WNCC Alumni & Friends

05/29/2026

Omar Ceesay is the fifth of six brothers and grew up in a close family shaped by both love and hardship. One of the most defining moments of his life came when his father was killed by a drunk driver while trying to help someone on the side of the road. That loss stayed with him, even if he did not fully understand its weight at a young age.

In school, Omar did not take things seriously at first. He admits he often goofed off. That changed in middle school after a moment involving his older brother Muhammad. Omar saw a school notice board showing grades and realized his brother was ranked number one in the entire 12th grade. That moment stuck with him and sparked a sense of competition and belief that he could do more.

From there, Omar’s approach to school changed quickly. By ninth grade, he earned a perfect score on a national standardized exam, something only a small number of students achieved that year. Around the same time, his brother came to the United States for college, eventually connecting to Scottsbluff and Western Nebraska Community College. That path would later bring Omar to WNCC in 2015.

When Omar arrived in Scottsbluff, he came focused on soccer and education, but also unsure of what the future would hold. WNCC quickly became a turning point. Coaches like Coach Rasnic and many faculty members including Becky Kautz, Dr. Kinsey, Dr. Schaub, Dr. Dave Nelson, Dr. Hailey Hays, Dr. Pam Z, and others played a major role in his development. He often describes the campus as a family environment that helped him grow up fast. Between classes, tutoring, and athletics, he learned discipline, communication, and responsibility in a new way.

Omar worked as a tutor in multiple subjects, starting with math and later expanding into science courses like chemistry, anatomy, physics, and organic chemistry. He eventually moved into nursing, even though the clinical side was a challenge at first. While working in a hospital emergency room in Kimball, he experienced a traumatic case that reminded him of his father’s death and made him rethink his direction.

Omar decided to pursue medical school after completing his RN and BSN, supported by mentors from WNCC who wrote recommendation letters and guided him along the way. Now in medical school at UNMC, he also shares health education online in simple, clear language to help people better understand medicine. He still credits WNCC as a major reason for who he has become and says he will always be part of the Cougar family.

05/28/2026

Michelle Sanchez was born and raised in Alliance, Nebraska. She is the youngest in a family of six, with four brothers and one sister. Her parents recently celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on April 1.

She is a mother of two daughters, Alyssa and Jazmin, and a proud grandmother to her granddaughter, Yesenia.

In November 2019, Michelle moved to the Scottsbluff and Gering area, where she began working with ESU 13 as an Infant and Toddler Teacher. She has remained in that role for nearly six years, continuing to support young children and their families in early learning settings.

Michelle became the first in her family to attend and graduate from Western Nebraska Community College. She returned to school while working full time to further her education in Early Childhood. As an online student, she felt well supported by her advisor, Patsy Yager, and appreciated the guidance and responsiveness of her instructors throughout her coursework.

While at WNCC, Michelle strengthened her understanding of child development and early learning practices. She was able to connect her academic studies with more than fifteen years of hands-on experience, which enhanced her work in the classroom and introduced new teaching strategies.

She earned her associate degree in Early Childhood Education from WNCC in May 2024. This achievement reinforced her confidence and supported her long-term goal of becoming a teacher with her own classroom.

Michelle is currently pursuing her bachelor’s degree and teaching certificate through the University of Nebraska at Kearney while continuing her work with ESU 13. She credits WNCC and Patsy Yager for their encouragement and support throughout her educational journey.

05/27/2026

Let’s throw it back to 1969-70 Student Council members! Do you recognize any photos in the picture or are YOU in the picture? Share your STUCO stories below!

05/26/2026

Tom Pelzer grew up in the very south of Germany, close to the Swiss border. Soccer was always a big part of his life, but he also wanted to see more than his hometown and experience something different. The idea of studying abroad stayed in his mind for a long time, even though leaving home did not feel simple.

After high school, he learned about the opportunity to play soccer in the United States while going to college. That idea stood out right away. Around that time, the pandemic made everything less certain, but he still had scholarship options, including one from Western Nebraska Community College. After a good conversation with Coach Todd Rasnic, he decided to take the chance. In August 2021, he left Germany and arrived in Scottsbluff, Nebraska.

