– Dyersburg State Community College (DSCC) honored its 88th, 89th, and 90th Nursing classes with a ceremony for 26 graduates in the Traditional Day Nursing program, 16 in the Traditional Evening Nursing program, and 34 graduates in the Advanced Standing LPN-RN Fast Track Nursing program on May 2. A total of 2,323 nursing students have graduated from DSCC over the past 43 years. “The nursing pinning ceremony is a hallowed tradition of nursing education that symbolizes the students’ hard work, dedication, perseverance, and commitment to the betterment of others. It is the culminating event on the way to becoming a registered nurse, and we are incredibly proud of our 76 students who will soon be serving our communities and filling a myriad of roles within our healthcare ecosystem,” states Dr. Cook.
Mr. W.C. Robinson introduced the class officers to the Traditional Day, Traditional Evening, and Advanced Standing LPN to RN Fast Track Nursing program. The Traditional Day Nursing class officers include Kaylee Rogers of Dyersburg, president; Sara Markham of Newbern, vice president; Grace Ann Chandler of Collierville and Jesse Cannon of Covington, historians; and Brittany Shepard of Brighton, secretary. Class officers for the Traditional Evening Nursing class include Annamarie Maddox of Dyersburg, president; Amy Pool of Union City, vice president; Shelby Gooch of Trentonand Savana Childresof Brighton, historians; and Whitney White of Troy, secretary.Class officers for the LPN to RN Fast Track Nursing program include Kaylee Prescott of Humboldt, president; Janina Warrington of Humboldt, vice president; Cassy Ozment of Dyer, secretary; and Jaylen Bledsoe of Ripleyand Bobbie Sykes of Huntingdon, historians.
Ms. Lucy DeSpain opened the ceremony with the invocation. Dr. Christy Hamilton, Director of Nursing, welcomed the graduates. DSCC President Dr. Scott Cook acknowledged the graduates and congratulated them on their accomplishments. The Traditional Day and Evening class presidents, Ms. Kaylee Rogers and Ms. Annamarie Maddox, and the Advanced Standing LPN to RN Fast Track class president, Ms. Kaylee Prescott, spoke to the graduating classes about their endeavors.
Ms. Jackie Watson, Dean of Health Sciences, presented the Friend of Nursing Award to three recipients: Ms. Dana Penn, Mr. John Thomas, and Ms. Nancy Lott.“The Friend of Nursing is someone who makes the day a little brighter. You know they will be there and go out of their way to make sure all is well,” stated Ms. Watson.
The Scholastic Awards, presented by Ms. Kim Chrestman, Assistant Director of Nursing, to students with the highest grade-point average (GPA) in each class. The Traditional Day Nursing class scholastic award winner was Rachel Bell of Newbern, graduating with a 3.51 GPA. The Traditional Evening Nursing class scholastic award winner was Dana Pruett of Brighton, graduating with a 3.24 GPA. The Advanced Standing LPN-RN Fast-Track Nursing class scholastic award winner was Ms. Diana Guillory of Milan, graduating with a 3.55 GPA.
The Clinical Practice Awards, selected by members of the nursing faculty, were presented by Ms. Tammy Hines to Traditional Day Nursing class graduate Jesse Cannon of Covington, Traditional Evening Nursing class graduate Dana Pruett of Brighton, and Advanced Standing LPN to RN Fast Track Nursing class graduate Abigail Henderson of Ripley. This award is given to nursing graduates who demonstrate qualities such as the practice of nursing as a humanistic art and science, the recognition of each person as a unique individual, and acceptance of legal and ethical professional accountability.
Ms. Lisa Hayden presented the Peggy Pendergrast Faculty Award to the Traditional Day Nursing class graduate Ashley Graham of Union City, Traditional Evening Nursing class graduate Tiffany French of Beech Bluff, and the Advanced Standing LPN to RN Fast Track Nursing class graduate Lucy DeSpain of Ripley. This special award, given in honor of the late Peggy Pendergrast, founding director of the DSCC nursing program, is presented to students demonstrating essential qualities for effective nursing practice.
