RHOP selections announced

Director of Health Professions Kristal Kuhnel said it is always a pleasure to host the prospective students and their family members on campus for the interview process.

“With a lot of cooperation among the University of Nebraska Medical Center, the CSC science faculty, current RHOP students, and the student interviewees, it was a successful round of interviews. We’re very excited about the high-quality students we are bringing to CSC this fall,” Kuhnel said.

Students selected as participants in RHOP receive a full-tuition scholarship to CSC. Students who successfully complete their pre-professional education at CSC advance directly to UNMC.

Founded in 1989, RHOP is a collaborative program between Chadron State College and the University of Nebraska Medical Center. After earning their professional degrees, RHOP participants are expected and encouraged to return to rural Nebraska to provide health care.

Kuhnel said Occupational Therapy was approved as an addition to CSC’s RHOP offerings in November. Due to the late timing, a special, one-time window for applications will be open Feb. 1 to March 15, 2022, for any eligible Nebraska high school interested in applying for the two positions at CSC.

Students chosen for RHOP at CSC include the following.

Dental Hygiene: Ashlynn Throener of Dodge.

Dentistry: Paige Anthony of Maxwell, Taya Berry of Lexington, Sierra Hicks of Paxton, Harley Kuenning of North Platte, and Dylan Thom of Ayr.

Medicine: Charles Barlow of O'Neill, Lorien DeMasters of Sidney, Elleigh Fisher of North Platte, John Fortner of Sidney, Sean Graff of Gothenburg, Kailey Klein of Harrison, Chesney Latta of Trenton, Dawson Ohrt of Henderson, and Grace Reiter of Bellwood.

Medical Laboratory Science: Karalyn Stevens of Sidney.

Nursing: Courtney Brink of Wayne, Alexandria Coffman of Ogallala, Natalie Keenan-Vergil of Bridgeport, Madison Mashek of Sidney, Kenna McCaslin of Broken Bow, Katelyn Ott of Morrill, Taigen Ruff of Sutherland, and Lacie Vach of Sidney.

Physician’s Assistant: Ashleigh Hills of York, and Brenner McLaughlin of Hebron.

Pharmacy: Aaron Price of Scottsbluff.

Physical Therapy: Christina Lillenas of Auburn, Paige Pritchard of Sidney, and Nicki Walla of Wahoo.

Radiography: McKenzie Andrew of Sidney, and Kaitlyn Taylor of Sidney.