May 8, 2008

LIVINGSTON, Ala.--Several graduates of the University of West Alabama’s Ira D. Pruitt Division of Nursing were honored with special awards during the recent nursing convocation held annually in Bibb Graves Auditorium prior to commencement.

Lindsey Smiley of Mobile received the Superior Performance Award, which is presented each year by the nursing faculty to the student who has best demonstrated academic excellence, exceptional clinical skills and potential for leadership in the nursing profession.

Megan Trahan of Gainesville received the Outstanding Student Award. This award is chosen by the graduating class to honor a classmate who has assumed a leadership role in the class, demonstrated a friendly and cooperative attitude and promoted cohesiveness within the class.

Clare Gibson of Gilbertown and Melissa Murphy of Montgomery received the Elise Pruitt Clinical Achievement Award, which was established in 1995 to recognize a student who has demonstrated exceptional skill in the clinical area. The criteria includes recognizing the unique needs of each patient and planning care accordingly, respecting patients, clinical agency personnel and faculty and valuing the learning opportunities available during each clinical experience.

Hope Ferguson of Meridian, Miss., received the Montag Leadership Award, which was established in memory of Mildred Montag, the founder of associate degree nursing education. This award recognizes a student who has excelled academically and demonstrated potential for leadership in the nursing profession.

Rhondalyn Johnson of Demopolis received the Nightingale Professionalism Award, which recognizes a student who has excelled academically and demonstrated exceptional professionalism in the clinical area and in interpersonal relationships. Criteria for this award include a minimum grade point average of 3.0 in the nursing major, exceptional evaluation by clinical staff during the preceptorship experience and faculty recommendation regarding professionalism in relationships with faculty, peers and clinical agency personnel.

The Ira D. Pruitt Division of Nursing has maintained continuing accreditation from the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission for nearly three decades and has graduated over 1,000 nursing students since its first class in 1976. The Division offers an associate’s degree in nursing and the option of completing a four-year bachelor’s degree program in conjunction with the University of Alabama. UWA’s nursing program also boasts NCLEX board examination passage rates that near 100 percent each year.