The Region 4 (Omaha Metro Area Nurses) Mutual Interest Group (MIG) held the annual Positive Image of Nursing recognition breakfast on May 2 at the Scott Conference Center. This is an annual event for more than 40 years. Starting with a small group of attendees and a handful of honorees at the start, this event continues to grow! This year there were 325 registrants and 154 honorees.
The Region 4 MIG is proud to provide this list of the 2026 Positive Image of Nursing Honorees. These year’s honorees are employed at various health care organizations throughout the Omaha metro area and a few beyond those boundaries. Each Honoree has a unique story that tugs at your heart strings and makes you proud to be part of a profession with such exceptional people! Congratulations to each of you!
Individual Honorees
Carissa Haney, Indian Health Service Macy, NE
Kaycee Hipwell, Grand Island VA Primary Care
Rita McQuinn, Memorial Community Hospital and Health System
Susan Steinke, Connected Roots Care Center
Colleges of Nursing
Katie Zander, Creighton University College of Nursing
Linda Spittler, Creighton University College of Nursing
Maureen Hermann, Creighton University College of Nursing
Leanne Galvan, Clarkson College
Traci Lamb, Nebraska Methodist College
Gina Crudden, Nebraska Methodist College
Kelly Gonzales, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Nursing
Kelly Buchanan, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Nursing
Boys Town National Research Hospital
Laura Champion
Maddie Egan
Tiffany Floro
Sheri Glorvick
Desi Hanson
Mary Hayner
Brittany Hogan
Jessica Killian
Meleia Oestmann
Maddie Sueper
Shannonn Summers
Miranda Zimmer
Children’s Nebraska
Abby Brester
Jacque Carden
Michaela Castellano
Ca’Ryn Chasek
Austin Derby
Rachel Eads
Emelyn Escalante
Colleen Fritch
Kendall Gloystein
Kristie Gribben
Heather Kneifl
Trisha Kuntz
Sarah McVey
Lindsay Melliger
Maria Middendorf
Melanie Miller
Jaka Montange
Cassidy Nipp
Aja Oppenheimer
Hannah Rapp
Emily Raygor
Kaylee Redford
Lindsey Reeks
Kris Rogers
Michelle Rogers
Ann Russel
Jordan Sekiya
Ariel Stillwell
Ange Thompson
Beth Vacek
Allison Wenck
Sue Weston
Courtney Wolf
Katie Zander
CHI Health
Amy Bauer
Kylee Baughman
Elizabeth Blanke
Anh Chau
Tina Cisar
Kylie Connell
Toni Fila
Alex Goeltl
Carrie Hake
Claire Hemme
Ashley Henney
Carly Hornig
Kate Kaiser-Barbee
Ashley Killian
Danielle Lynn
Samantha Mendenhall
Syrena Nelson
Sydney Nelson
Amy Osborne
Anna Raines
Anne Schoening
Jenna Shonsey
Courtney Sloop
Adriana Smith
OrthoNebraska
Erin Fye
Rachel Grove
Mandy Henrickson
Beth Kauffman
Katie Lang
Shannon McDonald
Jen Palmer
Brenda Riessland
Kristen Seyler
Kristen Walker
Ann Wright
Methodist Health System (Nebraska Methodist & Women’s Hospital, Fremont Methodist, Jennie Edmundson Hospital)
Jade Chapman
Brittney Christiansen
Ashely Classen
Bridget Dean
Oscar Garcia
Jessica Green
Natalie Griffin
Samuel Gubbels
Victoria Haecke
Alyssa Hansen
Patrick Harding
Molly Harman
Gabrielle Hayford
Erica Hilbers
Julie Kamphaus
Morgan Keysor
Kaitlin Martin
Jillian McGranaghan
Yarden Medeiros
Ashley Moyer
Jennifer Nelson
Payton Powley
Rylee Rusinko
Emili Schulz
Alex Stunkard
Melanie Thallas
Katelyn Theisen
Jonathan Vawter
Mikala Wiley
Alli Wood
Veterans Health Administration – Nebraska/Western Iowa Health Care System
Lisa Amenta
Jennifer Bennett
Keegan Danaher
Norrie-Leen Ragland
Sharon Rucker
Beth Sanders
Nebraska Medicine
Vicky Adolf
Katherine Doty
Kellie Ecklund
Minnie Floersch
Dawn Gau
Alexia Guiles
Emily Hagge
Anthony Johnston
Joufa Lahpai
Stephanie Meehan
Ryli Radio
Kaneesha Reed
Lauren Reeves
Karen Roeseler
Juliann Schmitt
Amy Vacek
