Banquet celebration honors excellence

By Dana J. Callaway, The Herald Staff

An evening of celebration to honor excellence is what Dr. Susan Hanrahan, dean of the College of Nursing and Health Professions, called the college's annual honors banquet on Monday.

President Dr. Less Wyatt praised the students for their hard work.

"This college has high expectations and you all have excelled," Wyatt said. "This week has been set aside to recognize you for your achievements and accomplishments.

Hanrahan presented the faculty and staff golden apple lapel pins for all their hard work.

Baljit Rehal received the President's Scholar nomination award for highest grade point average in the college.

Scholarship recipients were: Amy White, Craighead-Poinsett Medical Alliance Professional Scholarship; Devin Vance, Linnie Wisdom-Maude Wilson Scholarship in Nursing; DeAnne Arnett, Sister Patricia Lee Findley Memorial Scholarship in Nursing; Tisha Diefenbach, Carla Brooks Spears Memorial Scholarship in Nursing; Laura Kennedy, Susan Tolliver Memorial Scholarship in Nursing; Trina Dudley, Internal Medicine Associates Scholarship in Nursing; Christopher Suratt, Bill Penix, Jr. Scholarship in Nursing; Stephanie Shannon, Ray Hall, Sr. Memorial Fund in Nursing; Charity Martin, Regional Medical Center of NE Arkansas Professional Scholarship; and Jennifer Hubbard-Davis, Harriet Mildred Smith Scholarship.

Several students were named Program Academic Scholars for their academic achievement, or Outstanding Clinical Student for their performance in the clinical setting.

Program Academic Scholars were: Sara Rooney, clinical laboratory science; Misty Kaufman and Kim McGaughey, physical therapy; Patrick Moriarty, radiologic technology; Tamara Futrell, radiologic sciences; Kristi Pierce, radiation therapy; Kathy Grimes, sonography; Russlana Greenwald, Brandy Andrews, Brenda Foster, Anita Garrison, and Shirlee Thomas, nursing.

Outstanding students were: Travis Sanders, clinical laboratory science; Charity Martin and Tiffany Ryan, communication disorders; Misty Kaufman, physical therapy; Jodie Honeycutt and Michael Martin, physical therapy; Kara Ussery, radiologic technology; Tamara Futrell, radiologic sciences; Amy Sherill, radiation therapy; Diane Andrews, Rebecca Pritchard, Holly Tyler, Anita Garrison, Deloris Allen, Heidi Cohn and Tonya King, nursing.

Special awards in nursing went to: Pamelia McKinney, Grace Whitis Graduate Nursing Student Award; Jeri Wynn Craft, Beverly Bartels Undergraduate Nursing Student Award; Sara Rooney, Whitney Williams Service Award and Don B. Vollman, Jr. MD Award.

Faculty honorees were: Debbie Persell, assistant professor of nursing, for research and scholarly activity, and Ray Winters, associate professor in radiologic sciences, for service.