2 May ICC Associate Degree Nursing faculty, students win state awards May 2, 2024 By Thomas, Donna S. Career Center, General 0 Itawamba Community College’s faculty and students won prestigious awards at the Mississippi Organization for Associate Degree Nursing conference recently in Biloxi. ICC’s students won the College Bowl, which consisted of correct responses to NCLEX-RN questions, over opponent teams from nine other community Colleges. Members include Tiree Jones of Aberdeen, Alexis Derrick of Ecru, Kaci Wood of Mantachie and Alexis Koonce of Saltillo. Of the three faculty awards presented this year, ICC brought home two. Anna Lewis of Mantachie won the Professional Development Award, which was established by the MOADN Board of Directors to support the professional development efforts of associate degree nurse educators. Criteria include employment by an accredited ADN program in Mississippi, membership in MOADN either as an individual or program member and willingness to present the professional development activity at the next annual convention. She will be reimbursed for up to $1,000 for certification as a certified nurse educator. Lauren Murphree of Bruce won the Innovative Faculty Award for the Escape Room that she developed for Fundamentals content as an active learning strategy. The Innovative Teaching award was established by the MOADN Board of Directors to support creative teaching strategies of Associate Degree Nurse Educators. Criteria include employment by an accredited ADN program in Mississippi, membership in MOADN either as an individual or program member and willingness to present the creative teaching strategy at the next annual convention. She received a plaque and $250 from MOADN. As a winner of the faculty awards, Lewis and Murphree will present at the 2025 MOADN conference. “The state event is very important for ICC because it promotes Associate Degree Nursing,” said Dr. Dana Walker, program director. “The Associate Degree nursing role is important to keep up with the needed workforce in our community. Congratulations to all of our winners! They are excellent representatives for our program and most deserving.” Related Articles ICC Associate Degree Nursing students receive MNF stipend, scholarship The Mississippi Nurses Foundation has presented a $5.000 stipend to Itawamba Community College’s Kasey Homan of Fulton and a $1,000 scholarship to Madison Collins of Shannon. Homan, who is majoring in Associate Degree Nursing, is a member of Phi Theta Kappa, Mississippi Organization for Associate Degree Nursing Students and Nurses Christian Fellowship. Her honors include the Dean’s List and recipient of an ICC Foundation scholarship. Among her activities are member of Trinity Baptist Church, volunteer firefighter with the Fulton Fire Department and treasurer of the Fulton Volunteer Fireman Club. She is a graduate of New Hope High School. She is married to Patrick Homan, and her parents are Dane and Angie Boyd. Also an Associate Degree Nursing major at ICC, Collins is a member of Phi Theta Kappa and past member of ICC’s All-American Marching Band. Her honors include the President’s List. She is a graduate of South Pontotoc High School. Collins is children’s choir director, member of the Praise Team and activities committee and volunteer with Life Recovery Ministry at Call by Faith Baptist Church. She is the ... ICC, TPSD sign MOU for innovative Associate Degree Nursing Preferred Candidacy Middle College program to begin this fall Itawamba Community College and the Tupelo Public School District signed a memorandum of understanding today to announce the innovative Associate Degree Nursing Preferred Candidacy Middle College program, which will begin this fall. The agreement, which was signed by ICC President Dr. Jay Allen and TPSD Superintendent Dr. Robert Picou in a formal ceremony, will promote early entry into the two-year nursing program. Qualified applicants will begin this track in their junior year. “Graduating seniors are often attracted to the idea of ‘going away’ to experience the first year of college,” Allen said. “Many of those graduates return home for various reasons and do not have a degree. If we can attract graduates early, we can educate them and give them an opportunity early that will open unlimited doors.” “Nursing offers a variety of job opportunities, both locally and beyond,” said Dr. Dana Walker, director of ICC’s Associate Degree Nursing program. During recent years, nursing programs across the nation have experienced a decline in qualified applicants. “The early entry opportunity would offer high quality students who are focused on ... ICC adds Associate Degree Nursing honor society Itawamba Community College ‘s Associate Degree Nursing students who qualify will now have an opportunity to participate