May 7, 2012
For Immediate Release

Campbellsville University School of Nursing graduates recognized at a pinning ceremony, May 3 are: front row, from left- Hannah White of Hodgenville, Ky.; Kayla Raganas of Campbellsville, Ky.; Chelsea Jeffries of Greensburg, Ky.; Erica Nunn of Campbellsville, Ky.; Shannon Cahill of Columbia, Ky.; Brittany Price of Liberty, Ky.; Rebecca Owens of Elizabethtown, Ky.; Barbara Sanders of Campbellsville, Ky.; Lynette Costello of Morgantown, Ky.; and Tammy Guffey of Russell Springs, Ky. Back row- Nathan Clark of Somerset, Ky.; Courtney Keller of Angola, Ind.; Maria Farris of Columbia, Ky.; Angie Cash of Louisville, Ky.; Kristi Young of Summersville, Ky.; Leshia Fair of Glasgow, Ky.; Latonya Bertram of Campbellsville, Ky.; Laura Williams of Campbellsville, Ky.; Sandy Stearns of Columbia, Ky.; Holly George of Russell Springs, Ky.; Tiffany Montgomery of Lebanon, Ky.; Keithena Holman of Edmonton, Ky.; and Jordan Thompson of Campbellsville, Ky. (Campbellsville University Photo by Christina L. Kern)

By Christina L. Kern, office assistant

CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky.— “Let's not forget where we came from or why we decided to become a nurse,” Laura Williams, a senior of Campbellsville, said at Campbellsville University's School of Nursing pinning ceremony.

Williams spoke on behalf of Campbellsville University's nursing graduates, May 3, in a pinning ceremony recognizing the School of Nursing graduates. Williams spoke on each individual graduate and their gift to the nursing program saying things such as “Florence Nightingale (the founder of modern nursing) herself would be proud of your Christian attitude” or “she will be a gift to her future patients.”

Williams also thanked the students' parents, children, siblings and other loved ones by asking each of them to stand, then asking the nursing graduates (her “second family”) to stand and clap for their supporters.

“You are now part of history that some said would never happen,” Dr. Michael V. Carter, president of Campbellsville University, said. “This is a proud moment.”

The School of Nursing began as an idea in 2001, but many said Campbellsville University would never have the program “because it is too expensive,” Carter said. In 2006, the first nursing class enrolled, and in 2008 the first class graduated from Campbellsville University's School of Nursing.

“God has been good and faithful,” Carter said. “Graduates, know how proud we are of you.”

Carter also said the distinguishing characteristic of a Campbellsville University nursing graduate is the “extra little touch” noticed by other health care professionals.

Dr. Frank Cheatham, vice president for academic affairs who also serves on the board at Taylor Regional Hospital, said he “gets comments on Campbellsville's nursing graduates because they know how to communicate and have empathy” much like it says in a poem written by 2009 CU nursing graduate Tiffany Shaw, nursing “gave us passion, discipline, skills to succeed.”

“You are to be proud of these individuals. They will make a difference,” Cheatham said.

Dr. Bob Wade, dean of the School of Nursing, recognized the group for outperforming the national average on the “hardest, most stressful exam” the students would take which calculates their ability to perform on the NCLEX.

Wade also recognized four graduates who received nursing awards: Tiffany Montgomery of Lebanon, Ky., Servant Leadership Award; Maria Farris of Columbia, Ky., Clinical Excellence Award; Barbara Sanders of Campbellsville, Ky., Award of Excellence; and Keithena Holman of Edmonton, Ky., Academic Award, who also received an award for the highest grade on the exam.

Dr. James Jones, church outreach special assistant, member of the CU Board of Trustees and pastor of Pleasant Hill Baptist Church, performed the blessing of the hands. Graduates were pinned by their family members.

Students who graduated from Campbellsville University's School of Nursing and were recognized at the pinning ceremony are: Latonya Bertram of Campbellsville, Ky.; Angie Cash of Louisville, Ky.; Shannon Cahill of Columbia, Ky.; Nathan Clark of Somerset, Ky.; Lynette Costello of Morgantown, Ky.; Maria Farris of Columbia, Ky.; Leshia Fair of Glasgow, Ky.;

Holly George of Russell Springs, Ky.; Tammy Guffey of Russell Springs, Ky.; Keithena Holman of Edmonton, Ky.; Chelsea Jeffries of Greensburg, Ky.; Courtney Keller of Angola, Ind.; Tiffany Montgomery of Lebanon, Ky.; Erica Nunn of Campbellsville, Ky.; Rebecca Owens of Elizabethtown, Ky.; Brittany Price of Liberty, Ky.; Kayla Raganas of Campbellsville, Ky.;

Barbara Sanders of Campbellsville, Ky.; Sandy Stearns of Columbia, Ky.; Jordan Thompson of Campbellsville, Ky.; Hannah White of Hodgenville, Ky.; Laura Williams of Campbellsville, Ky.; and Kristi Young of Summersville, Ky.

Campbellsville University is a widely acclaimed Kentucky-based Christian university with more than 3,500 students offering 63 undergraduate options, 17 master's degrees, five postgraduate areas and eight pre-professional programs. The website for complete information is campbellsville.edu.