Students who have been members of PTK (Phi Theta Kappa) for the past year (inducted in 2002-03) include:

... Jessica Koberstein ...

Fort Morgan Times online.

For the second time since expanding its nursing program to include an Associate Degree Nursing Program, Northeastern Junior College in Sterling graduated another class of registered nurses.

A special graduation and pinning ceremony was held Dec. 11. The 17 candidates, now trained and eligible to sit for the state registered nurse board exam to become full-fledged RNs, celebrated their much deserved success with family and friends.

Students graduating included Christina Seiber of Wiggins; Stephanie Beam, Misty Cross, Terrillyn Cudd, Elizabeth Kuntz, Elisabeth Van Duren, Andrea Young, Nina Knoll and Amy Miller, all of Sterling; Willitte Cullen of Yuma; Jackie Edney and April Heaton of Wray; Samantha Sampson and Joella Friedly of Otis; Megan Hensley and Jessica Koberstein of Holyoke; and Jessica Skomp of Lamar, Neb.

Officers for this class included President Jessica Skomp, Vice President Andrea Young, Secretary Stephanie Beam, Treasurer Elizabeth Kuntz and Campus Activities Board Representative Joelle Friedly.

Julie Brower, director of the nursing program at NJC, opened the graduation ceremony by thanking the families and friends of the students for all the support they have given the nurses while they worked to get through a very difficult curriculum. Brower also thanked the many representatives in the audience from clinical facilities that provided sites for the students to do rotations. These sites include Cheyenne Regional MedCenter, Family Recess Program, Kids Ark Inc., McCook Community Hospital, Northeast Colorado Health Center, Sterling Correctional Facility and Sterling Regional MedCenter.

All students graduating had to complete every course with at least a 77 percent test score average; had written multiple papers and weekly care plans; had passed standardized tests in many courses with two points above the national average; trained at multiple clinical sites in Wyoming and Nebraska; and learned to adjust to multiple clinical instructions and different styles of teaching,

Several also received individual special awards.

Terrillyn Cudd of Sterling was presented with the Highest Academic Average Award by Jim Neblett representing the Rotary Club. Cudd graduated from NJC’s practical nursing program in 1989. She is married and has two boys. She maintained a 4.0 GPA throughout her latest nursing training. Before starting the licensed practical nursing to associate degree nursing program, Cudd worked as licensed practical nurse doing long-term care, working in physician offices and providing home care.

The Best Bedside Nurse Award was presented to Samantha Sampson of Otis by Karen Bargell, who was representing the Sterling Quota Club. This award is given to a graduate who has provided tender, competent care in the clinical setting. Sampson graduated from NJC’s practical nursing program in 2006 and works at Yuma Hospital. She was also selected by the Sterling Journal-Advocate survey as the “Best Nurse in Northeastern Colorado” in 2008. Sampson was nominated for the best bedside nurse award by her clinical instructors and selected by staff nurses at the clinical sites.