University of Wyoming
1000 E. University Ave.
Laramie, WY 82071
Phone: (307)-766-1121
Pictured top row, left-right:
Emily Albury, Tija Allen, Samantha Baker, Jerry Hamann.
Pictured middle row, left-right:
Lauren Hamilton, Kathryn Haugen, Marc Hayden, Roland Maldonado.
Pictured bottom row, left-right:
Matt Moran, Lily Myers, Kelli Schueler, Kristin Wilkes.
University of Wyoming Nursing Students Recognized at Convocation 2021 Virtual Ceremony
Congratulations to the 12 students pictured above, who were honored in the virtual 2021 Nursing Convocation Ceremony production on Friday, May 14.
Speaker
One Doctor of Nursing Practice candidates was chosen to speak to the 2021 graduates due to her leadership throughout her tenure in her nursing programs: Lauren Hamilton, Family Nurse Practitioner DNP Candidate
Hamilton's speech is included in the virtual ceremony video at https://www.uwyo.edu/nursing/graduation/index.html
Awardees
Students receiving awards who are graduating from the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Program: Lauren Hamilton, Samantha Baker, Roland Maldonado, and Kristin Wilkes; from RN-BSN Completion, Marc Hayden; from the on-campus Basic BSN: Tija Allen, Emily Albury, Jerry Hamann, Kathryn Haugen, Matt Moran, Lily Myers, and Kelli Schueler.
Please scroll down for descriptions of each individual's award...
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05/14/2021
Emily Albury [Basic BSN] has demonstrated academic excellence and shown great interest/aptitude for family nursing. She has shown excellence in the classroom, simulation, and clinical settings. She has shown caring and compassion in all clinical experiences, and her favorite areas are maternal/child and pediatrics. When she jumped into OB clinical experiences, her passion and interest were evident. An interest in maternal/child nursing drew her to a Labor & Delivery or Mother/Baby unit placement for her capstone. Although she spends most of her time in pediatrics, she enjoys working with her patients and families. She shows caring, compassion, and empathy when working with patients and families, and she strives to provide a safe and positive environment for patients while they are hospitalized. Emily has been a pleasure to have as a Basic BSN student. She has a positive attitude and has shown resilience and flexibility during the many changes and challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Congratulations Emily!
Tija Allen [Basic BSN] is an exceptional student. She has done a wonderful job in clinical sites, including the community setting. She has a great understanding of caring for patients during inpatient experiences, as well as home visits, outreach efforts, immunization clinics, and care for a variety of public health clients. She is able to see the big picture of population health, and apply concepts of social justice. She understands the mission of helping people in need, and provides care with dignity for the patient. In her care for individuals, families and groups, her caring and compassion stands out. Congratulations, Tija!
UW Nursing Faculty recognized Samantha Baker and Lauren Hamilton early in their DNP program for their maturity and natural leadership abilities. They are both incredibly kind, intelligent, well-spoken, well-written, humorous, and resilient. They both have a genuine interest in others, including their classmates, future DNP students, and the School of Nursing, and they both exhibited servant leadership at its finest. The faculty called upon these two students numerous times to help with various tasks and projects throughout their time in the program, and they never failed to help or to go above and beyond. Congratulations to both Samantha and Lauren for so richly deserving this leadership award.
As a leader, Jerry Hamann [Basic BSN] has been able to exercise organizational, motivational, and people skills effectively and consistently throughout the nursing program with trusting relationships being the outcome of his endeavors. Jerry has consistently exhibited leadership and responsibility through organizing communications for his cohort, presenting himself professionally during faculty interactions, and helping his team remain responsible professionals during all encounters. He has invested his time by taking struggling peers under his wing and helping them to progress through semesters until they could become more independent. His peer guidance has helped many to reach semester and program goals by aiding them in overcoming barriers along the way. Congratulations, Jerry!
UW Nursing Faculty recognized Samantha Baker and Lauren Hamilton early in their DNP program for their maturity and natural leadership abilities. They are both incredibly kind, intelligent, well-spoken, well-written, humorous, and resilient. They both have a genuine interest in others, including their classmates, future DNP students, and the School of Nursing, and they both exhibited servant leadership at its finest. The faculty called upon these two students numerous times to help with various tasks and projects throughout their time in the program, and they never failed to help or to go above and beyond. Congratulations to both Samantha and Lauren for so richly deserving this leadership award.
