Outstanding Alumni Award

The Outstanding Alumni Award has been presented annually since 1988 to an alum of Rhodes State College or Lima Technical College who has distinguished him/herself both professionally and through community service activities. These accomplishments may emphasize professional, social or educational values. Past recipients represent a wide variety of area citizenship, leadership and professional excellence.

The 2024 Rhodes State College Outstanding Alumni Award recipient was Dr. Nicholas Pratt

Associate of Applied Science - Nursing, 2014

Nicholas Pratt, MD, RN has represented himself as an alumnus of Rhodes State College on both the national and international level. He is one of the nation's few graduates of nursing school and medical school. He is currently a resident physician at one of the nation's top psychiatric residency training programs at Yale University. He has authored several peer-reviewed publications on important topics like the impact of artificial intelligence and social media. Additionally, he has contributed to the arts through photography and was named a three-time Featured Artist in art shows in New York City and Connecticut.

In 2014, Nicholas earned his Associate of Science in Nursing degree from Rhode State and went on to attain two bachelor’s degrees, one in Nursing from The Ohio State University, and the other in Health Science from Cleveland State University. In 2022, he earned his Doctor of Medicine degree from Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED) and went on to his residency at the Yale University School of Medicine Department of Psychiatry in New Haven, Connecticut.

He began his career in the medical field as a Patient Care Technician in the Cardiac Intervention Unit at Lima Memorial Health System in 2013. He moved on to Blanchard Valley Health System as a Registered Staff Nurse and, then, to the Vascular Institute as a Critical Care Nursing Intern. He returned to Lima Memorial Health System in 2015 as a Registered Nurse in Critical Care. And, from there, went on to medical school.

Nicholas currently serves as a member of the American Psychiatric Association and Alpha Omega Alpha.  At Rhodes State, he has returned to encourage and instruct students as well as serve as the featured speaker at the 2017 Scholarship Awards Reception.

“My time at Rhodes State College has tremendously impacted my personal and professional life,” he said. “I would characterize it as my most impactful academic experience. It provided me with real-world experience, ignited my passion for the healing arts, and kickstarted my career. My journey at Rhodes enriched me with invaluable mentorship and a community that championed my ambitions. Rhodes State College provides our community with transformative impacts. I am proud to have represented Rhodes State on both the national and, now, international scale. I look forward to continuing to do so.”

Outstanding Alumni Archive