SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb. - Morrill High School seniors Dylan Cecil and Madyson Lees will attend more than one
graduation ceremony this spring. This Saturday, May 8, the pair will walk across the
stage at Western Nebraska Community College’s 2021 commencement ceremony to receive
their associate degrees, exactly one week before they receive their high school diplomas.
Cecil and Lees are the first students from Morrill High School to graduate from WNCC
using the CollegeNOW! program, that allows high school juniors and seniors the opportunity
to earn college credit while still in high school. WNCC has partnerships with more
than 20 high schools in the Panhandle. Students can take classes within their high
schools, online, or on on of WNCC’s three campuses.
Both students wanted to take the dual credit classes to challenge themselves and get a headstart on their post-secondary educations.
“I began taking dual credit classes with WNCC to challenge myself and explore interests outside of what my high school has to offer,” Lees said.
Lees will receive an Associate of Arts while Cecil has earned his Associate of Science degree. Cecil said that the instructors at WNCC kept the classes fun and interesting.
“In my personal experience, taking classes at WNCC was very enjoyable,” he said. “My instructors provided so much information that kept me engaged throughout the semesters.”
Lees said that graduating from college before high school was a big goal to accomplish.
“Getting to this point was certainly difficult, but it is really starting to pay off,” she said. “Staying dedicated and motivated would not have been possible without all of my instructors, high school faculty, friends, and family who were there to cheer me on when things got tough. This goal is something that has seemed out of reach for the past two years, it is unbelievable that this moment is actually here.”
Cecil said that by taking classes through WNCC, he has an extreme advantage over other students his age and would recommend any high school student to enroll in the CollegeNOW! program.
“I would highly recommend my fellow high school students to take dual credit classes,” Cecil said. “In doing so has given me an extreme advantage in placing me two years ahead of students my age. This opportunity has also allowed me to grow and mature into a more competitive student, better preparing me for higher level academics and my future career.”
Both Cecil and Lees are planning to transfer to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln next fall. Cecil hopes to become a registered nurse on his way to becoming a nurse practitioner. Lees will continue her studies in psychology with the goal of becoming a psychiatrist or a nurse practitioner. Both students also plan to work as certified nursing assistants while attending UNL and receive their phlebotomy certifications.
Cecil and Lees are among the 291 students who will be receiving a degree, certificate, or diploma at WNCC’s commencement ceremony. The ceremony will begin at 10 a.m., in the Judy Chaloupka Theater. The general public will be seated in Cougar Palace, where the ceremony will be livestreamed. WNCC encourages patrons to arrive early, as the capacity of Cougar Palace has been limited to 1,000 patrons due to COVID-19.
In addition, the WNCC Nurse Pinning Ceremony will begin at 1 p.m. in the Judy Chaloupka Theater. Graduates are able to bring five guests to the Nurse Pinning Ceremony. As a reminder, WNCC requires all visitors to wear a facial covering while on campus.
A list of the graduate candidates is as follows:
Associate of Arts
Colorado
Aurora - Perla Guzman;
Highlands Ranch - Mitchell A. Mullen
Joes - Sydnee Roth
Peets - Gwendolyn Renee Buss;
Thornton - Mackenzie Bakel;
Nebraska
Alliance - Alivia K. Carlson; Carl L. Kohler;
Ashby - Haleigh J. White
Bayard - Alexander Ryan Araujo; Elisabeth Brown; Wyatt Fiscus; Colin E. Hendrickson; Avery Madelynn Kildow;
Bridgeport - Bethia Gwen Hamilton; Kaeli M. Vergil-McVicker
