” Stevens said.

Access to human donor bodies is another feature of the CSC health professions program she said helped her in graduate school.

“I was the only one in my class of 55 optometry students who had ever worked with cadavers,” she said.

Students advancing to professional schools

Dental Hygiene                                           

Toni Doescher of Chadron, UNMC West, Gering, Neb.

Shelby Richards of Brule, Neb., UNMC West, Gering, Neb.

Taylor Whetham of Morrill, Neb., UNMC West, Gering, Neb.

Dentistry                                                      

Isaac Langan of McCook, Neb., UNMC, Lincoln

Chiropractic                                                                     

Kerri DeGroff of Broken Bow, Neb., Logan University, St. Louis, Mo.

Makala Michka of Stuart, Neb., Cleveland Chiropractic College, Overland Park, Kan.

Medical Laboratory Science

Alexis Mentzer of Big Springs, Neb., UNMC, Kearney, Neb.

Medicine                                                      

Gabrielle Brumfield of Pendleton, Ind., UNMC, Omaha or Indiana University, Bloomington, Ind.        

Ta-Fu “Neil” Lin of Taichung, Taiwan, William Carey University of Osteopathic Medicine, Hattiesburg, Miss.

Nathan Maginnis of Grand Island, Neb., UNMC, Omaha              

Matthew Rohrer of Edgar, Neb., UNMC, Omaha              

Brittany Soukup of O’Neill, Neb., UNMC, Omaha              

Logan Spencer of O’Neill, Neb., UNMC, Omaha                     

Nursing                                                          

Marissa Brandl of Norfolk, Neb., UNMC West, Scottsbluff, Neb.

Ashley Goad of Pueblo, Colo., Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisc.

Miya Hamaker of Chadron, UNMC West, Scottsbluff, Neb.

Kaitlyn Haug of Chadron, UNMC West, Scottsbluff, Neb.                                                

Trey Thayer of Harrison, Neb., UNMC West, Scottsbluff, Neb.                                                        

Occupational Therapy

Delaney Baxa of Beatrice, Neb., Creighton University, Omaha

Laura Larsen of Kearney, Neb., University of South Dakota, Vermillion, S.D.

Michalyn Trimble of Platte City, Mo., Nebraska Methodist College, Omaha

Pharmacy

Quentin Baxter of Bridgeport, Neb., UNMC, Omaha

Jennifer Scherbarth of Hay Springs, Neb., UNMC, Omaha

Physical Therapy

Sophie Lopez of Valentine, Neb., UNMC, Omaha

Physician Assistant

Jessica Hartman of Imperial, Neb., UNMC, Kearney, Neb.

Shyanna Neu of Pueblo, Colo., Lake Erie College, Cleveland, Ohio

Katie Odvody of Wilber, Neb., UNMC, Omaha

Botany and Ecology

Lance Stasinski of Crawford, Neb., University of Maine, Orono, Maine