CTC nurses receive pins

The Central Texas College Nursing Department will hold a pinning ceremony to commemorate the graduation of 40 students in the Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) Program. The ceremony was held Saturday, May 8 in the CTC Fine Arts Auditorium. Featured speaker will be Karen Shahry, R.N., M.S.N. and CTC nursing professor.

In addition to the pinning service, the Duce Nursing Award and the U.S. Army Nurse Corps Spirit of Nursing Award were presented. Enid Cooke received the Duce Nursing Award from Scott & White Hospital.

Established by Mack and Leora Duce, the Duce Nursing Award is granted to three graduating nurses from Scott & White-affiliated nursing programs at CTC, UMHB and Temple College . Kristy Campbell received the U.S. Army Nurse Corps Spirit of Nursing Award which is presented annually to an undergraduate nursing student for exemplary academic, community and professional achievements.

The tradition of the nursing pin and the ceremonial pinning originated in the 1860's as the founder of modern nursing, Florence Nightingale, honored her most outstanding graduate nurses by presenting each of them with a medal for excellence. Today, nursing graduates select a faculty member, family member or loved one to place the pin on their uniform marking the passage of the student nurse role to the role of a practicing nurse.

Another tribute to Nightingale which has become a tradition with the nursing graduation is the candle lighting ceremony. Each nursing graduate and faculty member is presented a candle which is lit before citing the Nurse's Pledge which serves as a professional mission statement reflecting the deep-seated vision and values of nursing.

The graduates are:

Killeen

Acker, Linda

Agnas, Lyla

Bettinger, Charlotte

Clare, Reeser

Dotson, Charlisse (Anderson)

Esquibel, Linda 

Foote, Amanda

Kimball, Cynthia

Lloren, Narbelito

Madine, Valerie

McCray, Diane

Meyer, Christi

Mintz, Shalon

Payton, Carolyn

Perea, Anna

Sanders, Kenia

Silk, Patricia

Sims, Ayanna

Soileau, Dori

Whidden, Sharelle

Wightman, Jessica

Ft. Hood

Evans, Sue-Anne

Hubbard, Rebecca

Smith, Jennifer

Swagery, Beverly

Harker Heights

Wetherill, Vanessa

Copperas Cove

Eikenberg, Michelle

Hyden, Nancy

Kempner

Byers, Mark

Everts, Heidi

Lyman, David

Pham, Long

Gatesville

Stephens, Ashley

Williams, Judith

Nolanville

Corbin, Lesley

Dillard, Kimberly

Belton

Romero, Michael

Little River

Romine, Jason

Bartlett

Luna, Diana

Lometa

Snell, Vanessa

Leander

Welsh, Chistopher

Round Rock

Mwaniki, Joyce