First Dyersburg Paramedic to RN Class Honored
On Aug. 9, Dyersburg State Community College (DSCC) honored its 67th nursing class with a ceremony for 12 graduates in the first-ever Paramedic to Registered Nurse (RN) Fast Track program at the Dyersburg campus. The ceremony took place inside the First Citizens National Bank Auditorium on the Dyersburg campus. A total of 1,806 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.
Nursing instructor Trenna Richardson introduced class officers including: Preston Boggan of Desoto, Mississippi, president; Matthew Cartwright of Dyersburg, treasurer; and Pedro Lopez of Hendersonville, historian.
“We started off as friends, but we became a family,” stated Preston Boggan, class president. “We all contributed in our own way in order to be where we are today.”
Dr. Karen Bowyer, DSCC president, presented the Friend of Nursing Award, chosen by the nursing students, to Brenda Springfield, DSCC staff member.
The Scholastic Award, presented to the student with the highest grade-point average (GPA), was presented to nursing graduate Matthew Cartwright of Dyersburg, who graduated with a 3.71 GPA.
The Clinical Practice Award, selected by members of the nursing faculty, was presented to nursing graduate Starr Austin of Humboldt. 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 Cory Howard of Bruceton presented the Friendship Award, chosen by class members, to fellow classmate Pedro Lopez of Hendersonville.
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 12 graduates of DSCC’s August 2019 Paramedic to RN Fast Track Nursing Program included:
Arlington – Joshua Pearce
Booneville, Missouri – Joey McVey
Bruceton – Cory Howard
Desoto, Mississippi – Preston Boggan
Dyersburg – Matthew Cartwright
Gibson – Adam King
Hendersonville – Pedro Lopez
Humboldt – Starr Austin
Memphis – Kimberly Winters and Melissa Dyles
Oakland – Matthew Randall
Troy – Samantha Witherington