Latta named Student of the Month

Latta is a junior majoring in human biology.

“I have always wanted to be a pediatrician as there are not many here in rural Nebraska. I ended up shadowing a physician’s assistant during an internship and I loved watching her work. She had such a great connection with her patients, and I loved the different aspects that her job required. She definitely steered me towards the PA path,” Latta said.

Latta has participated in Project Strive since Fall 2022 and is a member of other organizations on campus.

Project Strive Director Jen Schaer said she is excited to see what Latta’s future holds.

“Happy, hardworking, and focused are just some of the ways I would describe Chesney. No matter what kind of day she is having, she always has a smile on her face when she walks into the Strive offices. Chesney has helped so many new Project Strive students and has made them feel welcome into the program,” Shaer said.

Latta is involved in Health Professions Club (HPC), Xi Delta Zeta, teaches Zumba classes in the Nelson Physical Activity Center twice a week, and is a student worker in Memorial Hall.

She enjoys being a part of the different HPC outreach projects including blood drives, trips to other colleges, and sponsoring seminars on campus about first aid and wildlife medicine.

As the officer of philanthropy for Xi Delta Zeta, Latta enjoys being involved and helping wherever she can. The sorority is partnering with Make-A-Wish Nebraska to raise money for children with severe illnesses. It plans to fundraise by setting up donation jars around Chadron and selling stars at CSC basketball games.

Office Assistant Valarie Graf believes Latta deserves this award.

“Chesney is an awesome addition to the Memorial Hall student worker’s group. Her stellar work ethic, attention to detail, job efficiency, and forward-thinking is a testimony to her dedicated pursuit of a career in health care. Her bright, cheerful personality has been the absolute best thing she has brought to us all here at Memorial Hall,” Graf said.

Latta enjoys teaching Zumba classes even though the class sizes are small.

“It is a lot of fun no matter who shows up or what songs we dance to,” Latta said.

Latta has received academic recognition during her time at CSC. She has made multiple appearances on both the President’s and Dean’s lists and was a recipient of a Rural Health Opportunities Program (RHOP) scholarship in medicine which drew her to the institution.

During her time at CSC, Latta has enjoyed taking art classes by Trudy Denham.

“Chesney is an excellent student who brings a positive mindset and a willingness to help in and out of the classroom. Her contributions to class discussions are thoughtful and engaging. Her ceramic projects were creative and completed with care. It has been a privilege to work with Chesney at CSC,” Denham said.

In her free time, Latta enjoys dancing, reading, playing with her cat, walking her dog, and spending time with her fiancé.

After Latta graduates in May 2026, she plans to attend physician's assistant graduate school. She is considering the University of South Dakota in Vermillion, Wichita State University, the University of Nebraska Medical Center, and Northeastern State University.

Chadron State College’s Project Strive/TRiO program, located in the lower level of the King Library, is an academic enrichment program committed to helping students succeed. Project Strive also focuses on career exploration, cultural and social enrichment, and self-awareness. To be eligible for the program, a student must be one of the following: A first-generation student where neither parent has a four-year degree, meet low-income status based on U.S. Department of Health and Human Services criteria, or have a documented disability. For more information, visit https://www.csc.edu/projectstrive/.