At the John T. Vucurevich Foundation, we partner with employers, educational institutions and workforce development organizations to fund programs that help people develop new skills, earn credentials, and discover careers that secure better futures for themselves and their families. Every so often, we have the privilege of sharing stories from our grantees that remind us the power of this work and the people behind it. As graduation season brings celebrations across our community, it’s also an opportunity to reflect on the pathways, and the relationships and support systems, that help make these milestones possible.
One evening last December, new nursing graduates stood before family, friends, mentors, and community members. Colorful star quilts were draped behind them. In a ceremony called Yuónihaη – an Honoring Ceremony – seven students were honored for graduating with a nursing degree. For the Native American Nursing Education Center (NANEC) in Rapid City, moments like this are a celebration and confirmation.
The Model is Working
Since 2015, the Native American Nursing Education Center (NANEC), a South Dakota State University program within its College of Nursing, has operated with a clear mission: to provide a nurturing and collaborative environment where intentional mentoring inspires Native American nursing students to thrive. NANEC’s primary objective is to increase the number of Native American, bachelor-prepared registered nurses in Western South Dakota. NANEC addresses educational inequity and promotes diversity within the healthcare workforce. Expanding the representation of Native American nurses is a critical strategy for reducing health disparities within the Native American community. At a time when western South Dakota continues to experience significant nursing shortages, the program addresses some important, intersecting needs.
The majority of NANEC students live in and around the Black Hills. Many identify as first-generation college students. Many are employed while attending school. Many have dependents. Higher education does not happen in isolation from these realities, and NANEC’s wraparound approach acknowledges that. Academic guidance, mentoring relationships, student stipends, cultural programming, and monthly Waháηpi na Waúηspe (Soup & Learn) are designed to help students persist and complete their degrees.
A Legacy Continued
At the heart of NANEC’s early development was local community elder Bev Warne. Warne helped launch the program and served as a nursing mentor. Warne was widely regarded as an inspirational presence to students. She was someone they could turn to for guidance and encouragement. Warne passed away in April 2024, but her influence remains woven into NANEC’s continued growth.
“We have created an atmosphere of belonging with physical furnishings, pictures, etc. Our approach with students is with cultural humility, our natural way of communication and behaviors.” -Bev Warne
Today, that growth is visible in both leadership and capacity. In early 2023, Dr. Tiara Keith Ruff began serving as the Coordinator of Native American Advising and Outreach for NANEC within SDSU’s College of Nursing and continues in that role today. Kathy LaBonte and Jacqueline Arpan serve as program mentors and bring decades of experience into their roles. Together, the team provides academic, financial, social, and cultural support to students from pre-nursing through board licensure. In recent years, the John T. Vucurevich Foundation has been a substantial partner, awarding more than $800,000 to NANEC over the past five years. That investment has helped strengthen the program.
Over the life of the program, NANEC has supported more than 60 Native American students earning BSN degrees and three graduates earning advanced practice nursing degrees. Many graduates are very likely to remain in the region after graduation. For NANEC students, earning a nursing degree is a professional milestone and opens the pathway to a living wage and long-term stability for both their families and community.
Mateja Sitting Crow
Mateja Sitting Crow and Rachal Laubach, both NANEC students
A Student Perspective
written by Mateja Sitting Crow, May 2026 NANEC Graduate
“The Native American Nursing Education Center has been a huge part of my life since the spring of 2023. When I first started the nursing program, a million emotions and thoughts flooded my heart and mind. The women of NANEC helped pull me from a sea of self-doubt and grounded me with their unwavering support, wisdom, and—dare I say—love. They quickly became an important part of my support system and were some of the first people I would run to when sharing my accomplishments, trials, and tribulations. NANEC became my home away from home, always welcoming me with open arms. They are voices of reason who offer a perspective that many Native Americans are not always given: the belief that we can accomplish anything we set our minds to. NANEC upholds the values of our people while supporting Native youth and actively working to break the cycle of lateral oppression. The program is composed of leaders who lead by example and understand that life is not a straight or easy road, but rather a spiral with both highs and lows. It is a privilege to say that I am part of the NANEC program, and I will forever encourage others to join this family. NANEC has helped me grow not only as a nursing student but also as a person rooted in my culture, strength, and purpose. Because of this program, I move forward in my journey knowing that I carry the support of a community behind me and the responsibility to uplift the next generation who will walk this path after me.”
Every student milestone matters, and none are reached alone. From family and friends to mentors and community, support systems shape what’s possible. NANEC is a powerful example of how those connections can help students persist, graduate, and move forward with confidence.
NANEC is a program of South Dakota State University and is located at the SDSU College of Nursing site in Rapid City. The SDSU College of Nursing is currently engaged in a campaign to name the new NANEC space in Bev Warne’s honor.
