On May 1, Southern Regional Technical College (SRTC) held a pinning ceremony during which twenty-four Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) students from the LPN to RN Bridge program and the Generic ASN program were honored, receiving their nursing pins. The ceremony commemorates the students’ successful completion of their nursing coursework and clinical rotations. 

This class of nursing students will also participate in SRTC’s formal graduation ceremony and will officially be Registered Nurses (RN) pending the passage of their board exams. These prospective nurses represent the ASN program of the Thomasville campus of Southern Regional Technical College.  

The students that received pins were: Krystal Troutman of Camilla, Sara Castillo of Thomasville, Kristiana Hester of Thomasville, Tamara Rinck of Tallahassee, Heather Presley of Moultrie, Brittany Johnson of Pavo, Chasane Linton of Thomasville, Shanquanette Mitchell of Cairo, Hana Scarborough of Moultrie, Whitney Carl of Moultrie, Kristine Whitted of Thomasville, Stephanie Sculley of Thomasville, April Wilcox of Moultrie, Savannah Marko of Quitman, Austin Asbell of Valdosta, Sundair Walden of Thomasville,  Yvonne Watt or Thomasville, Bailee Butler of Cairo, Sharon Davis of Cairo, Sandy Johnson of Ochlocknee, Alyson England of Valdosta, Shanna Horne of Moultrie, Emily Castleberry of Cairo, and Kylie Varnadoe of Moultrie.

During the pinning ceremony, which symbolizes the rite of passage into the nursing profession, each student received a pin and lights a small lamp. The pin is used to remind students of their purpose to serve the sick and infirmed. The lighting portion of the ceremony serves as a tribute to Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern-day nursing. In the 1800s Nightingale was known as the “lady with the lamp,” tending to the sick while carrying a lamp to light the way. At the ceremony, students also recite the Nightingale pledge stating their dedication to upholding the standards of being a nurse.

“This was an incredible group of students who will make excellent nurses,” said Terry Harper, MSN, associate of science nursing faculty. “It was an honor to have each and every one of them in my class this semester. Where ever they go to work, the facility will be blessed with hard working nurses that love the profession.”

At the ceremony, students were recognized with awards for exceptional achievement during their time in the ASN program. Those awards and their recipients are as follows: Brittany Johnson earned the Highest Exit Exam Award. The Clinical Excellence Award was given to Whitney Carl. The Archbold Leadership Award was given to Yvonne Watt. Finally, the Nightingale Award recognized the accomplishments of Sandy Johnson.

The Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) program is designed to prepare students as entry-level practitioners to provide safe, effective nursing care and promote healthy transitions for diverse clients in a variety of settings. This program develops critical thinking, integrates accumulated knowledge from nursing, the sciences and humanities, and emphasizes the values of caring, accountability, responsibility and professional ethics. The SRTC ASN program has been granted approval by the Georgia Board of Nursing and is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN).

SRTC offers over 155 degree, diploma, and certificate programs that are designed to get students quickly into a desired career, and 28 general education courses that transfer to the University System of Georgia institutions and 19 private colleges and universities in Georgia. SRTC has instructional sites located in Colquitt, Decatur, Early, Grady, Miller, Mitchell, Seminole, Thomas, Tift, Turner and Worth counties for the convenience of its students. The College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). SACSCOC is the regional body for the accreditation of degree-granting higher education institutions in the Southern states. 

For the most up-to-date information on registration, class dates, and program offerings, log on to www.southernregional.edu.