in an honor society associated with the Organization for Associate Degree Nursing, according to Dr. Dana Walker, program director. “The addition of an Alpha Delta Nu chapter offers a unique opportunity to acknowledge the academic distinction of our nursing students,” Walker said. Its mission is to recognize academic excellence and encourage the pursuit of advanced degrees as well as foster lifelong learning.” Currently ICC nursing students can join the Mississippi Organization for Associate Degree Nursing Students, which is the student organization affiliated with Mississippi’s chapter of OADN. This is the first time that ICC has offered an honors organization for nursing. “We realized during the pandemic just how vital healthcare professions and professionals are,” said ICC President Dr. Jay Allen, “and this is an exceptional opportunity for us to recognize students who are excelling in an ICC healthcare program.” Walker said that nursing students would be invited to provisional membership after successful completion of at least ... ICC's '23 Associate Degree Nursing graduates excel on recent NCLEX Itawamba Community College’s 2023 May Associate Degree Nursing graduates have achieved a 96 percent pass rate on their National Council Licensure Examination, according to Dr. Dana Walker, program director. Walker said that the Nex Gen NCLEX went into effect in April, making ICC’s graduates some of the first to see the exam. All but two graduates passed the newly formatted exam on the first attempt. “That is commendable as many times the pass rate drops on a new exam format.” “I am beyond proud of the hard work the (ICC) nursing faculty did to accomplish this,” Walker said. “I know that the transition to the new exam concepts and format was not easy during a pandemic and post pandemic, but the faculty stuck to the strategies planned and made the students successful.” Walker noted that the May 2023 graduates started their nursing school journey in the fall of 2021, and some had never taken a face-to-face college course. “I am immensely excited and proud of this accomplishment by our nursing students, faculty and staff,” said ICC President Dr. Jay ... New faculty, staff participate in ICC employee orientation Several area residents participated in new employee orientation at Itawamba Community College recently. They include Joey Bowen of Saltillo, janitorial supervisor; Sharon Clemmer of Tupelo, administrative assistant, dean of economic and community services; Whitney Crawford of Houston, residence hall director; Tami Doss of Tupelo, resource referral associate; Wesley Foster of Mooreville, HVAC maintenance; Dylan Hart of Fulton, residence hall director; Grant Kimberlin of Olive Branch, assistant football coach; Rick Lawson of Booneville, assistant softball coach; Emily Lay of Smithville, child development technician; Mallory Pennington of Pontotoc, health information instructor; Taylor Pierce of Tupelo, administrative assistant, health sciences; Donald L. Pounders of Saltillo, sociology instructor; David W. Rakestraw of Blue Springs, history/geography instructor; Caleb Ramey of Red Bay, Ala., TIS help desk specialist; Bronzen Smith of Tupelo, residence hall director; Kaitlyn Stanfield of Red Bay, Ala., residence hall director; Kelli Wallace of Mantachie, child development center instructor; Rob Wilkinson of Fulton, grounds maintenance; Rodney Williams of Brandon, residence hall director; and Ruth Ann Williams of Mantachie, administrative assistant, nursing. Bowen is retired from the ... ICC art students bring home state awards Itawamba Community College art students brought home four awards in this year’s Mississippi Community College State Art Competition hosted by Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College in Gautier. Winners included Camille Campbell of Tupelo, third place and a $50 cash award in the category of Painting for her acrylic painting titled ‘Woman’s Portrait;’ Laken Templeton of Pontotoc, first place and a $100 cash award in Digital Art for her Adobe Illustrator rendering of Michelangelo’s ‘David’ titled ‘Apprehension’ and second place and $75 cash award in 3D-Design for her hand-sewn recreation of ‘The Laughing Cavalier’, a 17th century masterpiece by the Dutch painter Frans Hals; and Mov Etheridge of Baldwyn, honorable mention in 3D-Design for her sculpture ‘Chinese Guitar.’ Other participating ICC art students include Harleigh Roberts of Baldwyn; Raymond Everett of Blue Springs; Jacob Brees of Hernando; Maleigh Collier of Nettleton; Anna Maclaine Griffith, Marlee Schaefer, both of Pontotoc; Katie Pilgrim and Josie Kate Reeves, both of Tupelo. Artwork of the winners will be on display through Mar. 26 in the 33rd annual Student Art Exhibition and Competition of the Mississippi Community ... Comments are closed.