At 27, Becky Goldrick had no intentions of attending college.
Then, a friend told her about Western Nebraska Community College's nursing programs - a field of study
Goldrick had vaguely considered.
So, within two days, she quit her job and enrolled in classes at WNCC.
"Next to finding out that I was having my first child, those were probably the scariest
moments of my life," Goldrick said. "I have two children, one of them was less than
a year old, and I just quit one of our sources of income and decided to jump back
into school."
Later, Goldrick decided to surprise her younger sister, Megan Scheer, with her news.
"And I said, 'Well that's crazy, because I'm going back to school, too,'" Scheer said.
"I guess we decided to surprise each other."
Now, Goldrick and Scheer will earn degrees at WNCC's 87th Annual Commencement, which will be held 4 p.m. Saturday at Cougar Palace. WNCC will
confer 297 degrees or certificates at the ceremony. Additionally, WNCC will be hosting a GED graduation ceremony at 11 a.m. and a nurse pinning at
2 p.m. Both events will be held in the John N. Harms Center Plex.
"It's going to be an amazing feeling on Saturday," Scheer said. "I'm a super emotional
person anyway, but I couldn't be prouder of Becky and I'm pretty proud of myself,
too. I think it's just absolutely awesome that we both accomplished so much being
non-traditional students and moms and having jobs."
Scheer, who is 24 and a single mom of a 5 year old, and Goldrick who is 29 and married
with two children under 10, remember plenty of nerves when initially enrolling in
classes. However, the sisters from Scottsbluff point to TRIO Student Support Services
as an instrumental service in helping them gain confidence and feel welcomed. Specifically,
Goldrick credits the ongoing encouragement from TRIO advisers and frequent tutoring
opportunities for her success at WNCC, while the Single Parent Network (SPiN) helped
Scheer feel more at ease.
"I've met some great moms out there who are in the same situation as me and it really
does help you feel more comfortable going back," Scheer said. "Even though you're
not considered a traditional student, there are other people like you."
"The last two years have been very rewarding for us and I felt have brought us closer
as friends and sisters," Goldrick said.
Dr. Thomas RaShad Easley, who serves as the assistant dean for community and inclusion
at Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies will be delivering the commencement
address Saturday. In this role, he assists with enhancing diversity by promoting access
to education for all people, and developing scholarly and relevant programming around
workplace equity.
Following commencement, a reception will be held in Pioneer Hall with refreshments
and music.
A list of Saturday's graduate candidates is as follows:
Associate of Arts
Nebraska
Alliance - Adrianna G. Boyles, Leann Synthia Escamilla, Michael E. Gomez, Karlene M. Sloggett,
Mary Margaret Weingart
Elkhorn - Cole David Plendl
Gering - Michael Charles Gutherless, Amanda F. Kincaid, Jacey A. Marietta, Jheru D. Montanez,
Emily M. Radford, Elijah R. Robles, Gabriella Renee Rodriguez, Destinie Selena Savala,
Maric James Vorse, Jordan McKenzie Whisler
Harrisburg - Megan L. Mosby
Hemingford - Mikayla Randolph, Kelsey J. Towne
Hyannis - Austin J. Anthony
Lodgepole - Madison Reed
Mitchell - Brittani K. Binder, Bailey David Branson
Scottsbluff - Sophia Antonia Anaya, Selena A. Carabajal, Ashleigh N. Charron, Rebecca M. Delzer,
Jackson Lee Frank, Yesenia Galindo, Mireya R. Garcia, Isaiah Alejandro Gonzalez, Blake
