Dr. Andrew Nydegger given Distinguished Graduate Award for work and volunteer efforts supporting nurses locally and across Utah
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (Aug. 18, 2023) – Western Governors University (WGU) has selected Dr. Andrew Nydegger among 15 recipients of the 2023 Distinguished Graduate Award. The online, nonprofit university presents that honor to alumni across the nation who have made remarkable contributions in their professional fields and to their communities. Nydegger is the only recipient from Utah among this year’s winners.
“WGU has always been about changing lives for the better through quality and accessible higher education,” said Ismar Vallecillos, Director of WGU’s Northwest Region. “Dr. Nydegger embodies the essence of what it means to be a WGU graduate. His accomplishments post-graduation are a testament to the university’s mission, and we are immensely proud to have him as a part of our community.”
Nydegger is a prominent advocate for the nursing profession in Utah and across the nation. He is the current President of the Utah Nurses Association (UNA), as well as the Director at Large for the Executive Leadership committee of the American Nurses Association. Additionally, he is the Utah delegate to the Nursing Advocate Institute and a senior administrator for the Arizona College of Nursing. Nydegger is a veteran of the US Air Force. He earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of Utah, two master’s from WGU, and a doctor of nursing practice from Samford University.
“When I transitioned out of the military, my education from WGU helped me establish a happy, meaningful career in healthcare,” said Nydegger. “I am passionate about my work and making a difference in my community. For WGU to recognize my efforts with the Distinguished Graduate Award is humbling and inspiring.”
WGU is the nationally recognized online university headquartered in the Salt Lake City area. Established in 1997, WGU has awarded nearly 350,000 bachelor’s and master’s degrees to students in healthcare, as well as business, IT, and teaching. Degree programs in the university’s Leavitt School of Health – named for former Utah governor and co-founder of WGU, Mike Leavitt – are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. WGU has been named a 2021-2026 Center of Excellence in Nursing Education by the National League for Nursing.
For more details on the WGU Distinguished Graduate Award and its recipients, please visit the WGU Alumni website.
