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Sixteen of the students are Nebraskans participating in the Rural Health Opportunities Program, a joint venture with the University of Nebraska Medical Center that is designed to provide health care professionals to lesser-populated areas of Nebraska.

Dr. Kristi Johnson, a ºÚÁÏ´óÊÂ¼Ç family physician, was the guest speaker at the banquet. Johnson, whose husband Dave also practices medicine in ºÚÁÏ´óʼÇ, shared insights about the health care field.

The 16 RHOP students and their hometowns, listed by field of study:

Dental Hygiene: Clarissa Babb, St. Edward; Melanie Shafto, Amherst.

Medicine: Chelsea Keeney, Callaway; Naomi Matthews, Benkelman; Adam Rasmussen, Mead; Kortany Schultz, Scottsbluff.

Nursing (UNMC West at Scottsbluff): Sarah Counts, Chappell.

Pharmacy: Valarie Hoffman, Chambers.

Physical Therapy: Natalie Dunn, Valentine; Kelsey Gregory, Bayard; Taylor Lovitt, Tryon; Adam Peetz, Sidney.

Physician Assistant: Alysia Mowry, Bartley.

Radiography: Marilee Boals, Sutton; Laura Hamling, Valentine; Breanne Ritz, Ravenna.

The 14 traditional track students, their hometowns, the schools they will attend and their field of study:

Clinical Lab Science: Sarah Crackel, North Platte, UNMC; Rebecca Gronewald, Gothenburg, UNMC.

Medicine: Katie Brown, Smoot, Wyo., University of Washington; Alex Villeda, Grand Island, University of Missouri.

Nursing: Brittany Billingsley, Bayard, UNMC West; Katie Goff, Whitney, UNMC West; Sarah Plettner, Creighton, UNMC West; Whitney Trumbull, Tryon, UNMC West; Angela Waugh, ºÚÁÏ´óʼÇ, UNMC West; Katie Zacharias, Long Pine, UNMC West.

Optometry: Paige Bosch, Wheatland, Wyo., Pacific University.

Physician Assistant: Josh Garza, Minatare, UNMC; Ashley Nutsch, Highlands Ranch, Colo., Mount Union College.