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Press Release
Dickson, TN: TCAT Dickson held its traditional spring pinning ceremony for nineteen Practical Nursing graduates from its Dickson and Williamson campuses on April 22, signifying another group of graduates who are ready to accept the challenges of caring for others.
TCAT Dickson President Laura Travis who began her career as a nurse welcomed graduating students and their families. “I know what you have been through. I know what you have accomplished. You should be proud,” Travis said.
Stephanie Murphy, Director of Nursing and Health Careers at TCAT Dickson, presented awards. “The practical nursing program is 1,296 hours. Being present and on time is quite a feat. Two of our students had perfect attendance. They were never late, never missed a day – not even minute,” Murphy said as she presented perfect attendance awards to Kho Be and Rachael Lynn Schwarz.
Murphy presented Outstanding Clinical Awards to one student from the Dickson campus cohort and one from the Williamson campus cohort. Murphy explained students spend nearly half of their total program hours completing hands-on learning at clinical sites. Brooke Tomlinson received the Dickson campus award and Billy Jesse Sampson received the Williamson campus award.
The final awards presented were the Peer Awards. These were voted on by the students at each campus. Students selected the classmate they would most want to take care of their own loved ones needing medical care. Katera Nicole Swift received the Peer Award for the Dickson campus and Rachael Chamberlin received the Peer Award for the Williamson campus.
President Travis presented each graduate with a copy of the Nightingale Pledge, named after Florence Nightingale, to read in unison, while instructors pinned all students, except Sampson, and presented them with a single candle. Sampson’s mother, a professional nurse, pinned her son. The School of Nursing pins bear an image of an oil lamp resembling the one carried by Florence Nightingale. The candles represent the passing of knowledge from one generation to the next.
Dickson campus graduates were Paige Ashcraft, Kho Be, Sarah Blevins, Kayla Compton, Miriam Rebekah Hall, Haylee Jean Hutson, Shawntilia Lynn Kelly, Autumn Iman Lee, Brianna Mary Moyer, Caliyah Rashae Nelson, Emma Caroline Pate, Rachael Lynn Schwarz, Katera Nicole Swift, Brooke Tomlinson, and Caitlin Elisabeth Washer. Williamson campus graduates were Rachael Chamberlin, Charity Davis, Sandra Ekhaguosa, and Billy Jesse Sampson.
TCAT Dickson has campuses in Dickson, Clarksville, and Franklin and has served the residents of Dickson, Montgomery, Cheatham, Hickman, Houston, Humphreys, Stewart, and Williamson counties since 1964.
TCAT Dickson is a Tennessee Board of Regents institution, is accredited by the Council on Occupational Education, and complies with non-discrimination laws: Title VI, Title IX, Section 504, and ADA. Located on Highway 46 in Dickson, the technical training college also has extension campuses in Clarksville, and Franklin. Additional information about the school is located at www.TCATDickson.edu.
