Wayne State College
Menu

Outstanding Alumni Awards

Recent Recipients

Graduates from each of the college's four schools are honored each year during Homecoming as Outstanding Alumni in their chosen fields.

School of Arts and Humanities

Hannah Stout '16

Hannah StoutHannah Stout, J.D., is currently the head of the Domestic Violence Unit at the Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office in Kane County, Illinois.

During her time at WSC, Stout majored in Speech Communication (Organizational Leadership and Public Relations). Stout was also a four-year member of the soccer team.

After graduation, Stout attended law school at DePaul University College of Law, where she graduated with a certificate in criminal law. Stout graduated magna cum laude and with the honor of Order of the Coif, awarded to the top 10% of the graduating class. As a first-year law student, Stout volunteered at the Domestic Violence Legal Clinic, where she assisted pro se petitioners in drafting paperwork for orders of protection. While volunteering, Stout realized she had a desire to help survivors of domestic violence navigate legal proceedings, as well as a passion to be a voice for the survivors during a time of need and uncertainty. As a result, Stout went on to intern with the Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office in the domestic violence unit.

Upon passing the bar exam, Stout began her career as an Assistant State’s Attorney (ASA) in Kane County. Stout started in the misdemeanor domestic violence courtroom prosecuting crimes of domestic battery and violations of orders of protection. From there, Stout moved to general felony. In that role, Stout prosecuted crimes including felony retail thefts, aggravated battery, unlawful possession of a weapon, and unlawful possession of a controlled substance. As an ASA Hannah has tried several cases and argued hundreds of motions in court. Stout’s trials include both bench and jury. During trial, Stout performed several roles including selecting a jury; providing opening statements; conducting direct examinations of victims, experts, police officers, and witnesses; leading cross examinations of defendants; and arguing closing statements.  Notably, Stout’s trial experience includes cases in which the defendant was charged with armed robbery, armed habitual criminal, and murder.

Recently, Stout was promoted to the supervisor/head of the Domestic Violence Unit. As the supervisor, Stout oversees felony and misdemeanor attorneys prosecuting crimes of domestic violence. Additionally, Stout handles complex cases of domestic violence including attempt murders, strangulations, and home invasions.

Stout credits her time at WSC for her success in her career; specifically, the Communication Department, which instilled within Stout the foundation and skills necessary to prepare witnesses and victims for their day in court, as well as to fiercely advocate on behalf of domestic violence survivors.

When Stout is not in the courtroom, she enjoys spending time with her twin daughters, Nora and Grace (6 months), and her husband, Brian.

School of Business and Technology

Jason Avenell '98

Jason AvenellJason Avenell is the COO, co-founder, and “chief idea guy” of OneStaff Medical. Avenell graduated from Coleridge High School in 1993 and attended Wayne State College from 1993 to 1998. Graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Human Resource Management, Avenell’s focus on people leadership was always apparent.

Avenell moved to Omaha in 1998, beginning his career in staffing at C&A Industries within their AurStaff Division and specializing in light industrial staffing until 2001. After years away from the industry, working within various positions, he was drawn back into staffing in 2007. Avenell quickly found a passion for the health care staffing industry. The vision for OneStaff Medical evolved from a conversation in 2000 with longtime and loyal friend Jack Swinney over lunch at a local Omaha diner. In March 2010, their vision for OneStaff Medical would be put in place, based on their individual professional experiences, and they never looked back. Their goal was to create a workplace that employees would appreciate going to every single morning, and feel the opportunity for true professional growth, and “life advancement,” while doing so.

In 2023, OneStaff made Inc. 5000’s list of “Fastest Growing Private Companies in America” for the 10th year in a row. With 528% growth over the last three years, the company has faced challenges within the industry, and come out on the other side with massive growth trajectory.

Beyond the success of OneStaff Medical, Avenell is also responsible for vetting out and being a small-business incubator for other successful business start-ups under their umbrella, including OneBilling Solutions and One Transcription Services. Both with similar stories, Avenell being presented an opportunity, and with his strategic mind for business, he’s turned those into successful ventures as well.

Outside of the office, Avenell still keeps that bar high. He is a husband and a father to three busy girls. He says he’s focused on building a life and future for those that he loves in his personal life just as passionately as he is with his work family.

School of Education and Behavioral Sciences

Rick '82 and Jayne (Ott) Wimer '83 (MSE '89)

Rick and Jayne WimerRick Wimer graduated from Tekamah-Herman High School in 1975. After graduation, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and served for three years on active duty with deployments to Iwo Kuni, Japan, and Okinawa for one year with military operations in Korea and Australia. He continued to serve as a Marine Reservist for 10 years.

