Awards Given During Nurses Pinning Ceremony
05/05/06
Belton, Texas – The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, Scott and White College of Nursing held its Pinning Ceremony on Friday, May 5 in the W.W. Walton Chapel on the university campus.Thirty-four graduates participated in the Pinning Ceremony.Joining them for the ceremony were family members, friends, clinical agency personnel, and underclassmen.The guest speaker for Pinning was Ms. Kaylar Griffin, MSN, RNC, WHCNP, who is employed by the Bell Co Health District and currently also holds the position of assistant director of nurses.Ms. Griffin served as a preceptorto students in the graduating class when they had clinical lab rotations in clinics at the Health Department Killeen site.Ms. Griffin is a UMHB Alumnus, having graduated in 1995.She then worked in various clinicalpositions at the Health Dept. as well as at Darnall Army Community Hospital.
During the ceremony, outstanding graduates were recognized.The Golden Cross Award which is given to the student displaying a “Christian Attitude” in all he/she does was given to Ashley Sellars of Kingwood.The Purple Heart Award was given to Julie Beyers, of Schwertner for being the student who displays “caring and compassion to patients, peers and faculty.”These awards are determined by their peers.
Mr. Neil Haney, Development Officer at Scott & White Memorial Hospital, presented the Duce Nursing Excellence Award.Criteria include scholarship, citizenship, and professional leadership.The recipient was Staci VanVeckhoven of Burkeville.The Clinical Excellence award, “exemplifies outstanding ability in the clinical setting”, was presented to Sara Brockman of Arlington.The Academic Achievement Award was earned by Staci VanVeckhoven who had the highest grade overall in the nursing courses.
The recipient of the Laura Cole Award was also Staci VanVeckhoven.This award was established in 1972 in honor of the late Anna Laura Cole who was the Director of Nursing at Scott & White Hospital from 1933-1969.The award was designed to recognize the graduate who has demonstrated leadership in organizational activities, community spirit, and above average performance in nursing.
The graduating class includes Amy Ashcraft, San Antonio; Shavon Bassett, Killeen; Mistie Beaman, Lockhart; Julie Beyer, Schwertner; Edith Kimberly Black, Birmingham, AL; Adrienne Bradley, Salt Lake City, UT; Sara Brockman, Arlington; Darlette Brown, Killeen; Lacie Carpenter, Thornton; Amanda Cornish, Copperas Cove; Bethany Fowler, Little River-Academy; Kristy Matta-France, Killeen; Vanessa Hunt, Austin; Rebecca Hurst, Tomball; Travis Kleckner, Houston; Lauren Long, Round Rock; Gina Luppino, Abilene; Adriana Martinez, Copperas Cove; Allison McIver, Spring; Courtney Osborne, San Antonio; Lisa Platt, Columbus, GA; Kimberly Russell, Houston; Ashley Sellars, Kingwood; Grzegorz Smolinski, Gdansk, Poland; Stacie Stanford, Temple; Stevi Stripling, Lampasas; Staci VanVeckhoven, Burkeville; Rebecca Vinyard, Austin; Kristen Walker, Missouri City; Katie Williams, Bartonville; Lindsey Willis, Waco; and Jennifer Wood, Waxahachie.
Dr. Linda Pehl, Dean of the College of Nursing, pinned each graduate as Dr. Lucia Tipton, Associate Dean, called each student to the platform.The nursing program's pin is unique to the school.It has been the same design since the first class graduated from the Scott and White Diploma Training School in 1904.The colors used were changed when the program moved to the university campus and became a BSN program, but the basic design and size is the same.
The ceremony is planned through the Special Events Committee by students who represent the levels within the program with guidance from faculty. Members of the graduating class participated in the ceremony.The invocation was given by Ashley Sellars, the benediction by Rebecca Hurst.Special music was provided by Adrianna Martinez, Jennifer Wood and Staci VanVeckhoven.
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