Phyllis Jo Dean - Applied Science ‘69 (40th anniversary submission)

I was in the first graduating class of the the nursing program. My maiden name was VanArsdale. We earned an Associate in Applied Science over a period of 22 months in 2 years between 1967 and 1969. This was the first nursing class that Metro offered. We started out with about 60 students and ended with 12. If my memory is correct.

Our wonderful nursing instructors were Betty Marcom and Mary Ann Harper. They were responsible for almost all of our nursing training. We trained at various hospitals and facilities in the Denver area and had a very well rounded and good education. I have often thought of what a daunting responsibility the nursing faculty had taken on as the 2 year associate degree programs were very new and somewhat controversial.

My education at Metropolitan State College prepared me for various positions as a Registered Nurse in Texas, Arizona, and Nevada. Metro was so new and very small but vibrant and ready to move forward which it obviously has done very successfully.
(reprinted from the 40th Anniversary Our Stories Web site)