Cody - Jared Tolliver
Gering - Morgan E. Baird; Dena Chalupa; Marley E. Garcia; Heidi Jackson; Lydia A. Olson-Jones; Valerie A. Vanwinkle
Gordon - Casey Eitler;
Minatare - Rick Miller; Maddison S. Schlosser
Mitchell - Megan Chrisman; Anabelle R. Gillen; Madyson Nicole Lees; Diamon Arianna Palomo;
Morrill - Michelle Lara; Sheldon P. Le; Jessica M. Reid; Megan L. Sinks; Jacob M. Strecker;
Oshkosh - Morgan L. Smith
Scottsbluff - Gabriela K. Aguilar; Brandon Ball; McKeigh Bianco; Stephanie R. Bianco; Heather Brannan; Meghan Leigh Calvert; Jovana Cardiel Ramirez; Jerry Escamilla; David R. Gurney; Michelle Marie Guzman; Jason Hiegel; Richard A. Klemm; Aurora Christa Linz; Amanda Peister; Danielle Celeste Pinet; Vincent M. Quijas; Donovan Michael Reese; Nathan P. Sanchez; Lizbeth Smith; Jennifer M. Wimmer
Sidney - Arik Doty; Ashley Pettit; Devon R. Shelor; Devany R. Turner, Lacy J. Wright
Other States
La Habra, California - Kaylee Burns
Jersey City, New Jersey - Arthur James Camaya
Atlanta, Georgia - Karon Ford
Kailua, Hawaii - Anuhea Kaohi
Columbia, Maryland - Jonathan J. Munshaw
Las Vegas, Nevada - Kalli Quicke
Houston, Texas - Matthew Womack
International
Meridan Plains, Australia - Madeline Campbell
Banjul, Gambia - Fanding Ceesay
Leandro N Alem, Argentina - Claudio Sebastian Escudero
Brasilia, Brazil - Laura Lima Ferrao
Osaka, Japan - Rei Kimura
Zrenjanin, Serbia - Marko Rajanovic
Associate of Fine Arts
Colorado
Aurora - Stephanie Rae Wieand
Highlands Ranch – Mark W. Babineau
Nebraska
Grand Island - Lemuel A Grady IV
Palmer - Betsy Jane Eckstrom
Wyoming
Cody – Garret Winkler
Associate of Applied Science
Nebraska
Alliance – Cynthia Jane Brandon; Elijah A. Budd; Chelsey R. Heredia; Chandler Stinson
Bayard – Adam Scot Ouderkirk; Alan Scot Ouderkirk; Tanner Rafferty
Bridgeport – Levi William Hamilton; Betsy Mitchell; Monica Torres
Crawford – Amanda J. Kissell
Gering – Brodie C. Fritton; Alyssa Greeley; Adam Hemphill; Thomas J. Schildt
Hastings – Josiah A. Bronson
Minden – Patrick M. Rose
Mitchell – Chloe L. Liebsock; Leigh Sauter
Morrill – Benseslado Cantu;
Ogallala – Truman Wilson
Omaha – Alexandrea B. Bryant
O’Neill – Cindy Nelson
Oshkosh – Connor McCord
Potter – Ken Ries
Scottsbluff – Nancy A. Clinton; Gideon Fink; Kasandra L. Gray; Destiny Adelia Lerma; Alvera Razo Linz; Julia Bernadette Lopez; Vitoria Quezada; John T. Spehar; Monica Zamarripa
Sidney – Ethan Mientka
Wyoming
Burlington – Rae N. Cook
Wheatland – Crystal P. Anderson
Other States
Westfield, Indiana – Mackensey N. Armour
Mililani, Hawaii – Noah Chun
Windsor, Colorado – Jo Duncan
Elkins Park, Pennsylvania – Zenaida E. Gonzalez
Birmingham, Alabama – Joshua Michael Gothard
International
Seoul, Republic of Korea – Yemin An
Xi’an, China – Zhaoxin Chen
Associate of Science
Nebraska
Alliance – Yenisey Yadira Heredia; Madison A. Hiemstra;
Big Springs – Trinity D. Wolford
Bridgeport – Awnathon A. McGrath; Elizabeth Rojas;
Chadron – William Tidyman
Chappell – Tabetha J. Hayes;
Gering – Evelyn Nicole Anderson-Saenz; Sheridan Cristann Blanco; Carlee D. Brester; Nate Harold Fahrenbrook; Zoee Knaub; Sarah Ann Lang; Emma Rose Leggott; Olivia Leigh Schaub; Brittney Spreier; Kade T. Thunderbull
Hebron – Ashley M. Grassia;
Henry – Peyton R. Gibson;
Kimball – Michael L. Steele
Minatare – Lexia Y. Aragon; Brianna Jones; Jacqueline Martinez; Briana R. Regester
Mitchell – Peyton Noel Beaver; Ronald C. Sisson
Morrill – Malynn Charlotte Bowlin; Dylan Jacob Cecil;
Rushville – Carson J. Hinn; Gracey Ann Perez; Dylan Schwarting;
Scottsbluff – Anna M. Adams-Hrasky; Harold Baez; Jensen Leigh Bedlan; Karen Sofia Codero Barr; Alexie Cushing; Shanti Nicole Henry; Adeline Hobbs; Jariatou Jallow; Megan Christine Jolliffe; Conner Ryan McCracken; Jonis C. Phifer; Kaiden N. Reinmuth; Trenton J. Richter; Anna Von Seggern
Sidney – Jennifer Kae Gorman; Natasha Haupt;
Other States
Miami, Florida – Luis Alcantara
Cheboygan, Michigan – Matthew M. Brooks
Katz, Texas – Caleb Michael Coats
Charleston, South Carolina – William E. Forbes Jr.
