When Patricia Limo crossed the stage at Newman University’s 2025 commencement ceremony, it marked the culmination of a challenging but rewarding journey.
Named the 2025 Distinguished Bachelor of Science in Nursing Award recipient, Limo left an indelible mark on the university community through her commitment to nursing, record-breaking cross-country career and ever-present kindness.
During the School of Healthcare Professions pinning ceremony on May 16, Newman Director of Nursing Ashton Clarkson praised Limo’s dedication and heart for service.
“Patricia’s experiences at such a young age have set her on a path to truly making a difference in the lives of others,” Clarkson said. “She will be joining the Navy Nurse Corps to serve the men and women of our country with the goal of bettering patient care and a future goal of meeting the needs of nursing education.”
Impactful beginnings led to nursing
Limo’s journey to Newman began thousands of miles away in a small village in Uganda, where her dream of becoming a nurse first took root.
As a child, she observed the village elders using herbs from their gardens to treat various diseases. Limo helped care for the children affected by a parasitic skin disease caused by female sand fleas.
“We call them ‘jiggers,’” Limo explained. “When the children went to dusty places, they would get those jiggers and get an infection. So I would just sit with them, remove the jiggers, pick it all out and trim it so they wouldn’t get infected again. Then I’d wash their feet and send them off.”
This, combined with her natural caregiving role as the second oldest of seven siblings and a single mother, gave Limo a strong sense of purpose.
Limo said she doesn’t want to be just any nurse — she wants to be an “extraordinary one.” Even so, she admitted she was nervous when she first arrived at Newman University.
“When I first came here, I was afraid and I didn’t know if I’d be able to go to nursing school,” she said. “So to be able to receive the BSN award … that means everything to me. That means I’m capable of doing everything so long as I put my mind to it and involve God in it. With him, I’ll always prosper.”
Her time in Newman’s nursing program was both rigorous and rewarding. Clinical rotations exposed her to the realities of U.S. health care, including the need for more diversity in the profession. This is something Limo hopes to influence moving forward.
“During my labor and delivery rotation, I noticed it wasn’t very diverse,” Limo said. “The best way to enhance diversity is to have an open mind and be nonjudgmental.”
Discipline through and through
Balancing the demands of being a nursing student and an athlete can be challenging, but Limo managed to excel in both.
Limo described cross-country as more than a sport — it was her sanctuary. She also emerged as a quiet leader among her teammates, often advocating for improvements in training to prevent injury.
“One of the problems was mostly related to injuries due to running on concrete, so I recommended he take us to dirt roads instead,” she explained. “The other challenge I faced was not having other girls who ran the same pace as me. For the majority of the time, the coach wanted us to run as a team, but I wanted to run more and faster because I knew I wanted to be better.”
That advocacy paid off, as Limo broke a university record and became the first woman in Newman history to compete at the national championship in 2023.
“I’ve been an athlete for about six years now, running cross-country for different schools, but Newman is where I made history,” she said. “It might not mean a lot to Newman, but it means everything to me.”
Prepared for her future
Limo said she has received “all that I need” to live a decent life from Newman University.
“Not only because of academics but also through cross-country,” Limo continued. “Coach (Josh Schepis) always said that he was preparing us for our careers.”
She also credits her professors for going beyond their call of duty.
“If I were to go out right now and be a nurse, I feel like I would do great things because of people like Dr. Melissa Romaneschi, who believed in me more than I believed in myself,” Limo said. “When I was struggling, I didn’t need to talk to a counselor. My professors were already that for me. They pushed me to be better.”
On the eve of commencement, Limo was surrounded by family, friends, professors and her cross-country coach — all there to celebrate her achievements.
“My mom is here, my brother, my husband, my coach … and so many friends and professors,” she said. “It means everything.”
In addition to faith and a strong support system, Limo said kindness has been her guiding compass throughout her undergraduate journey. She fostered it further as a volunteer for The Lord’s Diner and United Methodist Open Door, two nonprofit organizations that serve individuals experiencing homelessness and food insecurity in Wichita.
“I feel like being kind has pushed me a long way,” she said. “Newman’s culture and the people here changed me. I feel like I’m leaving a better person than when I first arrived.”
Eyes on the horizon
Now as a Newman graduate, Limo is preparing for the next phase of her life as a nurse in the U.S. Navy. She hopes to serve with compassion and always listen to where God is leading her.
“Joining the Navy Nurse Corps is a big step,” she said. “But it’s one I’m ready for. I hope to travel to places that need help. From there, I’ll see what God wants for me personally, even after the Navy.”
Her long-term dream is to one day return to Africa and open a free clinic, possibly in Uganda or Kenya, her husband’s native country.
“I want to help the vulnerable,” she said. “That’s what I feel called to do.”
Limo said she “would absolutely” recommend Newman’s nursing program to others.
“It’s hard to describe how great this program has been for me,” she said. “I just feel ready and prepared. I know I can be a safe, effective nurse because of Newman.”
Whether she’s running on a trail, serving patients in a hospital or walking across the deck of a Navy ship, Limo aspires to be the nurse God is calling her to be.
Explore Newman nursing
The Bachelor of Science in Nursing program at Newman University provides a unique educational experience, highlighting challenges students will face in their careers as healthcare professionals, to equip them to transform society.
