ABAC honors nursing graduates

TIFTON — Five graduates from the School of Nursing and Health Sciences at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College received top honors at the recent fall semester pinning ceremony.

Kyla McFarland of Valdosta received the Dedication to Nursing Award sponsored by South Georgia Medical Center, and Ansley Paulk of Adel received the Academic Excellence Award sponsored by Colquitt Regional Medical Center, college officials said in a statement.  

Olivia Wade of Ty Ty received the Clinical Excellence Award sponsored by Tift Regional Medical Center. Chelsie Turrubiartez of Sparks at the associate degree level and Frank Lin of Tifton at the bachelor’s degree level received recognition as the Lisa Purvis Allison Spirit of Nursing Award recipients. 

The Dedication to Nursing Award is given in honor of the nurses both past and present for their hard work and dedication to excellence at South Georgia Medical Center. 

The Academic Excellence Award goes to the graduate with the highest cumulative grade point average. The Clinical Excellence Award recognizes a student who demonstrated excellence in evidence-based clinical practice and patient-centered care. 

The Allison Award honors the memory of Lisa Purvis Allison who began the nursing program at ABAC as a single parent of two children following the accidental death of her husband. Despite being diagnosed with colon cancer during her final year in the nursing program, Allison completed her degree, passed her state board exam and became a registered nurse. 

Allison passed away soon after accomplishing her goal, college officials said. A scholarship fund in her honor was developed to assist students in fulfilling their dreams of becoming nurses. 

A total of 51 students received associate degree pins and four students received bachelor’s degree pins.