Last Updated on May 8, 2018 by cassnetwork
KOKOMO, Ind. — Indiana University Kokomo saluted nearly 150 members of the Class of 2018 in the fields of nursing, allied health sciences and education.
Faculty honored 86 graduates in the School of Nursing, 19 in the Division of Allied Health Sciences, and 37 in the School of Education, at the schools’ annual recognition ceremonies.
Leah Nellis, dean of the School of Education, said the faculty and staff are “beyond proud” of the graduates, and honored to have aided in their development as teachers.
“Recognize and celebrate how far you have come. You have reached both an ending and a beginning,” she said. “You have chosen a critical profession. Without teachers, there are no other professions. This phrase captures the critical nature of the work we do to mentor, inspire, and lead children and youth towards happy and fulfilling lives.”
“It’s just something you’ve been hoping for forever to happen, and it’s finally here,” said Meikayla Miller, Frankfort. “Seventeen years of school, and we’re going to be teachers forever, always in school.”
Division of Allied Health Sciences
Christine Rassel, clinical assistant professor, encouraged graduates to take a moment to reflect on their accomplishments, as they enter the health care field.
“Now, as you embark on your professional journey, may you continue to be inspired, passionate, and dedicated to our profession, and to your patients,” she said. “Know the faculty and staff from allied health sciences at IU Kokomo are proud and look forward to hearing of your accomplishments. It is with great honor we call you our professional peers.”
Mindy Puckett looks forward to using her skills as she’s completed her associate degree. She will return for her B.S., focused on ultrasound, this fall.
“I’m super excited to be able to move on and work in my field,” she said.
School of Nursing
Amanda Leffler, assistant professor of nursing, shared “Leffler Life Lessons” with the graduates, with advice that included “doing the right thing all the time leaves no regrets,” “excellence is non-negotiable,” and “the key to success lies within you.”
“I encourage you to find your people, to walk with the dreamers, the believers, the courageous, and the cheerful, and walk with the forward thinkers, the successful people with their heads in the clouds, and their feet firmly on the ground,” she said.
Austin Keen, Wabash, said graduating is the culmination of a lot of hard work and effort.
“It’s a dream come true, to be able to serve other people, and help them become better, both physically and mentally,” he said. Keen hopes to work as a nurse in orthopedics or mental health care.
Students honored included:
School of Education
Bachelor of Science in Education
Brookston: Laura Blume
Delphi: Summer Sutton
Flora: Bailey Worl
Frankfort: Emily Impson, Meikayla Richelle Miller
Greentown: Christopher Johnson
Kempton: Tyler Wyrick
Kokomo: Elizabeth Barber, Kelley Cottingham, Karah Glass, Alyssa Hawkins, Chrystal Hinshaw, Cailyn Kessler, Kelcey Lucas, Caty Murphy, Logan Seidel, Rebekah Thomas, Brooke Runyon, Courtney Wilson
Lafayette: Paige Heeb
Lebanon: Thor Turner
Logansport: Jessica Brazzle, Mariah Hood
Macy: Bailey Briggs
Marion: Sarah Sharp
Monticello: Tiffany Black
Noblesville: Trent Welbaum
Peru: Madisyn Gray, Brittany Parkman, Brianne Poor
Royal Center: Brooke Harmon
Russiaville: Hannah Rushing
Sharpsville: Drew Godby
Tipton: Lela Crawford
Wabash: Heather Amos
Westfield: Elyse Clark, Jonathan Rogers
Division of Allied Health Sciences
Bachelor of Science in Medical Imaging Technology:
Delphi: Lindsay Nelson
Fishers: Courtney Hamilton
Knightstown: Ciara Dellinger
Kokomo: Abby Berghoff, Amber Graves
Macy: Damon Hoffman
Noblesville: Keri Gascho, Taylor Hicks
Peru: Delaney Pitts Abigail Stuber, Thomas White
Roann: Tori Quillen
Winamac: Stephanie Shorter
Associate of Science in Radiography
Hagerstown: Melinda Puckett
Michigantown: Courtney Cole, Chelsea Fields
Russiaville: Ashley Hawkins
Twelve Mile: Meggan Adcock
Westfield: Kristen Shoemaker
School of Nursing:
R.N. to B.S.N.
Amboy: Dustin Heath, Julie Heath
Anderson: Nicholas Stohler
Arcadia: Gail Poe
Burlington: Angela Scott
Burnettsville: Natasha Benedict
Delphi: Cynthia Bruce, Diana Jargstorf
Forest: Rachael McDaniel
Francesville: Olivia Huber
Kokomo: Rachel Irwin, Allison Jarvis, Alexis Lawhead, Tori McAninch, Alisha Perryman, Alena Richard, Anne Schneider, Tamara Shaw,
Lafayette: Natalie Sims
Logansport: Brook Crist, Nicole Heckard, Laura Hipsher, Alicia Justice, Cheryl Shively
Macy: Amy Blakely
Marion: Bryan James, Heather McElhaney, Christal Moneer
Muncie: Ashley Patton
Peru: Jocelyn Azbell, Sheila Briner, Hoplen Starkey
Rochester: Taylor Dobbins, Andrea McIntire
Sharpsville: Tasha Cohee
Wabash: Lyndsay Purdy
Walton: Michelle Skinner
West Lafayette: Ashley O’Shields
Whitestown: Phoebie Dubreus
Winamac: Erin Bonnell, Angie Fox
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Alexandria: Heath Davidson
Amboy: Marissa Oldfather
Andrews: Sidney Reed
Bringhurst: Bailey Maxwell
Carmel: Jacquelyn Davis, Colin Davenport,
Crawfordsville: Shelby Delp
Delphi: Morgan Baxter, Whitley Lehr, Rachel Thompson
Forest: Tabitha Hall
Frankfort: Maricruz Garcia
Gas City: Dylan Bryant
Indianapolis: Amanda Hudson
Jonesboro: Debora Zehner
Kokomo: Jessica Green, Whittni Hayes, Katherine Lindley, Caitlyn Perkins, Hannah Smith, Meredith Steward, Michaela Walters, Stephanie Williamson, Brendan Windt
Logansport: Morgan Kline, Kaitlin Wickersham
Marion: Katee Pierce, Alyssa Woodbridge
McCordsville: Erin Wetzold
Miami: Nancy Dawson
Michigantown: Clarissa Wessel
Monticello: Tomi Simms, Brynn Tyner
Muncie: Ashleigh Smith
Noblesville: Shelby Farmer, Angela Henz, Alexa Middlesworth
Parker City: Lindi Thomas
Peru: Brandi Lowe, Kayla Meeks
Russiaville: Rachel Coombs
Wabash: Austin Keen
Zionsville: Katherine Johnson
Master of Science in Nursing:
Logansport: Michele Ream
Walton: Kelly Moor
SOURCE: News release from Indiana University Kokomo which serves north central Indiana.