Alumni Spotlight: Kenneth Hall
Licensed Practical Nursing
Class of 2025
After serving his community in the military and later as a police officer, Kenneth Hall knew he wanted to continue helping others — but in a different way. His next step after retiring from law enforcement wasn’t about salary, schedule, or convenience. It was personal.
“My mom spent time in a nursing home before she passed away last year,” he shared. There were moments he “wouldn’t want other people’s parents and grandparents to experience.” He realized that one of the greatest influences on a patient’s experience is “the quality of the nurse or CNA — the better the quality, the better the treatment, the better the lifestyle they’re going to have.”
This reflection sparked a passion to help others live with dignity, comfort, and respect — and led him to pursue nursing at Butler Tech.
For Kenneth, nursing is not just a career change — it is a way to honor others in the same way he wished someone would have cared for his own family. He is focused on passing medications on time, but he also believes meaningful care comes from acknowledging the patient, appreciating their wisdom, and reminding them they matter. “Just having someone take the time to talk with them can mean more than anything.”
While researching programs, he discovered Butler Tech was close to home and highly respected. “Everybody I talked to said you guys were an outstanding school.”
After completing the program, Kenneth spent a few weeks studying, passed the NCLEX-PN, took time to reset, and is now working as an LPN. He reflects that Butler Tech “was a great experience. There were ups and downs, the stressful days, the great days. You definitely had to put in your work.”
The support he received made a lasting difference. “I liked all my instructors. All of them genuinely cared about you and went above and beyond.”
Two staff members stood out in particular: Mr. Dan Stuart and Ms. Diane Raack. Both offered one-on-one encouragement during moments of doubt. Kenneth shared, “I don’t care who you are, you will get to that point eventually because of the workload and everything else, where you’re like, I can’t do this. These conversations I had with Ms. Diane up front, and Mr. Stuart put me back on my game.”
His advice to future students emphasizes consistency and commitment. “Read your books, set the time aside, and take breaks to let your mind refresh.” He also encourages students to take preparation for the Health Education Systems Incorporated (HESI) exams seriously throughout the program, saying, “The NCLEX wasn’t too bad after the HESIs.”
Today, Kenneth is working as an LPN at Otterbein, a facility he first experienced during clinical rotations. The transition from student to caregiver has been meaningful. He now works directly with residents, building trust, sharing conversations, and offering daily comfort and care — exactly the kind of impact that inspired his career shift.
His journey reflects something core to Butler Tech alumni — the belief that it is never too late to pursue a new passion, learn something new, and make a difference in someone’s life. Kenneth shared that nursing has given him “a reason to smile every day,” and he hopes others will take the step if they feel called to care. “Do it because you actually care about the people you’re going to be treating,” he said. That is where true impact and success start.