The Saint Luke’s College of Health Sciences Nursing Honor Society inducted 27 new members on February 20, 2011. The Induction Ceremony was held at the Ritz Charles Hotel in Overland Park, Kansas. Forty-nine persons attended the dinner and induction ceremony. John Farnsworth, BSN, RN, Honor Society President welcomed guests. Lucy Hood, PhD, Honor Society Faculty Counselor provided the invocation. Dr. Jeanne Wissmann, Interim Dean and Honor Society Bylaws Committee Chair delivered the Keynote Address “Saint Luke’s College Nursing Honor Society Induction and Introduction to Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing”.
Following the address, John Farnsworth inducted 7 Community Nurse Leaders and 21 Saint Luke’s College of Health Sciences Nursing Student into the Honor Society. Kathy Hughes, MN, Honor Society Secretary introduced the inductees and Angela Davies, BSN, RN, Chapter Vice President and Alexis Falcon, BSN, RN, Chapter Treasurer provided each inductee with an honor cord and membership certificate. Dr. Wissmann congratulated each inductee. Per Induction Protocol, Dr. Hood assisted all inductees as thy signed the membership book. Following the Induction Ceremony, a photograph of inductees was taken.
The following nursing students were inducted into the Honor Society: Katie Bartman, Kori Blake, Heidi Carroll, Sherry Christopher, Abby Deal, Patrick Gilbert, Lauren Grimes, Coreen Kehrwald, Melissa Lopez, Anna Mathew, Shiloh Markovich, Amanda Marvin, Katie Pierce, Sarah Rieker, Allison Rozga, Andrea Scott, Kayla Sensenich, Rebecca Spalding, Adam Whitaker, Kayla Wilson, and Heather Ziegerer. Teresa M. Coyne, RN, BSN, CEN (Nursing Director of the Emergency Department Truman Medical Center at Lakewood), Christy Fornal, RN, BSN (Instructor, Saint Luke’s College of Health Sciences), Sally D. Lundy, RN, BSN (Registered Nurse Case Manager, Olathe Medical Center), Kimberly R. Ries, MSN, RN, CPN, CNE (Ins(Instructor, Saint Luke’s College of Health Sciences), Kim Tankel, RN, MSN, CNS (Associate Professor, Saint Luke’s College of Health Sciences) and Mary Wishall, RN, MSN(Instructor, Saint Luke’s College of Health Sciences) were inducted as Community Nurse Leader Members.
Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing Honor Society is dedicated to the pursuit of excellence in nursing in the areas of scholarship, leadership and research. The mission and vision of the society is to recognize superior achievement, recognize development of leadership qualities, foster high professional standards, encourage creative work, promote nursing research and strengthen the commitment of the ideals and purposes of the profession of nursing. Membership in Sigma Theta Tau is highly competitive and recognized as a major accomplishment for all baccalaureate nursing students and professional nurses. Individuals invited to be members of Sigma Theta Tau mush have demonstrated stellar academic achievement, demonstrate leadership qualities and committed to a career in nursing dedicated to being at the forefront of innovative nursing practice both locally and in the global community.
Honor Society under the leadership of John Farnsworth continues its path to become a recognized chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International. For a college to be awarded a Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau, the educational institution must first demonstrate the willingness and ability to form and sponsor a Nursing Honor Society. Spring, 2009 the faculty of Saint Luke’s College voted unanimously to form the Saint Luke’s College Nursing Honor Society. Upon approval from the faculty and with the support of Dr. Kathryn Ballou, Dean and President, Dr. Ginger Breedlove, Associate Academic Dean and the Saint Luke’s College faculty, a Steering Committee comprised of faculty, administrative staff and student representation was formed. The Steering Committee, under the direction of Dr. M. Kathleen Brewer, Professor and Mr. Charles Ramirez, Assistant Professor, have written and approved the Saint Luke’s Nursing Honor Society Bylaws, established criteria for student membership, awarded the first Nursing Research Award and conducted the first Induction Ceremony in 2010. In March, the Honor Society held an educational program about global nursing issues and nursing students who went on a Mission Trip to Haiti provided a presentation.
