64th Nursing Pinning Held for Traditional Nursing Graduates
DSCC honored its 64th nursing classes with a ceremony for 32 graduates in the traditional nursing program Dec. 14. The ceremony took place at the Covington Civic Center in Covington. A total of 1,741 nursing students have graduated from DSCC over the past 38 years.
Amy Johnson, dean of nursing, opened the ceremony with an introduction of nursing staff and faculty. DSCC President Karen Bowyer acknowledged the graduates and congratulated them on their accomplishments. The ceremony proceeded with the recognition of 37 first-year nursing students.
Nursing instructor Dawn Chalk introduced class officers including president Amy Flowers of Ripley, vice president Andrea Hutchison of Brighton, secretary Shannon Hickman of Henning, treasurer Dawson Price of Memphis and historian Amanda Winters of Millington. Whitney White of Covington served as Student Nursing Association (SNA) president.
“On one hand it seems like 10 years since we started school, but on the other hand just yesterday,” stated Amy Flowers, class president. “Two years ago we were totally unprepared for what it was going to take to become an RN. With the help of very dedicated, experienced and demanding instructors, we are finally here and ready to become nurses.”
Dr. Bowyer presented the Friend of Nursing Award, chosen by the graduating class, to Carl Hicks, custodian at the DSCC Jimmy Naifeh Center at Tipton County.
The Scholastic Award, presented to the student with the highest grade-point average (GPA), was awarded to nursing graduates Hannah Pinner of Covington, who graduated with a 3.6 GPA and Dawson Price of Memphis, who graduated with a 3.56 GPA.
The Leadership Award, presented to a student who demonstrates the qualities essential for effective nursing practice, was awarded to nursing graduate Andrea Hutchison of Brighton.
The Clinical Practice Award, selected by members of the nursing faculty, was presented to nursing graduate Hailey Sain of Bolivar. This award is given to nursing graduates who demonstrate qualities such as the practice of nursing as a humanistic art and science, the recognition of each person as a unique individual and acceptance of legal and ethical professional accountability.
Nursing graduate Bianca Edwards of Milan presented the Friendship Award, chosen by class members, to fellow classmate Tracey Dickson of Trenton.
Amy Johnson, DSCC dean of nursing, presented class pins to the graduates. Following tradition, each nursing graduate received a ceramic replica of the lamp carried by Florence Nightingale, a pioneer in the nursing profession. Nursing graduates lit the lamps and recited the Nightingale Pledge.
The 32 graduates of DSCC’s December 2018 traditional nursing class included:
Atoka – Christine Cina, Amanda Hervey
Bells – Misty Tucker
Bolivar – Hailey Sain
Brighton – Heather Bridges, Andrea Hutchison, Cameron Sanders, Justin White
Burlison – Nicole Tompkins
Cordova – Shelby Clark
Covington – Mikala Blakely, Leah Brewster, Tyriesha Draine, Hannah Pinner, Gabrielle Scott, Whitney White
Drummonds – Savannah Sigler
Dyersburg – Anna Tarkington, Allyson Ware, Kaitlyn Wood
Henning – Shannon Hickman
Jackson – Rachel Griffin
Lexington – Bobbie Agee
Memphis – Dawson Price
Milan – Bianca Edwards
Millington – Margaret Billings, Amanda Winters
Munford – Amanda Rains
Ripley – Lakeisha Currie, Amy Flowers
Tiptonville – Kelly Kolwyck
Trenton – Tracey Dickson
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