CUTLINE:

Dr. Nicholas and his 12 year-old patient, April, at a Halloween party at the Incarnation Children's Center in Manhattan, N.Y. (Photo courtesy of Eugene Richards.)

Stephen Nicholas says he never dreamed that one day he would direct the pediatric care unit at Harlam Hospital.

After all, Wyoming is a far cry from Manhattan. According to Nicholas, it was a community college in Casper that prepared him for "the adventure of a lifetime." The "sound education from superb teachers" ignited a spark and laid the foundation for a career that has taken him to the front lines in the care of our world's children.

On Monday, April 11, the American Association of Community Colleges will honor Nicholas as one of its five national Distinguished Alumni for 2005. He is the first Casper College graduate, and first Wyoming community college graduate, to receive the honor.

Bill Landen, director of college relations and alumni at Casper College, says representatives from the college and Nicholas' family and friends will be in Boston for the occasion. "This is a tremendous honor for Dr. Nicholas and for Casper College," Landen said. "He is known throughout the world for his work with AIDS. He has been a tireless ambassador for children, and a true friend to Casper College."

The late Bill Henry was Nicholas' advisor at Casper College. Back then, Nicholas thought he wanted to be a veterinarian, "but to Bill's consternation I loved birds and had never ridden a horse," he says.

Nicholas credits teachers like Margaret Demorest, Floyd Kelly, Jane Katherman, Jim Howard, Jim Milek and Gail Zimmerman for making the difference.

Today, Nicholas is director of pediatrics at Harlem Hospital. He is also professor of pediatrics at the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University. He was one of the founders of the Incarnation Children's Center, a nonprofit facility that cares for

children with AIDS. He continues to serve on that board.

Nicholas is considered one of the world's foremost authorities in pediatrics AIDS. He has now taken his efforts to the Dominican Republic, where he has started a new program to care for HIV-infected women and children. As it did in New York, his work is making a

difference. Along with his humanitarian interests, Nicholas has continued to teach.

After Casper College, Nicholas finished his undergraduate work at the University of Wyoming and was accepted into the University of Colorado Medical School. Through CU, Nicholas interned at Columbia University's medical center. "I was the only intern who wore cowboy

boots," he says.

A Kelly Walsh High School graduate, Nicholas is an inspirational speaker, and says he often talks about where life takes us. During those days of the early 1970s as he walked to Zimmerman's anatomy and physiology class, he would never have dreamed where it would take him.

"Casper College remains very much part of my consciousness, and I am deeply grateful for what the faculty imparted to me," he says.

Others who will be honored at the AACC Convention in Boston include Van Chancellor, head coach/general manager of the Houston Comets (East Central Miss. College); David

Chu, chief executive officer of D.C. Design International (Fashion Institute of New York); Stella Pope Duarte, author/educator (Phoenix College); Michell Hicks, principal chief, Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (Southwestern CC, N.C.); and Margaret Kelly, co-executive

officer, RE/Max International, Inc. (Oakland CC, Mich.).