Hamilton College - Cedar Falls Graduates First Practical Nursing Class Tonight

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa, July 21 /PRNewswire/ -- Hamilton College - Cedar Falls will hold a graduation ceremony this evening for its summer 2006 graduating class. Of the 70 graduates, 14 will represent the school's first class to earn diplomas in Practical Nursing, which Hamilton began in July 2005.

The ceremony will take place at 7 p.m. at the historic Oster Regent Theater at 103 Maine Street, Cedar Falls, at the intersection of 1st and Main. Ron Steele, News Anchor for KWWL-TV, will keynote tonight's graduation ceremony.

"This is a proud day for all of us at Hamilton College," noted Connie Reidy, the school's Campus President. "A lot of hard work went into arriving at this day, by staff and students alike, and we are very honored to share in this celebration with our graduates' families and friends."

In order to help address the state's nursing shortage, Hamilton added practical nursing diploma programs at four of its campuses last year, including Cedar Falls, Cedar Rapids, Mason City and Des Moines. Each of the campuses can accommodate 50 to 125 nursing students per year. Upon completion of the program, students may be eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN).

"It has been rewarding to watch our students' progress through the program, and I am very proud of our first graduating class," said Pam Young, Hamilton College - Cedar Falls campus nursing program coordinator. "They will be filling a big need in our community, and I believe they have very bright futures ahead of them."

The Cedar Falls campus of Hamilton College - July 2006 graduates are as follows:

Bachelor of Science in Applied Management: Accounting Concentration Korey Rodgers, Cedar Falls, IA * Nicole Sherwood, Waterloo, IA Bachelor of Science in Applied Management: Business Administration Concentration Benjamin Biersner, Dike, IA Holly Castillo, Cedar Falls, IA Michael Karavdic, Waterloo, IA * Bachelor of Science in Applied Management: Management of Information Systems Pat Doyle, Plainfield, IA Scott Petersen, Independence, IA Associate of Applied Science: Accounting Specialist Jennifer Crooks, Waterloo, IA Kari Justice, Waterloo, IA * Jennifer Wagner, Grundy Center, IA Clair Metcalf, Cedar Falls, IA Associate of Applied Science: Business Administration Nick Anderson, Cedar Falls, IA David DeMoss, Cedar Falls, IA * Debra Jordan, Waterloo, IA Jenna Northey, Cedar Falls, IA Beth Olberding, Dyersville, IA Jill Yuska, Hudson, IA ** Amy Rohlfsen, Jesup, IA Associate of Applied Science: Criminal Justice Alice Gerleman, Sumner, IA Jenny Knutson, Independence, IA Rebecca Ashton, Waterloo, IA Brandi Shepherd, Cedar Falls, IA Associate of Applied Science: Medical Assistant Sonya Ackerson, Nashua, IA * Anna Adelmund, LaPorte City, IA Carmon Bena, Brandon, IA Laurie Bertholf, Waterloo, IA Sehida Cerimovic, Waterloo, IA Tracy Donaldson, Lamont, IA * Mirela Duric, Waterloo, IA Tonette Hansen, Waverly, IA Dusty Slater, Westgate, IA Michelle Smith, Cedar Falls, IA Erin Thome, Jesup, IA * Lorraine Walton, Reinbeck, IA Jacqueline Williams, Waterloo, IA Peggy Alexander, Waverly, IA* Whitney Kaumans, Waterloo, IA Trisha Woodruff, Gilbertville, IA * Associate of Applied Science Computer Information Systems: Emphasis in Network Administration Gerald Adams, Evansdale, IA Donny Breitbach, Waterloo, IA Lindsay Deutmeyer, Cedar Falls, IA Lindsey Weber, Jesup, IA * Associate of Applied Science Travel and Tourism Janet Amsbary, Waterloo, IA Lindsay Beatty, Independence, IA Brandi Bowers, Waterloo, IA Donita Schults, Waterloo, IA Associate of Applied Science Paralegal Courtney Willitts, New Hampton, IA Associate of Applied Science Interdisciplinary Studies Sandra Peeples, Waterloo, IA Mildred Williams, Waterloo, IA Diploma: Accounting Technician Steven Murphy, Waterloo, IA Diploma: Computer Systems Technician Joe Pollock, Cedar Falls, IA Justin Kanfield, Hudson, IA Victoria Topliff, Jesup, IA * Diploma: Office Technology Specialist Ann Bingaman, Waterloo, IA Jessica Straw, Independence, IA Kathy Doty, Clarksville, IA Diploma in Practical Nursing Jessica Beckman, Waverly, IA Maree Beyer, Waterloo, IA Lashay Davidson, Waterloo, IA Kimberly Dengler, Waterloo, IA Michelle Elder, Waterloo, IA Melissa Hinde, LaPorte City, IA Kevin Knutson, Cedar Falls, IA * Sarah Limbach, Waterloo, IA Emily Millard, Evansdale, IA * Traymurrus Mills, Waterloo, IA Denise Reeves, Cedar Falls, IA Tonja Sexton, Waterloo, IA Cindy Throndson, Cedar Falls, IA Natasha Walker, Waterloo, IA

Graduates with Honors Available for Associate of Applied Science and Bachelors of Science Graduates

** With high honors (4.0 GPA) Gold Cords Dean's List with High Honors * With honors (3.75-3.99 GPA) Silver Cords Dean's List with Honors About Hamilton College

Established in 1900, Iowa-based Hamilton College is accredited by the North Central Association and offers a wide range of bachelor, associate and diploma degrees at seven campus locations throughout Iowa and Nebraska. Classes are offered on campus in the day or evening, and a limited number of courses are also available online. The school also offers career placement services to graduates. For more information, please see http://www.hamiltonia.edu/.

About Kaplan, Inc.

Hamilton College is part of Kaplan, Inc.'s Higher Education Division, which includes more than 75 campus-based schools in 21 states, as well as online programs through Kaplan University and Concord Law School. Kaplan Higher Education offers career-oriented certificate, bachelor and associate degree programs designed to provide students with the skills necessary to qualify them for entry-level employment in fields such as healthcare, business, information technology, technology, fashion and design. Kaplan has been providing educational and career services to students, schools, professionals, and businesses worldwide for nearly 70 years. Kaplan is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Washington Post Company . For more information about Kaplan, please visit http://www.kaplan.com/.

Press contact: Betsy Turenne, 917-842-0373,

Connie Reidy, (319) 277-0220