After two years of study, 29 graduates of the Lillian Duer James School of Nursing at Richmond Community College celebrated completion of their Associates Degree Nursing (ADN) program at a pinning ceremony Thursday night at the Cole Auditorium in Hamlet.
Ernest Grant, Outreach Coordinator for the North Carolina Jaycee Burn Center and Professor at UNC School of Nursing, challenged the newly pinned nurses to be agents of change.
“You need to be aware that you haven’t completed the circle of success until you have helped move someone else forward,” Grant said.
In his address, Grant laid out three principles that should guide the graduates’ path in life. “You have to have an insatiable thirst for knowledge, always strive for excellence and recognize the global good as being more important than you.”
Finally, Grant reminded the graduates that it is important to keep your life in perspective as they move into their next chapter.
“Pay attention to the things that are important to you,” Grant said. “Make time for your friends and family who have supported you through this educational journey.”
Newly pinned nurse Bryan Cherry, Vice President of the ADN Class of 2013, also spoke to the assembled crowd at the Cole and reminisced on their experiences during their time in nursing school.
“Most of our classmates have become like family; helping us when we didn’t have a clue or being there when we failed a test because they have been there too,” Cherry said. “We have developed life-long memories that we will talk about for years and we have developed friendships that will last a lifetime.
“Wherever life takes us or wherever we may work, we will be great nurses and will make a difference in each of our patient’s lives.”
Awards
The Lillian Duer James Family Scholastic Achievement Award was presented to Tina Strickland of Laurinburg.
The Sandhills Regional Medical Center Golden Stethoscope Award was presented to Tiffany Henry of Morven.
The Hamlet Hospital Alumni Award was presented to Shannon O’Neal of Rockingham.
The Lloyd and Mary Louise King Mental Health Nursing Award was presented to Laura Wheeler of Hamlet.
The Carolina Women’s Center Obstetric Award was presented to Jacqueline Young of Rockingham.
The Lillian Duer James Family Pediatric Award was presented to Diane Jacobs of McColl, S.C.
The Scotland Memorial Hospital Nursing Service Award was presented to Vic Barberousse of Rockingham.
The Scotland Memorial Hospital Administration Award was presented to Latoya Johnson of Pageland, S.C.
The Phyllis Caviness Gerontology Award was presented to Natalie Barbour of Wadesboro.
The FirstHealth Richmond Memorial Hospital Professional Nursing Awards were presented to Heather Jordan of Rockingham and Linda Bouie of Cheraw, S.C.
The Laura Susan Sharpe Memorial Nursing Award was presented to Matthew Smith of Rockingham.
The Susan Sharpe Cancer Support Group Award was presented to Kerri Houston of Laurel Hill.
The Joseph W. Grimsley Humanitarian Award was presented to Christopher Norton of Cordova.
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