R. Greckel, Lorenzo I. Lopez, Maxwell J. Mason, Delroy Sheavon Miller, Arthur Sheridan
Patton, Austin L. Rhamy, Rudi A. Salazar, Megan Christine Scheer, Derek Andrew Smith,
Tatum M. Strong, Venessa Marie Villarreal, Aretta Lyn Walker, Samantha JoAnn Wilhelm,
Travis J. Zeiler
Sidney - Henry C. Gutierrez, Jarod Z. Luptak, Vali McDaniel, Amy Michelle Neumann, Michael
J. Palmer, Melissa Rhae Shy, Tina L. Sifuentez, Delaney Uhrig
Wyoming
Sheridan - Jerimiah L. Marchington
Other States
FL, Zephyrhills - Rebecca A. Baer
IL, Evanston - Allysah A. Boothe
TN, Knoxville - Codi Judd
UT, Farmington - Reagan Margaret Solomon
UT, Hooper - Brianna M. George
WA, Ridgefield - Sarena Malia-Mae Bartley
International
Argentina, Misiones - Claudio Escudero
Brazil, Contagem - Alan Pinho Martins
Czech Republic, Prelouc - Martin Roub
Italy, Muggia - Martina Fontanot
Japan, Miyagi - Yuka Fujii
Niger, Niamey - Mainaram Moussa Abary
The Gambia, Banjul - Serign Faal Alieu
Turkmenistan, Ashgabat - Resul Rejepov
Associate of Science
Nebraska
Alliance - Madison M. Morgan, Lindsay Marie Swanson
Bayard - Kenzie R. Harimon
Bridgeport - John Sherwin Cataraja, Anna L. Dobrinski, Ivy G. Vasquez
Gering - Madison A. Bibb, Courtney A. Conn, Mariah C. Conn, Kelli M. Johnson, Whitney Nicole
Kleich, Ashlyn Ann Lang, Leah M. Martin, Kourtney R. Schanaman, Rebecca Svoboda
Gordon - Josefina Charlene Perez
Gurley - Brianna L. Sage
Harrison - Gerardo Gutierrez
Hay Springs - Brooklyn M. Morrill, Katrena F. Ryan
Lyman - Tiffany Gillett
Minatare - William L. Raney, Thomas B. Rose
Mitchell - Christopher Bryant Jenkins, Myranda Rae Musfelt, Aspen T. Wallace
Morrill - Malynn C. Bowlin, Kaitlin Howell, Kaitlyn E. Margheim, John R. McMackin, Hayley
Sandra Munday, Rachel Vogelsberg
Oshkosh - Emily J. Harms
Potter - Juliet L. Ball
Scottsbluff - Soledad S. Aguilar, Jalloul Azzouz, Michelle Becker, Haylee D. Ceplecha, Harlie
Jo Dreesen, Rebecca Goldrick, Shaun Christopher Grey-Wilson, Laura L. Heldenbrand,
Skylar Johnston, Andru J. Kuxhausen, Patricia A. Longoria, Kaldon James Meininger,
Marisa Rose Servido, Daniel J. Smith
Sidney - Judy Kay Anderson, Daneal Belinda Dickinson
Colorado
Arvada - Gabriela J. Loya, Hunter R. Parker
Bennett- Heidi Rayann Burnet
Brighton - Emily Houp, Matthew Lockwood
Brush - Arnoldo Maltos-Garcia
Castle Rock - Michaela Joan Kelly
Denver - Jervay H. Green, Makayla Marie Person
Fort Collins - Logan Belford
Granby - Brittany Ann Debevec
Hotchkiss - Kale A. Litzelman
Littleton - Devin John DeBoer
Parker - Zachary S. Berg, Emily Ann Revelle
Peyton - Brevin Tyler Owen
Wyoming
Afton - Samantha S. O'Leary
Laramie - Harrison O. Yates
Torrington - Jessica Wenzel
Other States
FL, Pompano Beach- Bryce A. Sanchious
HI, Kapolei - Kaile M. Tuisamatatele
KS, Manhattan - Paris Branaye Little Fawn Brown
International
Bosnia and Herzegovina, Vlasenica - Andrijana Reljic
Brazil, Belo Horizonte - Silvio Henrique Quirino Xavier
Canada, BC, Abbotsford - Emma Victoria McMillan
Ethiopia, Addis Ababa - Mekdelawit Tamirat
Ghana, Accra - Joseph Donkor Oboamah, Isaac Akwanyi Sam
Germany, Goettingen - Merle Wiehl
Niger, Niamey - Malissa Hamidou Abdoul Samad
Nigeria, Delta State - Oghenemaro Progress Aghoghovbia
Nigeria, Lagos - Adedayo Moses Adebanjo, Adeola Richard Salako
Peru, Lima - Ramses Aldair Atahualpa Cirilo
Russia, Ramenskoe - Kristina Shumkina
South Korea, Masan - Hueonggeun Bak
Taranaki, Opunake - Eva Sydney Langton
Associate of Applied Science
Nebraska
Alliance - Brettni M. Mills, Kristin Zeller
