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Nursing pinning ceremony held at Clarion University – Venango

May 22, 2018
Beau Shepherd
Nursing faculty Chris Weidle (left) and Mary Terwilliger (right) present the Outstanding Student Award to Beau Shepherd of DuBois.

Clarion University's Venango campus celebrated the Associate of Science in Nursing Class of 2018 pinning ceremony on Thursday, May 10, in the Robert W. Rhoades Gymnasium.

Thirty-two students were recognized at the ceremony.

"Most statistics indicate that males represent 9 percent of nursing students. This ASN class far surpassed the statistics with 13 of the graduating students being male students, making up 40 percent of the class," said Dr. Deb Kelly, chair and nurse administrator for the Department of Nursing. "We are proud of all the graduating ASN students as all have accepted employment or are continuing on with their education."

Each year the faculty select a graduating nursing student to receive the Outstanding Nursing Student Award. The award is based on several criteria and Beau Shepherd was chosen for his good academic standing, service to the campus, service to the community, and overall character.

Rhett Richey

Rhett Ritchey of Cooperstown is pinned by his daughter Makayla Richey.

"Beau is considerate to everyone he comes in contact with, as well as mindful of others opinions and perspectives. He continuously seeks opportunities to expand his learning and prides himself in keeping his patients safe. He has such a fun loving attitude, which is magnified in all that he does," said clinical Instructor Chris Weidle.

The Nursing Spirit Award is chosen by the students and this year's award went to Harry Powell. This award is given to the student that has represented the ASN nursing class and has symbolized the nursing student image.

Harry Powell
Nursing faculty Chris Weidle (left) and Mary Terwilliger (right) present the Nursing Spirit Award to Harry Powell of Franklin.

"Harry embodies the core nursing program outcomes of: human flourishing, spirit of inquiry, nursing judgment, and professional identity. For the past two years he has served as the class representative, and acted as a liaison between students and the faculty with concerns or questions that arose. He is a Trade Act student who lost his job from Joy Manufacturing and embraced being a student to learn a new profession as a nurse," said Dr. Mary Terwilliger, nursing faculty. "He takes his education and responsibilities very seriously and will go far in his nursing career."

The students adorned their nursing pins with pink ribbon this year in memory of Liz Stephenson, a tenured member of the ASN nursing faculty for 25 years, who lost her life to breast cancer in September.

Last Updated 1/11/21