Five students were honored recently when Lander University's William Preston Turner Department of Nursing held its annual Nursing Recognition Ceremony as a prelude to the university's May graduation.
Brittany Reed of Greenwood was the recipient of the Faculty Award of Excellence, which is awarded to a graduating nursing student who demonstrates the greatest promise of making significant contributions to the profession of nursing. The student must have a GPA of 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0, and be active in student nurses' activities, including departmental committees.
Haleigh Whisnant of Lexington was selected to receive the Clinical Excellence Award for outstanding clinical practice, client-centered care, innovation in nursing care and practice, and demonstration of management and problem solving skills.
The Professional Nursing Award was given to Jessica Van Sant of Enoree. The award is given to a student who represents leadership qualities in the practice of professional nursing.
Receiving the Nursing Leadership Award given by Self Regional Healthcare, was Katelyn Williams of Greenwood. The award is given to a student who demonstrates emerging ability to advance the practice of professional nursing, either through creative leadership of the health care team in planning, coordinating and evaluating health care delivery, or through the use of research to solve nursing care problems.
Yashika Wilson of Greenwood was the recipient of the Professional Development Award, which is given to a Lander nursing student who shows substantial professional growth and development.
During the ceremony, which was held before a packed house in Lander's Josephine B. Abney Cultural Center Auditorium, Lander's Department of Nursing also awarded pins to all students graduating in the pre-licensure and RN-BSN degree programs.