Dec. 16, 2014
For Immediate Release
By Joan C.
McKinney, news and publications coordinator
CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. - Dr. Frank Cheatham, senior vice
president for academic affairs at Campbellsville University, said he didn't
think anyone could be in better hands than those of a Campbellsville University
nurse.
Cheatham
spoke at CU's annual associate degree nursing program pinning ceremony Dec. 11
at Ransdell Chapel.
He
said “competence, caring and compassion” are traits of a Campbellsville
University nurse as 28 students were pinned and then went on to receive their
degrees the next afternoon.
Cheatham,
who serves on the Taylor Regional Hospital board, told the nurses to have
competence, caring and compassion as they go into the work force. He reminded
the graduates Campbellsville University offers a bachelor of science in nursing
degree.
Dr. James Jones,
pastor of Pleasant Hill Baptist Church and church outreach special assistant,
blessed the nurses in a special ceremony.
Dr. Bob Wade,
dean of the School of Nursing, gave special awards to Patricia Tupman of
Columbia, Ky., who received the Academic Award and the Clinical Excellence
Award. An Award of Excellence was presented to Jesslyn Kelsey of Stanford, Ky.,
and Rachel Smith of Louisville, Ky. received the Servant Leadership Award.
Kisha Miller of
Russell Springs, Ky. was recognized for having the highest score on the Health
Education Systems Inc. (HESI) Exit Exam of 1,078. The national average is
850-950.
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| Tonya Kessler of Campbellsville, Ky., urges her fellow classmates to thank those who have helped them during their education. (Camp- bellsville University Photo by Joan C. McKinney) |
Tonya Kessler of
Campbellsville, Ky. was the guest speaker. She thanked the nursing faculty for
“molding us into great nurses.” She thanked her “nursing family” for their
“loving smiles, words and encouragement.”
“We've cried,
laughed and celebrated together,” she said.
She also said
each graduate should thank their families who supported them during their
classwork and taking time from their family lives to study.
The 2014 nursing
graduates include: Sarah Apedaile of Hendersonville, Tenn.; Renee Bell of
Campbellsville; Lara Bland of Campbellsville; Erin Clarkson of Bonita Springs,
Fla.;
Jessica Cross of
Russell Springs, Ky.; Mackenzie Gentry of Greensburg, Ky.; Cheyenne Gettings of
Greensburg, Ky.; Brittany Grant of Glasgow, Ky.; Bethany Gusler of Sonora, Ky.;
Hillary Hutchison
of Columbia, Ky.; Jesslyn Kelsey of Stanford, Ky.; Tonya Kessler of
Campbellsville, Ky.; Jeannie Lyons of Liberty, Ky.; Carla Mattingly of Lebanon,
Ky.; Barbara McGuffin of Albany, Ky.;
Kisha Miller of
Russell Springs, Ky.; Alex Montgomery of Campbellsville, Ky.; Melinda Osborne
of Elkhorn, Ky.; Thomas Singleton of Campbellsville, Ky.; Rachel Smith of
Louisville, Ky.; Deborah Sullivan of Campbellsville, Ky.; Sarah Tanaka of
Campbellsville, Ky.; Emily Taylor of Liberty, Ky.; Patricia Tupman of Columbia,
Ky.; Jackyln Wahl of Liberty, Ky.; Madison Walls of Lebanon, Ky.; Katie Watson
of Elkhorn, Ky.; and Emilee York of Liberty.
Rachel Smith sang
special music during the ceremony; Jesslyn Kelsey gave the invocation, and Erin
Clarkson gave the closing prayer.
There was a
Lighting of the Lamps ceremony led by Sharon Thomas, instructor in nursing, and
Jennifer Richerson, secretary for the School of Nursing. Rhonda Vale,
clinical/lab coordinator, and Faith Corbin, nursing lab assistant, distributed
red roses to the graduates.
Campbellsville University is
a widely acclaimed Kentucky-based Christian university with more than 3,500
students offering 63 undergraduate options, 17 master's degrees, five
postgraduate areas and eight pre-professional programs.