The Mennonite 7 is a group of seven 1983 graduates who met as freshmen in Troyer Hall and bonded as a group that went through clinicals as a team throughout much of their degree work: Patty Haberkorn, Jayme Lottinville, Cindy Malinowski, Velma Shetler, Lori Troyer, Ellen Wylie, and Linda Ziemer. The friendship created remained strong even after each left campus to begin their life-long work in nursing.
Through the years they have collectively worked in the areas of cardiac ICU, hospice, medical surgical, obstetrics, urology, developmental disability, enterprise risk management, and education. Successes and challenges were shared as the ladies encouraged and supported each other through professional and life changes that include seven weddings, 23 children, and 11 grandchildren.
They continue to meet regularly and have enjoyed 11 gatherings in five states.
Conversations typically include reflections on the memories made while surviving classes and clinicals as undergraduates and the many ways health care has changed since the group members earned their degrees 41 years ago. They also reminisce about how each has remained true to the nursing profession and as a result, touched countless lives.
