17 May 2006

Wallace State registered nursing graduates receive pins

HANCEVILLE, AL-- The Wallace State-Hanceville nursing department recognized 199 students graduating from the associate degree nursing program during a pinning ceremony on Friday, May 12 at Tom Drake Coliseum. The ceremony marks the end of a nursing student’s academic career and the beginning of career in nursing.

The lamp lighting ceremony is reminiscent of the lamp that guided Florence Nightingales during the Crimean War.

   After receiving congratulations from Wallace State President Vicki Hawsey, graduates from the Associate Degree Nursing program crossed the stage to receive the school pin and were then presented to the audience.

   “The three words that come to mind when I think of this class are ‘mature,’ ‘generous,’ and ‘industrious,’” said nursing instructor and Level II coordinator Deborah Hoover. “Many of these students have other degrees, they knew what they wanted when they got here, and they are as academically gifted as any class we’ve ever had.”

   Hawsey encouraged student to be ever-cognizant of the responsibilities that come with the privileges of their profession and the opportunities to make a difference in the lives of so many.

   Guest speaker Lisa Ellard, a nurse practitioner, told students that “it’s okay to share emotions with your patients and to let them see you care.”

   After the pinning, students formed a circle, the lights were dimmed and instructors lit the oil lamps held by each student to represent the passing of the light of knowledge. This part of the ceremony commemorates the life’s work of the founder of modern nursing Florence Nightingale and lamp she carried during the Crimean War. Students recited the Nightingale Pledge led by Dr. Nancy Corser, Dean of Health Sciences.

   Each year WSCC nursing faculty members choose as Nightingale Award winners those students who are class role models for their dedication to learning, compassion with patients, and commitment to nursing.

   “These students have risen to the top and embody the spirit of Florence Nightingale,” said Wallace State nursing department program director Dr. Denise Elliot, who made the presentations.

   Recipients of the 2006 Nightingale Awards are Pamela Carver of Blountsville, Shaun Tolbert of Warrior, Benjamin Lee of Birmingham, B.J. Schwab of Cullman and Irica Edwards of Decatur.

   Several additional presentations were made during the ceremony. The class donated $500 to the Hazel M. Outlaw scholarship fund, which assists nursing students with expenses. A donation of $391 was made to the Good Samaritan Clinic and $391 was donated to Hospice of Cullman. The students made two gifts to the school--a framed Wallace State nursing uniform and a quilt.

   The 2005-2006 ADN class officers and representatives were also recognized. They include President Pamela Carver of Prattville, Vice-President Shaun Tolbert of Warrior, Secretary Joy Duncan of Warrior, Treasurer Syrena Young of Blountsville, and Class Representatives Monica Byrd of Danville, Benjamin Lee of Birmingham, B.J. Schwab of Cullman, Jenny Watson of Addison and Tommy Wooten of Columbiana.

   Two nursing students gave special performances. Torri Selvage sang “Hero” by Mariah Carey and Walter Afanasieff. Jeremiah Griffin performed a song he wrote titled “Beautiful.”

   All these students will receive their associate degrees in nursing on Friday, May 19 during Wallace State’s commencement exercises.

Students received oil lamps symbolizing the light of knowledge and the lamp of Florence Nightingale.
Nightingale Award winner Pamela Carver of Prattville with program director Dr. Denise Elliott	Nightingale Award winner Shaun Tolbert of Warrior program director Dr. Denise Elliott	Nightingale Award winner Benjamin Lee of Birmingham program director Dr. Denise Elliott
Nightingale Award winner B.J. Schwab of Cullman program director Dr. Denise Elliott	Nightingale Award winner Irica Edwards of Decatur program director Dr. Denise Elliott	Wallace State nursing students received pins from their instructors signifying the end of their academic career and the beginning of a career in nursing.
The 2005-2006 ADN class officers and representatives pictured with program director Dr. Denise Elliott: (L-R) Front row: President Pamela Carver of Prattville, Vice-President Shaun Tolbert of Warrior, Secretary Joy Duncan of Warrior, and Treasurer Syrena Young of Blountsville. Back row: Class Representatives Jenny Watson of Addison, Benjamin Lee of Birmingham, Tommy Wooten of Columbiana, B.J. Schwab of Cullman, and Monica Byrd of Danville.
		Jeremiah Griffin performs his song “Beautiful”

0160 - Presentation of the nursing students after pinning.

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  Kristen Holmes
  Director, Communications and Marketing
  Wallace State Community College
  P.O. Box 2000
  Hanceville, AL 35077
  256/352-8118
  E-mail: Kristen.Holmes@WallaceState.edu