Ms. Christie Hamm presented the Friendship Awards, chosen by fellow class members, to Traditional Day Nursing class graduate Deana Wyrick of Rutherford, Traditional Evening Nursing class graduate Shelby Gooch of Trenton, and Advanced Standing LPN to RN Nursing class graduate Kaylee Prescott of Humboldt.
The presentation of the Traditional Day Nursing students was given by Dr. Brittany Gatlin, followed by the presentation of the Traditional Evening Nursing students by Ms. Darian Hudson and Advanced Standing LPN to RN Fast Track Nursing students by Ms. Megan Shearon. Dr. Christy Hamilton led the awarding of pins, followed by the presentation of lamps by Ms. Tammy Hines. The lamps were lit by Ms. Abby O’Neal, Ms. Michelle Davis, Mr. Craig Metcalf, and Ms. Lori Turner. Ms. Dawn Chalk led the Nightingale Pledge. Ms. Kellie Presgrove-Evins, Traditional Day Nursing class graduate, closed the pinning ceremony with the benediction.
The 26 graduates of DSCC’s spring 2024 traditional day nursing class include the following:
Alamo – Luna Cox
Atoka – Laura Bourland
Brighton – Kellie Presgrove-Evins and Brittany Shepard
Collierville – Grace Chandler
Covington – Jesse Cannon and Kayla Walls
Dyersburg – Asia Brooks, Haley Climer, Kaylee Rogers, and Breanna Thompson
Finley – Emma Junior
Hornbeak – Lisa Lewis
Huron – Amanda Wood
Jackson – Precious Boyd
Lakeland – Ivy Barnes
Munford – Erin Williamson
Newbern – Rachel Bell and Sara Markham
Ripley – Dominque Capers and Sa’Nya Mitchell
Rutherford – Abbey McCall and Deana Wyrick
Tiptonville – Alexis Tolley
Trenton – Caleigh Patterson
Union City – Ashley Graham
The 16 graduates of DSCC’s spring 2024 traditional evening nursing class include the following:
Atwood – Michelle Hart
Beech Bluff – Tiffany French
Blytheville (AR) – Melissa Gribble
Brighton – Savana Childres and Dana Pruett
Caruthersville (MO) – Kelly Cagle
Dyersburg – Annamarie Maddox, Alexis Wells, and Miranda Winbush
Humboldt – Micaha Gonzalez
Milan – Emilee Hunt
Newbern – Anna Hart
Ripley – Baleigh Dew
Trenton – Shelby Gooch
Troy – Whitney White
Union City – Amy pool
The 34 graduates of DSCC’s spring 2024 fast-track LPN to RN nursing class include:
Beech Bluff – Tayler Ursery
Big Sandy – Robin Turrentine
Brownsville – Deonca Ballard and April Fountain
Caruthersville (MO) – Angelina Murillo
Covington – Deana Lundeen
Dyer – Cassy Ozment
Dyersburg – Kamery Cummings, Abbie Parnell, Amanda Schneider, and Kaleenia Smith
Gleason – Amanda Houston
Halls – Caitlyn Lewis
Henning – Cynthia Kirkpatrick
Humboldt – Christina Langston, Cantrell Lemons, Kaylee Prescott, and Janina Warrington
Huntingdon – Bobbie Sykes
Lexington – Melanie Crowe
McKenzie – Kierstyn Smith
Memphis – Alexis Baptist and Teshema Brown
Milan – Diana Guillory
Millington – Janeaka Wilson
Paris – Nikki Wynn
Ridgely – Rachel Daniels and Amber Manns
Ripley – Jaylen Bledsoe, Lucy Despain, Abigail Henderson, and Elizabeth Smith
Sardis – Alyson Frederick
Union City – Kayla Hamil