Emory’s Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing celebrated the accomplishments of its students Friday, December 9 during the school’s annual winter graduation events. The school hosted two ceremonies – the Winter Diploma, Pinning, and Awards Ceremony for its pre-licensure Master of Science in Nursing (MN) and Distance Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (DABSN) graduates, and the Winter Diploma and Awards Ceremony for its post-licensure Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), and post-graduate certificate graduates.
The School of Nursing graduated 134 pre-licensure students and 176 post-licensure students who will enter the nursing workforce for the first time, continue their nursing careers in leadership roles or another specialty, or begin another nursing degree program.
During each ceremony, graduates were recognized for their outstanding accomplishments with the school’s annual awards. MN graduate Alyssa Roger and DABSN graduate Caroline Hyde received the Silver Bowl Award for excellence in nursing for their respective cohorts. MN graduate Jadaria Thomas and DABSN graduate Angela Buchanan received their cohorts Compassion and Caring Awards for exemplifying empathy, generosity, and caring spirit of the school’s namesake – Nell Hodgson Woodruff.
In the post-licensure ceremony, DNP graduate Marlen Alvarez and MSN graduate Kayla Newstrom received their cohort’s Silver Bowl Awards, while MSN graduate Joya Bland received her cohort’s Compassion and Caring Award. The DNP Transformational Leader Award for excellent leadership within a clinical practice area went to graduate Kelly Goskowicz.
Each cohort also presented the Heart of the Students award to a faculty member, staff member, or clinical instructor who made a significant difference in their students’ educational experience. Faculty member Chelsea Hagopian was selected by the MN cohort, and faculty member Tammi Tanner was selected by the DABSN cohort. Clinical preceptor Douglas Chesson was selected by the DNP cohort, and faculty member Jeannie Rodriguez was selected by the MSN cohort.
During both events, Dean Linda McCauley spoke about the unprecedented, unexpected, and unanticipated moments in the graduates’ nursing school journeys and how each moment has prepared them to become leaders in the nursing workforce. She spoke of their ability to adapt to the challenges they may face and how they will be the ones poised to help overcome the national nursing shortage.
Please join the Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing in congratulating its winter 2022 graduates.