Kathryn Haugen [Basic BSN] has exemplified the School of Nursing Spirit award since her admission into the nursing program. Her enthusiasm for nursing is readily apparent and has been an impetus in her application and acceptance into the Veterans Health Administration’s VALOR program, a yearlong nursing externship. This enthusiasm continues unabated since Katie became first a clinical student, then the VALOR extern at the Cheyenne VA Medical Center. Katie’s enthusiasm will help drive her nursing career forward, and we look forward to seeing what the future holds for her. Congratulations Katie!
Marc Hayden [BSNC] is a Psychiatric Nurse whose practice focuses on at-risk youth. He has provided community service through the YMCA, Boys and Girls Clubs, and the Casper Boxing Club and as an academic tutor for at-risk youth. His professional service includes seven years of mental health work as a technician and Registered Nurse at Wyoming Behavioral Institute in Casper, Wyoming. Marc is currently serving a contract assignment in San Diego, California. Congratulations, Marc!
Roland Maldonado [DNP-PMHNP] has been a self-driven learner who has demonstrated willingness to go above and beyond expectations in order to maximize his learning. His work is detailed and thoughtful. Outside of the classroom, he is a seasoned and skilled clinician; and yet he remains humble and relatable to the clients he works with. Instructors, preceptors, and patients consistently remark on his natural skill and ease with which he interacts with patients. He is open and nonjudgmental in his care for others. He has a clear passion to foster clinical excellence for clients living in rural Wyoming, and we look forward to watching the impact he will most definitely have in his community and beyond. Congratulations, Rolly!
Matthew Moran [Basic BSN] has cared for many older patients throughout his clinical time in the program. Without fail, he has received multiple compliments from patients and families regarding his thoughtful and caring approach in addressing the plan of care for all patients. As part of this process, Matt not only considers the bio-psychosocial and spiritual domains of the human experience, but also how all life experiences impact the needs and management for older patients. In applying this approach, Matt has been instrumental in positively impacting his patients during their current illness and optimizing patient outcomes. Congratulations Matt!
Lily Myers [Basic BSN] has been a great role model of responsibility and leadership. She has taken an active role in the COVID testing and vaccination efforts in Laramie through her employment at IMH. Her demonstration of responsibility and accountability is clear in her work. She is a wonderful student, who shows caring and compassion in her clinical experiences. Lily has been a wonderful leader in the classroom and clinical settings, and is a role model for integrity and inclusion. Congratulations, Lily!
Kelli Schueler [Basic BSN] was a wonderful student to have in clinical. In the beginning, she was a little timid and unsure, but she overcame that quickly. Kelli was always thinking of her patients first and how they were doing and how she could make them feel better. As she began to feel more comfortable on the unit, she would answer call lights and help the staff and patients. She has a quiet, caring spirit that began to shine through the more time she spent in the clinical setting. She always thought of her patients first and how she could help them. Her nominator stated, “To me, that is the heart of nursing, and Kelli shows that in every aspect of her nursing care. She was able to communicate her patients’ needs to the nurses and followed through on those needs. I am excited to see how far Kelli goes in nursing, I am sure it will be all the way. She has a kind, caring spirit that embodies nursing. She also communicates with clarity and caring, which will benefit her and her future patients. It was a pleasure to be a part of her education." Congratulations Kelli!
Kristin Wilkes [DNP-FNP] has lived and worked with rural populations for most of her life. She has experience in home health, public health, long-term care, and school nursing. She is already well-grounded in what it means to be a trusted part of the community well-being. She has demonstrated her commitment to rural primary care, completing clinical rotations in Douglas, Newcastle, Torrington, and Guernsey. Kristin has a unique perspective regarding what it means to be a rural care provider, having worked in rural areas. We suspect it is in her DNA to be a rural care provider, having been raised by one of the most respected public health nurses in rural Wyoming. She knows the distinct challenges in bringing care to rural and frontier communities. Her strong work ethic, gentle soul and past experiences in these communities will serve well as she moves on to practice.
University of Wyoming
1000 E. University Ave.
Laramie, WY 82071
Phone: (307)-766-1121
