Des Moines, Iowa, July 14, 2006 – Hamilton College, Des Moines campus, today announced that it will hold a graduation ceremony tomorrow morning for its summer 2006 graduating class of 102 students. Twenty-one of these students represent the school’s first group to earn diplomas in Practical Nursing, which Hamilton began offering in July 2005. The ceremony will take place at 10:30 a.m. at the historic Hoyt Sherman Place Manor at 1501 Woodland Avenue, Des Moines, at the intersection of 15th and Woodland.
State Rep. Carmine Boal (R-Iowa), an Assistant Majority Leader in the Iowa Legislature will keynote tomorrow’s graduation ceremony. Rep. Boal noted, “I am excited to share in the success of the Hamilton 2006 graduates, many of whom have overcome personal challenges to achieve their educational goals.”
“This is a proud day for all of us at Hamilton College,” noted Colleen McDermott, the school’s Executive Director. “All of our students have bright futures ahead of them and we are honored to share this day with their 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 -125 nursing students per year. Upon completion of the program, students will be eligible to apply to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN).
Hamilton College, Des Moines campus, expanded its facility in the Fall of 2005 by adding 8,000 square feet and a nursing lab to accommodate the program. Hamilton College is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission, a Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA).
The Des Moines campus of Hamilton College July 2006 graduates are as follows: