Indiana University Kokomo’s newest class of student nurses took the first steps toward becoming health care professionals at the School of Nursing and Allied Health Professions (SNAHP) traditional induction ceremony Wednesday (January 15).
Assistant Dean Stephanie Pratt welcomed the students and their families, congratulating them on accepting the opportunity to become nurses.
“With this gift, you will make a difference, do great things, change lives, and even save lives,” she said. “We are given the opportunity to serve, to share in life’s journey with others. There truly is nothing small about this wonderful privilege that you have been given to become a nurse.”
Carolyn Townsend, interim dean of SNAHP, said the future nurses have chosen a challenging and “profoundly rewarding path,” and welcomed them on behalf of the faculty.
“Nursing is more than a career,” she said. “It requires clinical expertise, compassion, empathy, and a commitment to the well-being of others. As new students, you are embarking on a journey that will equip you with the knowledge, skills, and values needed to make a significant impact in the lives of your patients and their families.”
They will learn from exceptional faculty, engage in hands-on labs, and learn in real-world clinical settings along the way, which will prepare them to deliver high-quality care, Townsend said, and encouraged them to take part in student life opportunities to enrich their campus experience. She also reminded them that faculty and staff will support them along the way, and they can also lean on their classmates.
“As you begin this new chapter, I want to remind you of nurses’ profound impact on the lives of those they care for,” Townsend said. “You have the power to heal, comfort, and make a difference. Embrace this opportunity with an open heart and an unwavering commitment to excellence.”
Heather Woody, lecturer in nursing, addressed family and friends of the students, charging them with the task of being a cheerleader for their nursing student.
“Cheerleaders, nursing school isn’t easy, but it is rewarding,” she said. “I leave you tonight with the knowledge that your unwavering love and support is powerful. As your student enters nursing, know that your care for them is passed on to those they care for, and that’s something to be proud of.”
The new students, selected through a rigorous acceptance process, wore the red scrubs that marked them as an IU student for the first time as they each crossed the stage to receive a certificate of accomplishment. The incoming class also recited the Nursing Pledge, which is a promise to uphold the ethics of the nursing profession. The Indiana Nurse Honor Guard also participated in the ceremony in Havens Auditorium.
Those honored, listed by hometown, included:
Anderson: Mercedes Robbins
Cicero: Autumn Packard
Flora: Krista Despot
Frankfort: Jade Valdes Vasquez
Indianapolis: Rowan Reed
Kokomo: Braylee Acord, Karolina Kubilius, Arielle Liggin, Ella Purcell, Alexandria Winters
Logansport: Kennedy Hughes, Elijah Rans, Emily Sanchez
Middletown: Ryleigh Flynn
Peru: Madisyn Nordman
Westfield: Adedolapo Famuyiwa
Windfall: Cassandra Hoover
Education is KEY at Indiana University Kokomo.