Nursing Students Honored in Drive Through Pinning Ceremony at SRTC-Tifton

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On Thursday, April 29, Southern Regional Technical College (SRTC) held a drive through pinning ceremony during which twenty-one Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) students received their nursing pins. The ceremony commemorates the students’ successful completion of their nursing coursework and clinical rotations. This class of nursing students are also invited to participate in SRTC’s formal graduation ceremony during the summer and will officially be Registered Nurses (RN) pending the passage of their board exams. These prospective nurses represent the nursing program of the Tifton campus of Southern Regional Technical College.

The students receiving pins were: Courtney Billings of Tifton, Amanda Collins of Valdosta, Max Diaz of Valdosta, D'Nea Griggs of Fort Valley, Katelyn Hancock of Tifton, Madison Hancock of Sylvester, Marianne Harrell of Norman Park, Kimjuana Ivey of Tifton, Cornellia Lane of Tifton, Charlie Maes of Poulan, Karen Massey of Tifton, Aylisa Phillips of Omega, Marisol Pineda of Tifton, Laura Rabidoux of Ashburn, Emma Richardson of Tifton, Gabriella Sellars of Tifton, Michaela Thompson of Tifton, Danyelle Vining of Adel, Kathleen Whiddon of Ashburn, Audrey Williams of Ashburn, and Alexis Young of Moultrie.

During the pinning ceremony, which symbolizes the rite of passage into the nursing profession, students received a pin and a small lamp from the safety of their vehicle. The pin reminds students of their purpose to serve the sick and infirmed. The lamp 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.

“The Tifton class of 2021 were in their first semester of nursing when COVID 19 hit the United States,” said ASN Instructor Bobbie Hester, MSN, RN. “Nursing school is tough in the best of situations; however, these students had to pack up their books and continue through online learning. One group of students went to clinicals their first semester one day before facilities notified us that they were closing the facilities to all visitors, families, and students. The students were able to return for clinical and skills labs in small groups for the Fall semester. These students have completed their clinical hours and the required community volunteer hours to achieve their opportunity to sit for the NCLEX exam. This group of students are eager to get into the hospital to provide the excellent care our communities deserve.”

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: Marisol Pineda earned the Highest Exit Exam Award. The Clinical Excellence Award was presented to Kimjuana Ivey, who was also honored with the Nightingale Award. The Southwell Leadership Award was given to Audrey Williams.

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 130 degree, diploma, and certificate programs that are designed to get you quickly into your 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 our 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.

Summer semester begins May 13. Don’t wait, enroll today!


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