Ribbon-cutting ceremony marks opening of MVC nursing program

From left, Todd Mick, Missouri Valley Colllege chief academic officer; Jene Crook; Linda Smith; Wayne Crawford; Tonya Eddy, MVC director of nursing education; Karla Bruntzell, dean of health sciences; Bonnie Humphrey, president of MVC; Ron Ott, president and CEO of Fitzgibbon Hospital; Shelly Arth; Kay Graves; and Fred Utlaut, president of the Fitzgibbon Hospital Board of Trustees, prepare to cut the ribbon Tuesday, Nov. 10, to mark the opening of the MVC nursing program facility in the Buckner Wellness Center on the Fitzgibbon Hospital campus. (Eric Crump/Democrat-News) [Order this photo]

The halls of the new Missouri Valley College nursing program facility were filled Tuesday, Nov. 10, with visitors exploring the classrooms and talking with college and program officials.

The opening of the facility, located on the lower floor of the Buckner Wellness Center on the Fitzgibbon Hospital campus, was officially recognized with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

"I'm excited about the future of our college," MVC President Humphrey said. "It's easy to do fun things, exciting things, starting new programs if you're surrounded by wonderful people."

Humphrey thanked a number of people for their role in making the program a reality, including Karla Bruntzell, MVC dean of health sciences, and Tonya Eddy, director of nursing education.

She thanked Fitzgibbon Hospital President and CEO Ron Ott and the Fitzgibbon Board of Trustees for their partnership and the opportunity to use the facility.

"You couldn't draw out a better space. You couldn't create one from scratch that would be any better than this. The excitement of the medical profession will just permeate this building," she said.

Humphrey credited MVC Chief Financial Officer Amy Roe, Athletic Director Tom Fifer and Board of Trustees Chairman Gary Ford for putting together the budget package to present to the MVC board.

She started, though, with a special thank-you to the MVC Board of Trustees, which, she said, "fully embraced the concept of 'invest in ourselves.' If we believe in ourselves at Missouri Valley College and in the Marshall community, and we invest in ourselves, think what is possible."

Ott agreed. "It's a great day for the community, for the college and for the citizens of our area. It's an honor to be a partner with Missouri Valley College," he said.