Nursing Graduates Honored with Pinning Ceremony
On May 7, Dyersburg State Community College (DSCC) honored its 65th and 66th nursing classes with a ceremony for 28 graduates in the Advanced Standing LPN to RN Fast Track Program and 21 graduates in the Traditional Nursing Program. The ceremony took place inside the E.H. Lannom, Jr. Gymnasium on the Dyersburg campus. A total of 2,029 nursing students have graduated from DSCC over the past 40 years.
The ceremony began with nursing graduate Tonika Crawley of Covington leading the invocation. Amy Johnson, dean of nursing, opened the ceremony by addressing the nursing graduates. “Graduates, today is a very special day,” stated Dean Johnson. “I have seen you overcome many obstacles. Going to nursing school during a pandemic, has not been easy. I challenge you to maintain your positive spirit and your love for mankind.”
Dr. Karen Bowyer, president of DSCC, acknowledged the graduates and congratulated them on their many accomplishments.
Traditional nursing class officers included Jenna Watson of Friendship, president, Lauren Simmons of Newbern, vice president, Katelyn Hurst of Dyer, secretary, Gracie Hurst of Rutherford, historian, and Destiny Hutchison of Burlison, historian. LPN to RN nursing class officers included Savannah Smothers of Hollow Rock, president, Seth French of Beech Bluff, vice president, Farrah Lewis of Trenton, secretary, and Madison Cupples of Jackson, historian.
Jenna Watson of Friendship, traditional nursing class president, addressed her classmates. “As this chapter closes, another one is opening,” stated Watson. “Our dream of becoming a nurse is now a reality. As new graduate nurses, I challenge each of you and myself to never stop letting our light shine. May we do everything with compassion and never forget why we chose to become a nurse.”
Savannah Smothers of Hollow Rock, LPN to RN nursing class president, stated, “We did it! What felt like forever away, is finally here. With a lot of hard work and dedication, we overcame any obstacle that stood in our way. From sleepless nights of studying, through the anxiety, the tears and the laughter, we survived and learned a lot along the way.”
Dr. Jan Reid-Bunch, vice president for the college, presented the Friend of Nursing Award, chosen by each of the nursing classes, to Grant Purvis of Dyersburg. This award is presented to an employee at the College who has supported and helped the nursing students throughout their time in the nursing program.
The Scholastic Awards, presented to the student with the highest grade-point average (GPA), was presented to traditional nursing graduate Megan Taylor of Trenton, who graduated with a 3.50 GPA, and to LPN to RN graduate Annie Redict of Eads, who graduated with a 3.70 GPA.
The Clinical Practice Award, selected by nursing faculty members, was presented to traditional nursing graduate Jenna Watson of Friendship and LPN to RN graduate Michelle Doss of Dyersburg. 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.
Traditional nursing graduate Tonika Crawley of Covington was presented the Friendship Award, chosen by classmates. Samantha Smother of Hollow Rock was presented the Friendship Award from her LPN to RN nursing program classmates.
The Peggy Pendergrast Faculty Award was awarded to traditional nursing graduate Mari-Hanna Short of Hornbeak and LPN to RN graduate Allyson Gulledge of Lexington. This special award, given in honor of Peggy Pendergrast, the founding director of the DSCC nursing program, is presented to a student demonstrating the qualities that are essential for effective nursing practice.
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. LPN to RN nursing graduate Jennifer Bentley of Tiptonville closed the ceremony with a Benediction.
The 28 graduates of DSCC’s May 2021 Advanced Standing LPN to RN fast track class included:
- Adamsville – Jacob Holloway
- Beech Bluff – Michael French, Seth French
- Bradford – Kayla Bromley
- Brownsville – Lashunda Currie
- Dresden – Ashly Cobb
- Dyersburg – Laura Doss
- Eads – Annie Redict
- Finger – Tonya Heathcock
- Hollow Rock – Savannah Smothers
- Huntingdon – Lacee Hodo
- Jackson – Kaitlyn Beaty, Madison Cupples, Anna Krisko, Chiquita Shaw
- Lexington – Salina Beal, Krista Ellis, Megan Fielder, Allyson Gulledge, Jessica Johnson, Tanner Ward
- Martin – Sarah Poiner
- Milan – Rachel Moody
- Millington – Morgan Petties
- Sardis – Jennifer Blackwell
- Tiptonville – Jennifer Bentley
- Trenton – Farrah Lewis
- Troy – Holly Steward
The 21 graduates of DSCC’s May 2021 traditional nursing class included:
- Brighton – Krista Davis, Robert Davis
- Brownsville – Brandi Hammonds
- Burlison – Destiny Hutchison
- Covington – Tonika Crawley
- Dyer – Katelyn Hurst
- Erin – Kaitlyn Hooper
- Friendship – Jenna Watson
- Germantown – Holly Peterson
- Halls – McKenzie Curtis
- Henry – Samatrona Wygul
- Hornbeak – Mari-Hanna Short
- Jackson – Celina Minton, Manuel Perez Cadena
- Newbern – John Andrew, Lauren Simmons
- Ripley – Afton Binkley
- Rutherford – Gracie Hurst
- Trenton – Megan Taylor
- Union City – Leah Farrar, Belinda Holloway