Scottsdale, Arizona – Nira A. J. Henderson
El Paso, Texas – Alexandra Hernandez
Minneapolis, Minnesota – Tayler E. Johnson
Broomfield, Colorado– Ashley Panem
Denver, Colorado – Ashley J. Ruiz-Zuniga
Bangor, Maine – Joshua P. Stasi
Norton, Kansas – David Todd Traylor
Lebanon, Oregon – Juliana P. Von Ruden
International
Hitachi, Japan – Mariko Ishida
Banjul, Gambia – Jariatou S. Jallow
Kinasha, Democratic Republic of the Congo – Margueritte Khonde Masiala
Montevideo, Uruguay – Maria Noel Negreira Paladino
Lagos, Nigeria – Chisom Ogboh
Kincardine, Canada – William Robert Potter
Manila, Philippines – Paula Tactacan
Sofia, Bulgaria – Andrea Tsvetanova
Associate of Occupational Studies
Nebraska
Scottsbluff – Miguel Torres
Associate Degree of Nursing
Nebraska
Alliance – Hannah Bailey; Tirah L. Cox; Tosha Postell;
Bayard – Lauren L. Gartrell; Victoria G. Huff;
Bridgeport – Gretchen A. Hubert; Branden J. Mitchell; Norma Rojas
Gering – Courtney Murillo
Hay Springs – Natasha L. Scherz
Lodgepole – Megan Jeppson
Mitchell – Teresa Coley; Kayla M. Fritzler
Scottsbluff – Makayla R. Comings; Tanisha L. Garcia; Whitney A. Kuxhausen; Amanda L. Munoz; Maggie Prelle; Rita A. Salazar; Rebecca Joe Torres
Sidney – Heidi Nienhueser; Brittany Noel; Jamison Tvrs
Certificates
Colorado
Ault – Elliott Friesen
Brush – Trent Mount
Holyoke – Remington Hielscher
Fort Collins – Marcus Lang
Stratton – Eltan Yarger
Nebraska
Alliance – Matthew Escamilla; Andrew Hanzez; Kristina D. Sanders; Felix Vasquez
Bridgeport – Wesley Christensen; Logan Conley;
Crawford – Dennis Korey Vogl
Gering – Eluid Aguilar; Oscar Rios Cruz; Shawn Fulk; David Hernandez; James M. Klemp; Roberto Martinez; Ruben Perez; Rayce Walsh
Lewellen – Terry Sickler
Minatare – Ceasar Garduno; Dalton Propp
Mitchell – Dale A. Cannia; Jacob Herschfeldt; John Thomas
Morrill – Nicholas Kutkowsk
North Platte – Ty Johnso
Ogallala – Dominic Mayer
Potter – Russell Barker II
Rushville – Clark Orr
Scottsbluff – Kate Bowles; Austin Dolberg; Domingo Galindo; Ican Gabriel Gonzalez; Maxwell Kishiyama; Megan Lindley; Tyler Lintz; Adrian Hunter McKerrigan; Francisco Morales Jurado; Placido Rodriguez; Franc Sanchez; Nicandro Sierra Torres
St. Paul – Lukas Pelc
Whitman – Brock Nollette
Wyoming
Torrington – Eddia Goins; Zane S. Rising;
Other States
Kanehoe, Hawaii – Makana Vernon
Diplomas
Colorado
Sterling – Christopher Cullip
Longmont – Joseph Vahlenkamp
Wheat Ridge – Lindi M. White
Nebraska
Alliance – Jennifer Davis; Amber Knaub; Megan McLaughlin; Madison M. Morgan; Ashley J. Robinson; Amanda Russell;
Benkelman – Madson Noel Haines
Bridgeport – Dori L. Schneider;
Chadron – Tabitha A. Lux; Shawn Raben;
Gering – Trinidad L. Cueva Ventura; Jessica Renee Marquez; Alysha Sanders;
Hay Springs – Rebekah R. Edwards
Kimball – Andrew McCloud
Mitchell – Jason Dillman;
Oak – Kasandra Stricklin
Oshkosh – Shavin Barnhart; Camden Robertson;
Scottsbluff – Janet Felix; Destany Hill; Shelby James; Leticha Renee Longoria; Patricia Longoria; Toria McGowan; Maria Oliva; Rebecca Smith; Alyssa Strachan; Hannah Vesper
Sidney – Marcela Christofferson; Ashley B. Deeds; Teresa Gayle Skinner;
International
Sao Paulo, Brazil – Ygor Brito