By Dr. Ferrell Miller
JC Breakfast Optimist Club
Each year the JC Breakfast Optimist Club sponsors a Junction City High School Sophomore to attend the Hugh O’Brien Youth (HOBY) Leadership Camp at Kansas State University. Elyse Nguyen was one of those students who was sponsored by the local club.
During her K-12 education in USD 475, Elise attended Lincoln, Junction City Middle School and Junction City High School. “All of those school’s colors were blue. Even the school’s colors at Yale were blue – my favorite color.”
Elyse told the Optimists that while in USD 475, “I experienced the diversity in our schools, which made it an easy transition to the student population at Yale where there are multiple ethnicities, cultures, and religions from all over the world.” She mentioned that “teachers who had an influence on my love of learning and helped me with my self-confidence were Mrs. Farr at Lincoln Elementary; Mrs. Goheen, Mr. and Mrs. Brown and Ms. Dettmer at Junction City High School.”
Elyse graduated from JCHS in 2021 and applied to several schools which accepted applicants from low socio-economic status and first generation to attend college. She started her studies in the field of mechanical engineering but later switched to psychology. In her junior year, Elyse, decided she wanted to go to nursing school after having received a fellowship to do research at Yale’s School of Nursing. Elyse graduated from Yale with a degree in Psychology and plans to return to the Yale School of Nursing this fall to complete necessary requirements to become a nurse. She plans to use her degree in psychology and training in nursing to become a Psychological/Nurse Practitioner at a health center.
The Nguyen family came to Junction City while her father was in the Army. “We would stay in Junction City when my father was transferred to other Posts and assignments.” This gave the family stability.
When asked if she would bring her talents and skills back to Junction City following completion of her training, she responded “I am open to go anywhere. Even if I don’t come back, I would want to establish a scholarship” for others and give back in that way.
The JC Breakfast Optimist Club meets every Wednesday at 6:30 AM at the Hampton Inn on South Washington Street. The club is having a fundraiser at JC’s BBQ & Grill on August 18 from 11:00 AM until 9:00. Ten percent of purchases and all donations go to support 16 youth organizations and three scholarships for youth in Geary County.