Belton, Texas – The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor Scott and White College of Nursing held its traditional pinning ceremony on December 19, 2008 in the W. W. Walton Chapel on the university campus.

Forty-three December nursing graduates participated in the pinning ceremony. Joining them at the ceremony were their families, friends and classmates. Dr. Sharon Souter, Dean of the College of Nursing, presided over the ceremony. The graduates were pinned by Christi Emerson and Luanne Gantt, nursing faculty. The pin that each received is unique and has been the same design since the first class graduated from Scott and White Training School in 1904.

The speaker was Edie King, BSN, RN, charge nurse in labor and delivery at Scott and White Memorial Hospital. King is a 1973 alumnae of the UMHB nursing program and her daughter, Loni King was one of the graduating seniors. The invocation and benediction were given by graduates, Lauren Arnett and Gretchen Eikenburg, respectively.

During the pinning program, outstanding graduates were recognized and given awards.

Chien Chien, of Copperas Cove, received the Clinical Excellence Award.

Alyssa Taube, of Bartlett, received the Academic Excellence Award.

The Purple Heart Award was given to Elizabeth Arellano, of Sachse, and the Golden Cross Award was presented to Lauren Arnett of Keller.

The recipient of the Laura Cole Award was Angie Denise Dendy of Seoul, South Korea.

This award was established in 1972, in honor of the late Anna Laura Cole who was Director of Nursing from 1933-1969 at Scott & White Hospital and was designed to recognize the graduate who has demonstrated leadership in organizational activities, community spirit and above average performance in nursing.

The graduating seniors included: Eniye Aiguobarueghian* - Edo, Nigeria; Osa Aiguobarueghian* - Edo, Nigeria; LuAnne Noemi Alo - Austin; Elizabeth Arellano - Sachse; Lauren Arnett - Keller; Sharleen Betancourt* - Austin; Kathy Bielik - Temple; Kimberly Brock - Killeen; Samantha Kay Carns - Whitehouse; Katherine Potts Carruth - Round Rock; Chien Chien - Copperas Cove; Jennifer Renee Claybaugh - Belton; Mary Anna DaMoude* - Robinson; Tara Jeanne Dandignac* - Round Rock; Angie Denise Dendy* - Seoul, Korea; Gretchen Gayle Eikenburg* - Seguin; Kristin Noel Gebhart - Austin; Shayla Griffin* - Killeen; Rachel Lauren Hall - Harker Heights; Candice Hamelwright - Port Lavaca; Sarah Hare - Georgetown; Marlana Kathryn Hefner - Leander; Dana Renee Henry - Bay City; Stephanie Isbell - Temple; Jessica Ann Key* - Belton; Loni Jacqueline King - Belton; Joana Karina Mellado - San Antonio; Tammy Mendez - Austin; Keely Miles - Pflugerville; Analiz Morales* - Killeen; Kathleen Carroll Patterson - Dallas; Nini Perry - Killeen; Keri Ann Phillips - Georgetown; DonnaLee Pollack*+ - Belton; Davong Soumaly Rattanasavanh* - Temple; Kristin Roberts - Sunnyvale; Camelia Denise Weaver - Rosemond; Crystal River, Florida; Jennifer Diane Sassano - Hutto; Natacha Smith - Killeen; Douglas Stearns - Georgetown; Alyssa Taube* - Bartlett; Jamie N. Walker - Austin; and Jennifer Renee Wotruba - Killeen.

*Sigma Theta Tau International

+Registered Nurse Student