Shorter University School of Nursing students participate in "Rising Ceremony"

August 24, 2012 - Students enrolled in Shorter University’s School of Nursing Program participated in a special “Rising Ceremony” on Thursday, Aug. 23. The ceremony, conducted before an audience full of proud faculty, staff and family members, took place inside the university’s Brookes Chapel.

A rising ceremony is symbolic of students’ entry into the health care setting as nursing student professionals, explained Dr. Angela Haynes, Dean of the School of Nursing. The 48 students who are starting this academic year as juniors were presented and cloaked with personalized white lab coats. These white coats represent cleanliness, purity and righteousness, explained senior nursing student Erin Spears.

Thirty-four senior nursing students were presented with candles during the ceremony, the significance of which can be traced back to nursing pioneer Florence Nightengale. As a dedicated nurse, Nightengale would often visit wounded soldiers at night to check on their well being, thus earning her the name of “Lady of the Lamp,” explained Lauren VanCuren, a senior nursing student. The candle ceremony also served to remind students of Matthew 5:16: “You are the light of the world; let your light shine before all men that they might see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

Dr. Angela Haynes, dean of the School of Nursing, expressed the faculty’s admiration for students during the ceremony. “We are filled with pride in their steadfast optimism coupled with their commitment to educational excellence in nursing while serving others for Christ.” She also spoke highly of the faculty and nursing program. “We have a passion for student success and a desire to be here at Shorter University, where we can offer the absolute best nursing education and combine that with a Christ-centered approach.”

Junior nursing students participating in the ceremony were: Kinsey Allen, Jennifer Bailey, Nealy Baldridge, Crystal Barber, Sarah Barger, Brooke Blankenship, Amanda Bohannon, Jessica Bowman, Jordan Bramlett, Whitney Brannon, Amanda Brown, Carleigh Butcher, Cody Carr, Chelsea Cave, Emily Clements, Caitlyn Cook, Brittini Cooper, Dylan Davis, Krista Faulkner, Holly Fergeson, Tina Folds, Cierra Fowler, Whitney Hood, Tandi Hughes, Leslie James, Joseph Keith, Melissa Kelly, Mary Kiker, Chanjoo Lee,Clarice Lipham, Khalisha McCombs, Jennifer Moore, Ali Perry, Nedwin Pierre,Emily Pridgen, Amisha Rajwani, Kati Rutledge, Erica Sansenbach, Carlalitta Smith, Meaghan Sopata, Amy Tillmann, Branton Treglown, Yesenia Vazquez, Octavio Gayton Vazquez, Jennifer Walls, Brooke Wilkins, Sheena Wood and Kristen Wright.

Senior nursing students are: Felecia Barnes, Mitchell Boles, Stephanie Boyd, Valerie Braden, Kristi Bray, Jill Brown, Brooke Bryan, Bridgette Buffington, Ashley Comer, Amanda Daniel, JoAnna Davis, Rachel Evces, Tyler Fuqua, Ashley Harris, Danielle Hernandez-Allen, Lauren Kirkpatrick, Abbey Lambert, Kaycee Leatherwood, Karen Luna, Emily Newberry,Michelle Penson, Melissa Pope, Kimberly Russell, Kristen Smith, Erin Spears, Devin Swanson, Megan Tillery, Kati Turner, Lauren VanCuren, Olivia White, Zach Whitener, Lacy Wilkins, Lindsay Williams and Johnathan Wilson.

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Founded in 1873, Shorter University is a Christian university committed to excellence in education. The Princeton Review annually includes Shorter on its lists of best value and best Southeastern colleges. The university offers traditional bachelor’s degrees in 48 major areas as well as undergraduate degree programs for working adults, the Master of Business Administration, the Master of Education and the Master of Arts in Leadership. General education and calculus courses are offered in an online format, and Shorter recently launched online programs that lead toward the Associate of Science, the Bachelor of Business Administration, and the Master of Accountancy degrees. For more information, visit www.shorter.edu.