On Tuesday December 1, Southern Regional Technical College (SRTC) held a drive-through pinning ceremony during which thirty-three Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) students from the LPN to RN Bridge program and the Generic ASN program received their nursing pins. The ceremony commemorates the students’ successful completion of their nursing coursework and clinical rotations. This class of nursing students will officially be Registered Nurses (RN) pending the passage of their board exams. These prospective nurses represent the nursing programs of the Thomasville campus of Southern Regional Technical College.
The students receiving pins were: Jessica Lewis of Valdosta, Veronica Bozeman of Thomasville, Lindsey Cercy of Thomasville, Casey Connell of Cairo, Danielle Dollar of Cairo, Micah Edwards of Moultrie, Ashley Grant of Berlin, Baylee Hanright of Thomasville, Kayla Jernigan of Tifton, Donna Johnson of Tifton, Tyla Joseph of Thomasville, Micaela Lameier of Pavo, Maggie McGunity of Rochelle, Lacee Paulk of Naylor, Cynthia Ramos of Dixie, Temeka Reddick of Quitman, Nancy Rogers of Thomasville, Lauren Newberry of Camilla, Lindsey Stringer of Bainbridge, Demetra Teele of Valdosta, April Thompson of Ochlocknee, Crystal Anderson of Hahira, Alisha Bodiford of Norman Park, Daisy Damian of Omega, Shalandrick Douglas-Jones of Thomasville, Kaleesha Francis of Monticello, Shaquana Gibson of Thomasville, Chenelle Jones of Lamont, Ashley Merritt of Lake Park, Lovpreka Stephenson of Boston, Stefanique Wilson of Thomasville, Margaret Ard of Tallahassee, and Rachel Haynes of Moultrie .
During the pinning ceremony, which symbolizes the rite of passage into the nursing profession, each student received a pin and a small lamp. The pin reminds students of their purpose to serve the sick and infirmed. The lighting portion of the ceremony serves as a tribute to Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern-day nursing. In the nineteenth century, Nightingale was known as the "Lady with the Lamp," tending to the sick while carrying a lamp to light the way. At the ceremony, students also recite the Nightingale pledge stating their dedication to upholding the standards of being a nurse.
“I am very proud of these students. They have worked hard and overcome so much during this program. These students were unable to complete their clinical rotation for the spring and summer semester due to COVID-19. They had to complete their clinical rotation virtually. The fall semester the students were allowed back in the hospital and they have worked hard to catch up on their nursing skills. All the students were excited to be able to get back in the hospital for hands on experience and have stepped up to the plate and done what was asked of them without complaint. I am very proud of each of these students and the local hospitals are going to be blessed to have them come work in their facility,” commented Terry Harper MSN, RN, Associate of Science Nursing Faculty.
At the ceremony, faculty members recognized several students for exceptional achievement during their time in the nursing program. Those awards and their recipients are as follows: Casey Connell and Lovpreka Stephenson earned the Highest Exit Exam Awards. The Clinical Excellence Awards were given to Baylee Hanright and Kaleesha Francis. The Archbold Leadership Awards were given to Casey Connell and Lovpreka Stephenson. Finally, the Nightingale Awards recognized the accomplishments of Demetra Teele and Crystal Anderson.
Casey Connell and Baylee Hanright were each awarded the Clifford and Isabel Fitzgerald Scholarship. The Clifford and Isabel Fitzgerald Scholarship Award was established in 2019 in memory of Mr. and Mrs. Clifford Fitzgerald by a generous contribution from their loving grandchildren. The scholarship provides special funds to a nursing student participating in the Archbold Scholarship Program who demonstrates outstanding qualities for providing excellent nursing care.
The Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) program is designed to prepare students as entry-level practitioners to provide safe, effective nursing care and promote healthy transitions for diverse clients in a variety of settings. This program develops critical thinking, integrates accumulated knowledge from nursing, the sciences and humanities, and emphasizes the values of caring, accountability, responsibility and professional ethics. The SRTC ASN program has been granted approval by the Georgia Board of Nursing and is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN).
SRTC offers over 155 degree, diploma, and certificate programs that are designed to get students quickly into a desired career, and 28 general education courses that transfer to the University System of Georgia institutions and 19 private colleges and universities in Georgia. SRTC has instructional sites located in Colquitt, Decatur, Early, Grady, Miller, Mitchell, Seminole, Thomas, Tift, Turner and Worth counties for the convenience of its students. The College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). SACSCOC is the regional body for the accreditation of degree-granting higher education institutions in the Southern states. For the most up-to-date information on registration, class dates, and program offerings, log on to www.southernregional.edu.
Spring semester begins January 7. Don’t wait, enroll today!