Rick started college while on active duty at the College of the Desert in Twentynine Palms, Calif., and upon leaving active duty, he attended UNO for two semesters. Rick became a full-time student at Wayne State College, graduating with a B.A. in Business Education in 1982. While attending WSC, he belonged to Blue Key. He also served as the college’s student veteran affairs officer.

After graduation, Rick taught business at Holy Family School in Lindsay, Neb., for four years. After teaching, Rick started an insurance business in West Point, Neb., with Don Peterson and Associates, which is now INSPRO Insurance. He has been in the insurance business for more than 36 years and is very active in the community. He continued to remain active in education by coaching football, conducting mock interviews with high school seniors, serving as a guest speaker for business and history classes, giving tours of the West Point American Veteran’s Park and the rescue squads, and participating on the local scholarship committee.

He served 25 years on the fire department and has been a volunteer EMT for 38 years. 

Other awards include:
2005 Department EMT of the Year
2015 Mutual Aid EMT of the Year
2012 Legion State EMT of the Year
2023 VFW State EMT of the Year 2023
2013 West Point Chamber of Commerce Community Service Award Recipient
1989-90 West Point Optimist of the Year
2015 NE American Legion American Citizenship Award
2016 State Legion Department Recruiter of the Year

Jayne Wimer is a retired teacher with 36 years of experience. Her desire to teach came from her family of teachers including a grandmother, both parents, several aunts, uncles, and cousins, many of whom also graduated from Wayne State College.

The Tekamah native graduated from Wayne State College in 1983 with a B.A. in elementary education. Jayne taught kindergarten, sixth, seventh, and eighth grade in Lindsay, Neb., for four years. It was at that time she began her master’s program at Wayne State College.

After moving to West Point in 1987, Jayne received an M.S. degree in Elementary Education with a middle school endorsement in Math. She spent the next 32 years teaching seventh, eighth, and ninth grade math at West Point-Beemer Public Schools. She was also a Mathcounts coach and junior high student council sponsor for several years.

Jayne retired from teaching in 2020. She continues to be involved in education by conducting student mock interviews for high school seniors and substitute teaching at Guardian Angel Central Catholic Schools. She also works for Wayne State College supervising student teachers each semester.

The Wimers have been involved with the organization and implementation of 12 Honor Flights to Washington D.C. They and their children have been guardians or bus captains for all the trips.

The Wimers have five adult children, all of whom followed in their parents’ footsteps in one way or another. Drew, a WSC graduate, is an insurance agent and works alongside Rick. Erica graduated from WSC in 2016, earned her master’s degree in 2020, and is a kindergarten teacher at Guardian Angels Central Catholic Schools. Ross served in the Marine Corps. Their son Brandt is currently serving as a pilot in the Marine Corps, and daughter Jena served in the Marine Corps reserves in Omaha. The Wimers continue to be involved in the community and are strong supporters of those who serve in the military.

School of Science, Health, and Criminal Justice

Jack W. Swinney '97

Jack SwinneyJack Swinney is the CEO and co-founder of OneStaff Medical. Swinney was born and raised in the Wayne area and graduated from Wayne High School in 1993. After attending Wayne State College and graduating with a degree in Political Science, he moved to Omaha in 1998 to pursue what would become his chosen path.

Swinney’s career began as a management trainee in 1998 at Omaha’s First National Bank, later managing one of the financial sections of the bank handling high risk loans. Successful, but not finding it rewarding enough for his personality, he turned to the travel nurse industry in September 2000. Rising from recruiter to branch manager at Aureus Medical, Swinney’s energetic sales leadership vibe carved a path and opened a realm of opportunity leading to the success he’s seen to date. After four years with Aureus, a conversation with a longtime and loyal friend over lunch at a local Omaha diner changed their lives forever. They both had a vision for how they could disrupt the travel nurse industry based on their own experience and where they saw room for improvement for the employees and traveler experience. Their goal was to create a workplace that employees would appreciate going to every morning and feel the opportunity for true professional growth while doing so. That loyal friend was Jason Avenell ‘98, another graduate of Wayne State College, co-founder and COO of OneStaff. That lunchtime conversation gave birth to OneStaff Medical in 2010.

In 2023, OneStaff made Inc. 5000’s list of “Fastest Growing Private Companies in America” for the 10th year in a row. With 528% growth over the last three years, the company has faced challenges within the industry, and come out on the other side with massive growth trajectory.

Outside of the office, Swinney helps coach his son’s Little League baseball and junior tackle football teams, which take up most of the spare time he has, nearly 10 months out of the year. Outside of his kids’ sports, he still enjoys an occasional round of golf and ensures he invests in his own family by carving out quality time with his wife Katie and their five kids, making memories.