Dec. 21, 2011
For Immediate Release
Campbellsville University's School of Nursing December 2011 graduates include: front row, from left—Rebecca Adkins, Whitney Bledsoe, Amy Cline, Brittni Corbin, Paula Grant, Tess Collins, LaShella Caldwell and Chelsea Bills. Second row—Leslie Hovious, Kelly Lane, Melissa Netherland, Marci Page, Erin Martin and Tami Jolly. Third row—Christan Richards, Krissy Shirrell, Nikki Taylor, Jennifer Walls, Jennifer Sydnor and Jessica Sharpe. (Campbellsville University Photo by Christina Kern)
By Christina L. Kern, office assistant
CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. — “It's amazing to look out and see our cheerleaders,” Melissa Netherland, class speaker for Campbellsville University's School of Nursing class of December 2011. “We couldn't have done it without you,” she said to the audience at CU's School of Nursing pinning ceremony.
Netherland reflected on each semester during her time with Campbellsville University's School of Nursing beginning with the victory dance when she opened her acceptance letter. “The mailman must have thought I was crazy as I danced in the street,” she said.
She thanked each instructor individually in the School of Nursing by telling a special memory of each one, concluding with “We made it!”
Netherland talked about her time in clinicals saying she was glad she had already been through labor, but “patients started calling me ‘nurse,' and it felt so good.”
She also said it was amazing to have a Christian nursing instructor who would pray for you and pray with you all throughout the journey of nursing school.
“It's time to move on to the next chapter. Don't spend too much time choosing the right opportunity that you miss it. Ladies, we made it!”
Dr. Jay Conner, chair of Campbellsville University's Board of Trustees, said, “I can tell you with great assurance you are needed.” He mentioned the baby boomers are turning 65 and said, “Nurses are needed and they're going to be really busy.”
“We look forward to hearing stories of fulfilling CU's mission of servant leadership,” Conner said.
Dr. Frank Cheatham, vice president for academic affairs, said the discussion of starting a School of Nursing began in 2001. December 2011 is the fifth class to graduate from Campbellsville University's School of Nursing.
“Nurses may not be angels, but they are the next best thing,” he said.
The following students graduated from Campbellsville University's School of Nursing in December 2011: Rebecca Gayle Adkins of Nicholasville, Ky.; Chelsea Ann Bills of Greensburg, Ky., received the award of excellence; Whitney Lynn Bledsoe of Russell Springs, Ky.; LaShella Umesa Caldwell of Campbellsville, Ky., received the clinical excellence award; Amy Nicole Cline of Scottsville, Ky., received the academic award; Tessa Elise Daffron Collins of Campbellsville, Ky., received the servant leadership award; Brittni Joy Corbin of Columbia, Ky.;
Paula Jean Grant of Lebanon, Ky.; Leslie Jo Hovious of Glensfork, Ky.; Tami Jolly of Edmonton, Ky.; Kelly Ann Lane of Campbellsville, Ky.; Erin Kaye Martin of Campbellsville, Ky.; Melissa Renee Netherland of Campbellsville, Ky.; Marcie Lynn Page of Elizabethtown, Ky., received the highest passing score; Christan Faith Richards of Beaver Dam, Ky.;
Jessica Ellen Scott Sharpe of Greensburg, Ky.; Kristin Nicole Shirrell of Campbellsville, Ky.; Jennifer Lynn Sydnor of Eastview, Ky.; Ashley Nicole Taylor of Greensburg, Ky.; and Jennifer Lynne Walls of Columbia, Ky.
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. The website for complete information is campbellsville.edu