Hamilton College - Mason City Graduates First Practical Nursing Class Friday

MASON CITY, Iowa, July 28 /PRNewswire/ -- Hamilton College - Mason City today announced that it will hold a graduation ceremony this evening for its summer 2006 graduating class. Jack Musker, Administrator of Manly Nursing and Rehab Care in Manly, Iowa, will be the keynote speaker. He is also a member of the school's nursing advisory board.

The ceremony will take place at 7:00 p.m. at the Music Man Square at 308 Pennsylvania Avenue, Mason City. Of the 65 graduates, 20 represent the school's first group to earn diplomas in Practical Nursing, which Hamilton College began offering in July 2005.

"Hamilton College - Mason City is proud of our first class of practical nurses," said Jan Price, Practical Nursing Program Coordinator at Hamilton College - Mason City. "The students have worked hard to overcome obstacles, and are ready to join the nursing profession and contribute their caring and skills to health care in our region."

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 48 to 125 nursing students per year. Mason City enrolls new students for the program twice a year in January and July. Upon completion of the program, students may be eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN).

Hamilton College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission ("HLC"), and a member of the North Central Association. HLC can be reached at http://www.ncahigherlearningcommission.org/ or 312.263.0456.

The Mason City campus of Hamilton College summer 2006 graduates are as follows:

Bachelor of Science in Applied Management: Accounting Concentration: Lee Brockney, Mason City, IA Dixie Daniels, Garner, IA Brian Ingvaldson, Northwood, IA Tim Maas, Garner, IA Brandy Steven, Forest City, IA Bachelor of Science in Applied Management: Business Administration Concentration: Dion Varty, Clear Lake, IA Bachelor of Science in Applied Management: Management of Information Systems: Jeff Poppe, Mason City, IA Associate of Applied Sciences Degree Accounting Specialist: Annika Athey, Northwood, IA Perry Diekhuis, Forest City, IA Cherie Yoder, Belmond, IA Tina Zieman, Clarion, IA Associate of Applied Sciences Degree Business Administration: Concentration in Business Management: Danielle Austin, Plymouth, IA Jon Christenson, Osage, IA Heather Hartema, Mason City, IA Vanessa Myers, Clear Lake, IA Kendall Peterson, Mason City, IA Associate of Applied Sciences Degree Business Administration: Concentration in Office Management: Rachel Myrick, Mason City, IA Associate of Applied Sciences Degree Criminal Justice: Andrew Brown, Mason City, IA Joe Colman, Thornton, IA Melissa Gifford-Bucknell, Floyd, IA Amber Groh, Meservey, IA Dennis Krause, Rockwell, IA William Learn, Charles City, IA Starla Mayfield, Mason City, IA Amanda Menken, Greene, IA Beth Snyder, Clear Lake, IA Associate of Applied Sciences Degree Paralegal: Miranda Neuroth, Mason City, IA Melissa Schmidthuber, Lake Mills, IA Associate of Applied Sciences Degree Computer Information Systems: Network Administration: Daniel Valler, Osage, IA Associate of Applied Sciences Degree Medical Assistant: Rachel Anderson, Belmond, IA Lindsay Cooper, Mason City, IA Chelsy Dahms, Forest City, IA Becky Griffin, Mason City, IA Holly Hagen, Lake Mills, IA Ashley M Harper, Sheffield, IA Lynel Helmers, Mason City, IA Candice Jennings, Garner, IA Sandra Knapp, Mason City, IA Catrena Lumsden, Charles City, IA Jessica Mauer, St Ansgar, IA Carrie Morin, Britt, IA Lisa Sailor, Lake Mills, IA Trisha Sisson, Eagle Grove, IA Tonja Snow, Clear Lake, IA Elizabeth L Young, Clear Lake, IA Practical Nursing: Ashley Bierbrodt, Osage, IA Yolanda Brown, Charles City, IA Michelle Bushbaum, Osage, IA Amanda Cassady, Rockwell, IA Sarah Elwood, Mason City, IA Morgan Griffin, Rockford, IA Jennifer Johnson, Elma, IA Steva Karels, Mason City, IA LeeAnn Leitner, Mason City, IA Alicia Liddle, Charles City, IA Mandy Linderman, Mason City, IA Christine Pederson, Mason City, IA Sara Ptacek, Elma, IA Cassie Quackenbush, Clear Lake, IA Amber Schmillen, Mason City, IA Lacey Tudor, Rockwell, IA Simonina Wilkinson, Belmond, IA Cristi Witham, Mason City, IA Celine Stein, Albert Lea, MN Meggan Turnure, Mason City, IA 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