Western Nebraska Community College's Practical Nursing Program (School) in Alliance will celebrate its golden anniversary with a public open house on Tuesday, May 13 from 5 p.m. to 7 pm at the Alliance Learning Center at 18th and Sweetwater.
A short program will take place at 6 p.m.
The nursing program was founded on October 1, 1958, as the Alliance Vocational School of Practical Nursing. It operated under the administration of the Alliance City Schools, while St. Joseph's Hospital in Alliance (once located at 11th and Toluca before being razed) provided the physical facilities for the school. 11 students were admitted to the first class and nine graduated.
On October 1, 1976, the Alliance PN Program was moved to the new Box Butte General Hospital.
In 1982 the program became part of Western Nebraska College, which subsequently was named became Western Nebraska Community College.
In 1998 the PN Program moved to its current location, the Alliance Campus of WNCC in the Alliance Learning Center.
WNCC's Alliance Practical Nursing Program is one of the three oldest PN programs in the state of Nebraska and has graduated nearly 1,000 students in the last 50 years. It is one of only two accredited PN Programs in Nebraska.
Click on the icon below to hear an extensive interview with WNCC Alliance Campus Director Dr. Royce Ammon and Practical Nursing Instructor Karen Kerschner.
