Graduation ceremonies will be held for the first Juneau graduates of the Practical Nurse program at 1 p.m. Saturday in the Mourant Building on the UAS Auke Lake campus.

The graduates began taking prerequisite classes last summer so they would be able to start the fall semester Practical Nurse program. The Juneau classes were offered through distance delivery technology from Weber State University in Utah. UAS does not have an accredited nursing program but helps facilitate the program as a service to students and communities. "There is a very significant shortage of health care personnel at essentially all levels, according to UAS Associate Dean Gary Bowen. "The job outlook for these graduates is excellent."

Eight students will earn their certificates. Their average age is 31, the total number of years they have lived in Juneau is 79, seven are married, they have a total of 17 children, and seven of the eight graduates are planning to continue classes in the fall with the two-year registered nurse program. The graduation speaker is Carol Rosenlund, associate program director at Weber State. Graduate Shelly Crowe will speak for students. The public is welcome. "This is an opportunity for anyone interested in nursing to visit with administrators from Weber State and UAS," according to Bowen. New courses starting in the fall will support the Weber State associate degree in nursing program.