COLLEGE HANDS OUT NURSING DEGREES

Sixteen nursing students received their Associate of Applied Science in Nursing degrees Saturday from Southeast Missouri Hospital's College of Nursing.

Graduates will go on to sit for the state Registered Nurse (RN) board exams.

The class was the seventh to graduate since the hospital begin its LPN to RN education program in 1991.

Several awards were presented during the graduation ceremony, including the Delmar A. Cobble Outstanding Student Nurse of the Year Award.

That honor went to Starr Wilson of Cape Girardeau, who has worked at Southeast Hospital as an LPN in obstetrics since 1993.

The Cobble award is named in honor of Delmar A. Cobble, a longtime educator and member of Southeast's Board of Trustees. Cobble also chaired the hospital's Hazel Harrison Strickler scholarship program, through which more than 250 students have been able to fulfill their nursing education.

Also recognized were Jennifer Ahlfield, Sikeston, Missouri League for Nursing Outstanding Nursing Student Award and Pediatric Nursing Award; Marie Housman, Cape Girardeau, Medical-Surgical Nursing Award; Patricia Weathers, Sikeston, Maternity Nursing Award and Highest GPA Award; Robin Goehman, Jackson, Mental Health Nursing Award; Bobbi Wissmann, Scott City, Patient Care Management Award; and Theresa Lunnemann, DuQuoin, Ill., Professional Growth Award

Weathers and Leslie Milsap, Portageville, were also recognized for academic distinction.

Sherry Welker, RNC-OB-GYN/WHNP, president of Heartland Advanced Practice Nurses Network, was the keynote speaker.