Name: David Howell
Hometown: Koshkonong, MO
Currently Resides: West Plains, MO
Occupation: Registered Nurse
All Degrees and Certificates Received: High School Diploma, Oregon-Howell R-3 School, 1990; Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), South Central Career Center, 2000; Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN), Missouri State University-West Plains, 2020
“I cannot think of any other place I would have felt more comfortable, welcomed and educated than MSU-WP.”
After more than a dozen years working in the area as a licensed practical nurse, David Howell felt his educational window of opportunity was closing rapidly, but he found an open door to a new career as a registered nurse through the Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) degree program Missouri State University-West Plains (MSU-WP).
As a lifelong resident of south-central Missouri, David knew the reputation of MSU-WP and its nursing program, and it made the university an attractive option for continuing his education. The campus’ location near his hometown of West Plains and its small class size also played a role in his decision to enroll. But the warm, welcoming and supportive atmosphere created by the dedicated faculty and staff gave David the assurance that he had made the right choice.
“When I first enrolled at MSU-WP for my prerequisites, I was very unsure of a lot of things, including employment, providing for my family, schedules, and how I was going to accommodate returning to college and achieving balance with these responsibilities,” he said. “But I found everyone, from personnel to instructors, very supportive of a person’s furtherance of education. Everyone, from a high school graduate to a nontraditional student such as myself, were all treated with the same enthusiasm and respect.”
“Everyone at MSU-WP was very helpful and encouraging each step of the way.”
After enrolling at MSU-WP, David started chipping away at the prerequisites for the ASN program. He particularly enjoyed his early science classes and the instructors who taught them, he said. Once he entered the program, the mentoring relationships he developed with the nursing instructors gave him wisdom and guidance for the remainder of his educational journey.
“I will cherish my time spent with all those who guided me in my journey,” he said. “Instructors in my early classes helped influence my learning attitude, and the instructors in the nursing program helped shape my professional attitude and approach to my profession.
“Now that I have graduated, there is such gratitude toward all those who helped me in pursuing and achieving my educational goals. I enjoyed my instructors, and even though they challenged me to push harder, they gave me much needed self confidence in my endeavors. My time at MSU-WP gave me more confidence in setting goals and knowing they can be achieved if you surround yourself with those who are dedicated to seeing you succeed,” David added.
“My greatest achievements at MSU-WP were the friendships I made and the confidence I gained while attending there.”
David achieved his goal of an ASN degree in December 2020, and he walked in MSU-WP’s commencement ceremonies in May 2021 – 31 years after graduating from high school. At his pinning ceremony in December, he received one of the ASN program’s highest awards, the Carolyn Edwards Excellence Award. The award is given to the student who demonstrates leadership in the classroom, professionalism in the clinical setting, respect for and commitment to the profession of nursing, a caring regard for fellow students and faculty, a true appreciation for the program and its clinical partners, and a willingness to go above and beyond for the ASN program and the university.
“I was honored and humbled to receive the Carolyn Edwards Excellence Award,” David said. “This award meant so much to me, and to know that my instructors and peers nominated and presented this to me was overwhelming.”
David also has passed the registered nursing licensure exam, the NCLEX, and is now working as a registered nurse at Ozarks Healthcare in West Plains and serving his community by providing comfort care, support, education, a sympathetic ear and other patient-centered services to those who seek medical help there. “Obtaining this degree has helped me continue doing what I began my nursing career to do…to take care of and serve others,” he said.
“Never let yourself get to the point you think something is unobtainable.”
David knows there are others like him in the area who think their educational windows have closed, but he encourages them, as well as high school graduates, to not give up their dreams. “Even if you are a potential college student just graduating high school or a person who has been out for some time, never stop setting goals and working toward them! Our community is very fortunate to have such a campus as MSU-WP, and I am very grateful for the time I spent there. I am very proud to say that I obtained my degree there, and I look forward to possibly furthering my education through MSU-WP.”