Jean Ann Wilson, coordinator of the Colby Community College nursing program at Norton, was recently honored as the outstanding instructor of the year. Wilson was presented with the Tangeman Award for Teaching Excellence at the formal CCC Nurses’ Pinning Ceremony held at the Community Building on May 12.

A long-time native of Almena, Wilson received her bachelor’s degree in nursing from Fort Hays State University in 1968. She earned her Nurse Clinician Certificate from the University of Kansas Branch at Wichita State University in 1974.

She has served as a nurse clinician and office nurse as well as a staff nurse at Norton County Hospital and St. Joseph’s Hospital.

Wilson began teaching Level I (practical nursing) for CCC in 1980. She continues to serve as the nursing coordinator at the Norton campus for Level I nursing.

In addition to her teaching and nursing duties, Wilson is active in civic organizations. She was named Volunteer of the Year for Northern Valley in 2000.

Wilson has a life-long commitment to education and health care. She served as a Kansas Core Curriculum Committee member in 2008 and has completed multiple continuing education hours during her distinguished career at CCC.

The Norton nursing program has experienced a significant expansion this year. Beginning June 4, classes which were previously held in the hospital will now be held in a newly-renovated building which previously housed the doctor’s clinic.

The Kansas State Board of Nursing recently approved adding 12 additional practical nursing students and 20 registered nursing students to the Norton program.

To accommodate students’ schedules, CCC will offer a new two-year evening program for the LPN and RN students in Norton. Completion will take six semesters. Ten students will be accepted into each program. In addition, two LPN students will be added to the daytime program at Norton, bringing the total from 18 practical nursing students to 30.