The first weeks were a shock in a good way. Everything felt new, almost unreal at times. Speaking English all day was tiring, and adjusting to a different culture took effort. But his teammates made it easier. The soccer team and the people around campus helped him settle in quickly. Over time, WNCC started to feel familiar. It was not just school or soccer. It became a daily routine where he felt included.

His two years in Scottsbluff turned into something he did not fully expect. He met people from all over the world and built strong friendships through the team and campus life. Living with a roommate and handling everything in a second language pushed him to grow up fast. He became more confident and more comfortable speaking up. By his second year, he was named team captain. The team had good chemistry and stayed close, even if they did not reach all the results they hoped for. Still, he valued every practice, game, and road trip.

Leaving WNCC was harder than he expected. It had become a second home. He transferred to Missouri Valley College, where the level of competition was higher and the environment felt different. There were also more German players, so switching between languages became part of daily life again. Injuries made things difficult, and during his senior year he suffered a serious setback, tearing his ACL, MCL, and hamstring. That injury ended his college playing career earlier than he wanted.

After that, he shifted his focus. He got more involved in school projects, competitions, and internships. He earned a spot with a sports consulting firm and started building his own sports consulting business focused on helping clubs improve on and off the field. After graduating in 2025, he returned to Germany and began working for the Bundesliga. Now he is preparing for his next step, a graduate program in Ohio this fall.

05/25/2026

This Memorial Day, we remember that some of the people who shaped our lives are no longer with us, yet their influence remains.

At WNCC, many of us carry the memory of mentors, professors, and staff who guided us with patience, wisdom, and encouragement. Though they may be gone, the lessons they taught and the belief they had in their students continue to live on in every success story they helped make possible.

We invite you to share their names and the impact they had on your journey. Let’s honor their legacy together and keep their memory alive through the stories we continue to tell.

Drop the mentor you wish you remember in the comments below!

05/22/2026

05/22/2026

Happy Friday!

We want to know if you participated in any of the vocal music programs at WNCC! If so, what years did you sing your heart out?

Feel free to share memories or photos in the comments!

05/21/2026

Congrats to our Adult Education grads!

Congratulations to the 2026 Adult Education class!

Earning your diploma through adult education is a remarkable achievement. You proved that it’s never too late to reach your goals.

We wish each of you a bright future!

05/21/2026

E. Scot Blehm, who most people know as Scot, has been connected to Western Nebraska Community College for a long time. He grew up in Mitchell, Nebraska, and remembers going to Cougar basketball games when he was younger. Those games were a big deal at the time, and he said WNCC always felt like a central part of the community. When it came time for college, that experience helped lead him to WNCC.

Scot attended WNCC from 1989 to 1991 and played on the Cougar basketball team under Coach Dave “Soupy” Campbell. He came in as a student-athlete and really leaned into both sides of that. He worked hard in the classroom and on the court. One of the highlights from that time was being named a USA Today Academic All-American, something he is still proud of when he looks back.

While he was a student, Scot also ended up being part of something that is still visible on campus today. His uncle, Steve Settles, helped with the creation of the “Pursuing Cougar” sculpture, and Scot was able to help with the bronze pouring and later the installation. He was also there for the unveiling. He described it as one of those moments that felt a little unreal, especially because he was so young and in the middle of everything else going on with school and basketball.

Academically, Scot found a lot of direction at WNCC. He especially remembers Gordon Herrick, his chemistry professor, who had a big influence on him and helped build his interest in science. After leaving WNCC, he went on to Colorado State University, where he earned a degree in biology. At that point he thought he might go into medicine, but over time his path shifted as he figured out what really fit him.

His career has taken a few different turns since then. He worked in research for a time, moved into public service, and eventually found his way into financial advising. Scot says a lot of it came from just working hard, staying open to opportunities, and being willing to take chances when they showed up. He also talks a lot about the importance of relationships and the people who supported him along the way.

Scot now lives in Lincoln with his family and is a father of three daughters. He still stays busy running his business, but he is quick to say his family is what matters most to him. When he thinks about WNCC, it is not just about basketball or school. It is about the people, the experiences, and being part of something that ended up shaping a lot of his life without him really realizing it at the time.

05/20/2026

We would once more like to congratulate the class of 2026! Feel free to browse our page to see several videos from graduation!