Graduation Appreciation Dinner Celebrates New Nursing Graduates

Alamosa, CO – February 27, 2025– A memorable evening of recognition, reflection, and inspiration was shared by 21 nursing graduates from Adams State University (ASU) and Trinidad State College (TSC) at the annual Graduation Appreciation Dinner on Thursday night. Hosted by SLV Health, the event celebrated the graduates' achievements and provided words of wisdom from distinguished healthcare leaders.

Dinner for the evening was graciously served by the SLV Health HR staff and expertly catered by the Sunflour Café, setting the stage for a heartwarming and motivational gathering.

The evening's keynote speaker, Dr. Wheat, captivated the audience with her personal journey and experiences. Drawing from her own career path, she shared valuable advice for the new nurses in the room, comparing building a career to building a home. “You start with the foundation,” Dr. Wheat explained, “and you build it brick by brick throughout your life.” She emphasized the importance of teamwork, compassion, intentionality, and, above all, kindness in the nursing profession. Dr. Wheat encouraged the graduates to be positive role models and maintain a positive attitude as they embark on their careers.

Vicki Kretche-Kitchel, DNPDNP, AGACNP-BC, APRN, MSNEd, CEN, CFRN, shared her inspiring story of a 35-year nursing career, starting as a Med Surg nurse with 13-22 patients. “Nursing is essential to the healthcare team,” she noted, underscoring the significance of the role nurses play in patient care. Vicki also spoke passionately about the value of working in rural healthcare, describing it as a rewarding and challenging environment that cultivates well-rounded, resilient professionals. "Rural health organizations are a family," she remarked, highlighting the strong relationships and mutual support within rural healthcare communities. She shared how these close-knit environments allow nurses to witness the direct impact they have on their patients' lives. In closing, she reminded the graduates, “Nursing is not just a job. It is a calling.”

Both Dr. Wheat and Vicki Kretche-Kitchel congratulated the graduates on their hard work and accomplishments, offering warm words of encouragement as they stepped into the next phase of their nursing careers.

To cap off the evening, SLV Health presented the graduates with a special gift as a token of appreciation for their dedication to the profession and the community.

The Graduation Appreciation Dinner was a powerful reminder of the importance of compassion, teamwork, and dedication in the nursing field, as well as the profound impact nurses have on the lives of the patients they care for.