Bridgeport - Tippi R. Franklin
Curtis - Shelby M. Benson
Dix - Brad R. Brothers
Gering - Mariah S. Bauer, Brenda Harden, Matthew J. Leeling, Jennifer Sue Mills, Julia Roy
Kearney - Stephanie A. Miller
Kimball - Virgil C. Staab
Minatare - Abigail Alexai Maree Biltjinitis, Juan F. Garfio
Ogallala - Kolby Gardner
Potter - Cortney L. Lewis
Scottsbluff - Eric Nethanial Dorn, Myela M. Garcia, Brittany K. Grumbles, Priscilla Hernandez
Aguilera, Kristy D. Kreman, Lacy Osborn, Amy N. Ramos, Sidnie M. Stabnow
Sidney - Katie Scarlet McCay Broyles, Kelli A. Hawkins, Sheree N. Stewart, Stacy Lynn Thomas
Colorado
Conifer - John Andrew Betsch
Wyoming
Cheyenne - Holly Bracht
Pine Bluffs - Shannon Raena Weller
Other States
AZ, Tucson - Jennifer Figueroa
International
Associate of Occupational Studies
Nebraska
Alliance - Tyler R. Trout
Gering - Anthony S. Brathwaite
Scottsbluff - Caleb M. Schank
Colorado
Genoa - Ty Withington
International
Benin, Cotonou - Serge Atadika
South Korea, Gyeonggi-do - Yunwon Kwon, Youngjin Park
South Korea, Seoul - Sanghoon Cho, Eungbaek Kim, Gunwoo Lee
Associate Degree Nursing
Nebraska
Alliance - Samantha J. Andreasen, Yadira Lizett Garza
Bayard - Kristen L. Schultz
Crawford - Candace L. Staman
Gering - Jamie Lee Asselin, Veronica Diane Castaneda, Rikki L. Harden, Rebecca J. Zitterkopf
Grant - Michayla Prante
Lodgepole - Amanda K. Sorenson, Tonya Y. Strey
Scottsbluff - Chukwudi Anoliefo, Stefanie Fritsche, Kassidy K. Jenkins, Mariah Johns, Elizabeth
K. P. Lund, Hope L. Mills, America Parra Palos, Sandra L. Schwartz, Talia D. Strodtman,
Tiarra Torres
Weeping Water - Kathleen M. Mainelli
Whitney - Casey Shaw
Wyoming
Torrington - Courtney R. Schwartzkopf, Tonya M. Steely
Other States
CA, Victorville - Nicholle Dawn McMurtry
Certificates
Nebraska
Alliance - Gavin Voigt
Bridgeport - Brandon Walczyk
Broken Bow - Karson Russell
Chappell - Weston Lee Tagtmeyer
Crawford - Jeremy T. Eberspecher
Gurley - Jacob L. Frerichs
Harrisburg - Simon Hendricks
Lakeside - Tyler K. Bowswer
Lexington - Bryan Mejia-Garcia
Lincoln - Alexander Plourd-Barnhardt
Lisco - Riley Moore
Scottsbluff - Adam Von Lintel
Sidney - Kordell C. Maestas
Wilber - Jacob Hefner
Colorado
Fort Morgan - Trever Forbes, Garrett Melton
Otis - Jacob Williams
Yuma - Saul Castillo
South Dakota
Rapid City - Tanner Speidel
Wyoming
Cheyenne - Cody Hawkins
Riverton - Calon Cuttlers
International
Philippines, Manila - Woo Bin Bae
South Korea, Incheon - Gyerye Han, Yechan Ma
South Korea, Seoul - Minseok Jun, Hankil Kim
Diplomas
Nebraska
Alliance - Nicole J. Dunovsky, Kassandra Danielle Gomez, Arianna Hatterman, Thalia Dawn Hinojosa,
Keriann K. Jensen, Alicia King, Carl L. Kohler, Quinton M. Walker
Bridgeport - Angelica Maria Barker
Chadron - Kinsie Hanson, Austin Lang, Chit Oo, Kirsten K. Robinson
Chappell - Jacquelynn Kimbrough, Zayne Snell
Crawford - Trevor Nelson
Gering - Brooke A. Johnson, Samantha Michelle Lucio, Heather M. Marez, Brenna D. Tallmon
Morrill - Elva Lutz
Oshkosh - Cody Pineda
Scottsbluff - April M. Aguilar, Eric X. Durbin, Terrista Klemm, Casey D. Long, Rita A. Salazar,
Evelyn Tennant
Sidney - Cassidy N. Buckius, Kalyee S. Deal, Katlynne E. Goscha, Morgan Marie Nimmo, Jaclyn
Nolde, Jena J. Roche, Dalton Schilz, Tara R. Schnell, Robert L. Stark, Jamison S.
Tvrs
Colorado
Akron - Leif Anderson
Denver - Ricardo Fernandez
Peetz - Victoria J. Bullock
Sedgwick - Gage Kincaid Koenen
Wyoming
Casper - Hernizar Czerniak
Cheyenne - Pamela Rahl-Bylow
Douglas - Connor Patrick Bila
Torrington - Brody Leonhardt
Other States
TX, Beaumont - Mina D. Perkins