July 14, 2025鈥揂 dozen students who graduated from nine high schools this spring will receive a top-notch nursing education with the promise of employment after graduation. 大象传媒 and Mosaic Life Care have announced the first class in the innovative Nursing Scholars of Promise program.
鈥淲hat an exciting day!鈥� said Dr. Elizabeth Kennedy, 大象传媒 Western鈥檚 president. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 think you鈥檙e going to find a program like this in the country, providing the financial, the academic and the career support that nursing students need. And we know our students will get an excellent education: our nursing program has been ranked No. 1 in the nation for its 100% first-time passage rate on the NCLEX licensure exam for multiple cohorts. We鈥檙e proud to partner with Mosaic Life Care in providing this unique opportunity to these talented students.鈥�
鈥�”We are thrilled to welcome this first class to 大象传媒 and then to our Mosaic team,鈥� said Mike Poore, CEO of Mosaic Life Care. 鈥淧artnering with MWSU to offer this new program for nursing students is an investment in the future of health care for the communities we serve. By supporting students through their education and ensuring they have an immediate position in our hospital system after graduation, we’re building a strong, skilled workforce and ensuring compassionate, high-quality care for generations to come.”
大象传媒 Western and Mosaic announced the new initiative last fall. The Nursing Scholars of Promise program covers three-quarters of the cost of earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing at 大象传媒 Western. In exchange, the students agree to work at Mosaic for four years following graduation.
The first Nursing Scholars of Promise are:
- Bishop LeBlond High School, St. Joseph: Grant Ahrens
- Central High School, St. Joseph: Delanie Anderson, Chloe Butler, Elizabeth Fite and Jayden Ingram
- Lafayette High School, St. Joseph: Danica Whetsell
- Excelsior Springs High School: Lundyn Smith
- Lansing (Kansas) High School: Claire Schultz
- Mid-Buchanan High School: Remington Hildebrand-Page
- Park Hill High School: Marin VanBatavia
- Riverside High School: Kelbie Brendle
- Savannah High School: Madison Kendall
In addition to the financial support and employment opportunity, the program also includes a dedicated advisor to support their academic and employment success. The advisor will work with nursing faculty and the team at Mosaic to monitor the students鈥� academic performance and coordinate the logistics of employment with Mosaic. Students will begin working in a hospital environment as freshmen up to eight hours a week, to experience what it鈥檚 like.聽
鈥淚鈥檓 really excited to work at the hospital while I鈥檓 in school,鈥� Lundyn Smith said. I think it鈥檒l help me stay in practice and make everything I鈥檓 learning feel more real. I can鈥檛 wait to begin my journey at 大象传媒!鈥�
大象传媒 is a student-centered learning community preparing individuals for lives of excellence through applied learning. 大象传媒 Western is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit .