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<\/a><\/p>\n\u201cWe have the best faculty and they are dedicated to this difficult curriculum because lives are at stake,\u201d said Jones College President Dr. Jesse Smith. \u201cThese folks are going to touch lives, save lives and they\u2019re going to ease the transition of some lives into the next life and they\u2019re going to be prepared. I want to congratulate families for supporting these graduates and allowing them to concentrate on this difficult task.\u201d<\/p>\n
Class president, April Phillips of Purvis agreed with Dr. Smith. While her classmates have sacrificed a lot, they have also been encouraged by faculty, friends and family to help them reach this goal.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve all had different reasons for pursuing this profession; we\u2019ve sacrificed a lot. In some form or fashion, we\u2019ve also been encouraged by someone to pursue our dreams. Whatever employer hires from this group, they are getting a well-trained, skilled, educated, safe, caring nurse. I am so proud of each of you,\u201d said Phillips.<\/p>\n
Jones College nursing faculty played a significant role in preparing confident nurses, graduate, Alex Hill of Laurel shared with the audience. On the first day of classes, Hill said the classes\u2019 fears impaired them from remembering how to do simple tasks but waned with more experience and support from faculty.<\/p>\n She explained, \u201cWe knew they\u2019d be watching our every move. We knew what to do but we were unsure of ourselves,\u201d said Hill. \u201cHowever, I don\u2019t believe any of us will be able to thank them enough for sharing their knowledge, teaching us things we need to know, and even teaching us things to do at clinical to make our lives a little bit easier. They are not only our instructors, but they are also our role models,\u201d said Hill.<\/p>\n As the students endured through the nursing program, several students earned special honors and were recognized by the Associate Degree Nursing program division chair, Erin Knight, MSN, RN. Four students were inducted into the National Honor Society for Associate Degree Nursing programs, Alpha Delta Nu, including Emily Davis of Laurel, Austin Griffith of Laurel, MaCalla Matthews of Laurel and Haley Merritt of Lucedale. Eight students had perfect attendance in both the classroom and clinical meetings: Cheyanne Boyd of Laurel, Emily Davis of Laurel, Daniel Haas of Laurel, Megan Livingston of Laurel, MaCalla Matthews of Laurel, Megan McCarty of Waynesboro, Kwadric Smith of Hattiesburg and Carole Grace Wilson of Seminary.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n