‘Dream Finally Coming True’
Texas Tech Health El Paso Celebrates Fall 2024 Hunt School of Nursing Commencement
Sixty-five graduates begin rewarding careers as nursing professionals
The Hunt School of Nursing at Texas Tech Health El Paso marked a significant milestone in the lives of its students with its Fall 2024 Commencement on Monday evening. Sixty-five graduates, including 55 from the accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.) program and 10 from the Registered Nurse (R.N.) to B.S.N. program, celebrated their transition from students to health care heroes.
“It’s a dream finally coming true,” said graduate Hector Adonis Munoz. Munoz’s spouse, a nurse herself, encouraged him to apply after he worked several years in law enforcement. He earned his prerequisites by attending El Paso Community College.
“I knew I wanted to move forward in life. Even before I graduated, I received an invitation to apply for a position at the hospital where I’m doing an externship. We’re part of El Paso, where family is strong, and we want to be part of the solution to our health care challenges. We’re rooted here.”
The ceremony served as a powerful reminder of the critical role nurses play in addressing the nation’s health care challenges, particularly in regions like the U.S.-Mexico border. This December’s graduates join the ranks of more than 1,300 nurses who have earned degrees at the Hunt School of Nursing since its establishment in 2012. With upwards of 90% of alumni staying in the Borderplex region, these new nurses represent a vital resource for addressing the ongoing nurse shortage and improving health care access in underserved communities.
Traditions and Professional Readiness
Hunt School of Nursing commencements are known for their traditions, including the revered nursing pinning ceremony. This symbolic ritual marks the transition from academic study to professional practice, emphasizing the values and history of the nursing profession.
Marissa Ramser saw the ceremony’s pinning exercise as an example of her journey toward becoming a compassionate, skilled professional ready to make an impact.
“Receiving the pin represented my transition into the professional community of nursing,” said Ramser. “It’s now my responsibility to provide safe, patient-centered care to individuals in our community. It’s about building rapport with my patients and gaining their trust. I want to work with patients in a hospital intensive care unit here in El Paso. All the long hours of studying and time away from my son were for today and the amazing lives I will be able to help in our Borderplex community.”
Jene Hurlbut, Ph.D., R.N., CNE, interim dean of the Hunt School of Nursing, delivered the keynote address. Texas Tech University System Regent Pat Gordon of El Paso also spoke, highlighting the school’s role in preparing future health care leaders and its impact on the Borderplex region’s economy.
“The Hunt School of Nursing is growing into one of best in the nation,” said Regent Gordon. “Your service will be a symbol of its success in growing competent, compassionate and culturally aware nurses for El Paso.”
A Pipeline to Success
Among the 65 Hunt School of Nursing graduates were four former Maxine L. Silva Health Magnet High School students who participated in the B.S.N. pipeline program that connects El Paso Independent School District, El Paso Community College, and Texas Tech Health El Paso. These individuals, who graduated from high school in 2023 with associate degrees, enrolled in the Hunt School of Nursing in August of that year and are now graduating with B.S.N.s at just 19 and 20 years old.
“It’s been an amazing journey,” said Maria Zapata, who graduated from Silva Magnet Health in 2023. “It’s incredible to be finishing the program at 19. I am grateful for the opportunity provided to me. I wanted to finish as fast as possible and start my career.”
The accelerated B.S.N. program, the only one of its kind in our region, allows students to complete their degrees in just 16 months.
The Hunt School of Nursing’s curriculum emphasizes cross-disciplinary collaboration, enabling students to work effectively in clinical teams alongside physicians and other health care professionals. It also equips students with leadership skills necessary for positions in hospitals and clinics.
This innovative approach is critical in addressing the nationwide nursing shortage, particularly in border communities where health care access remains a pressing issue.
About Texas Tech Health El Paso
Texas Tech Health El Paso is the only health sciences center on the U.S.-Mexico border and serves 108 counties in West Texas that have been historically underserved. It’s a designated Title V Hispanic-Serving Institution, preparing the next generation of health care heroes, 48% of whom identify as Hispanic and are often first-generation students.
Established as an independent university in 2013, Texas Tech Health El Paso is a proudly diverse and uniquely innovative destination for education and research.
With a mission of eliminating health care barriers and creating life-changing educational opportunities for Borderplex residents, Texas Tech Health El Paso has graduated over 2,400 doctors, nurses and researchers over the past decade, and will add dentists to its alumni beginning in 2025. For more information, visit ttuhscepimpact.org.