22 students graduate TCAT Nursing Program

Friday was “culmination of a year long journey” in the Appalachian Regional Practical Nursing Program for 22 TCAT students

The “lighting of the candle is symbolic of Florence Nightingale who carries a lantern going from patient to patient”, according to Practical Nursing Program faculty member Tiffany Medley, who gave the opening remarks of the graduation ceremony. Friday’s Nursing Graduate Speaker and Clinical Excellence recipient Jade Johnston lights the candle.

By Charlotte Underwood

LAFOLLETTE, TN (WLAF)- Friday was the “culmination of a year long journey” in the Appalachian Regional Practical Nursing Program for 22 students enrolled at the Tennessee College of Applied Technology in Jacksboro.

WLAF’s Charlie Hutson shares his photo gallery HERE.

A Nursing Graduation and Pinning Ceremony was held on Friday evening at 6 pm at the LaFollette Church of God. It was an emotional event for the new nurses as they lit their candles, received their diplomas, and their pins and took the nurse’s oath.

Each graduate carried a candle in the processional. The “lighting of the candle is symbolic of Florence Nightingale who carries a lantern going from patient to patient”, according to Practical Nursing Program faculty member Tiffany Medley, who gave the opening remarks of the graduation ceremony.

The 2024 Nursing Valedictorian with the Overall highest GPA was Cheyenne Welch ad receives her award from TCAT Practical Nursing Instructor Jill Browning.

“They light candles to also signify that they will provide comfort and light in a place of darkness for their patients…tonight is the culmination of a year long journey, but it is only the beginning to the entry of your career in nursing, your family friends and educators are proud of you.,” Medley said.

Graduate Cheyenne Welch gave an emotional opening prayer, thanking God for His guidance and for getting her and other students through their courses and for leading her to her career.

This year’s graduate speaker was Jade Johnston. She thanked “adjuncts and instructors” for getting her and her fellow nursing graduates through the program. She also gave a special thank you to “their biggest cheerleader” TCAT Counselor Camilla Gambrel.

“You each have made an impact in our lives … you have all helped to mold and shape us, you have pushed us to be our best, we are incredibly thankful to each of you,” Johnston said. She had a special message to her fellow classmates that she has “trauma bonded” with over the past year.

Perfect Attendance awards were presented to Aaliyah Sanders (above) and Cheyenne Welch.

“We have joked and said that we have trauma bonded, but really it isn’t a joke, would nursing school even be nursing school without a little trauma. We have witnessed each other go through so many struggles, family circumstances, jobs, financial struggles, car accidents, all while encouraging each other and lifting each other up and being an encouraging ear.  We have hoped and dreamed about this day and now it is finally here, and I can’t begin to say how incredibly proud I am of you all. As we leave here today and we begin our nursing careers, I want you to be sure to remember our whys, why did you want to be a nurse? As exciting as it will be to finally hold that title, I want you to never forget what that title means. Being a nurse means being compassionate, caring and strong, having empathy and sympathy, always giving every patient your best no matter what. Some days will be hard, but we can’t forget who we are. As Maya Angelou said, ‘As a nurse we have the opportunity to heal the heart, mind, soul and body of our patients, their families and ourselves. They may forget your name, but they will never forget how you made them feel.’”

TCAT Practical Nursing Instructor Jill Browning handed out special awards for the evening and congratulated all graduates on “launching their career.”  Students in the TCAT Nursing Program are held to a high standard and have to maintain an 80-percent or higher average. TCAT Jacksboro is ranked as the 4th best practical nursing program in the state. These statistics and rankings are thanks to the great faculty and staff, the hard work and class time that TCAT students put into their training, as well as the great partnerships TCAT has with area clinics.

Each graduate carried a candle in the processional. The “lighting of the candle is symbolic of Florence Nightingale who carries a lantern going from patient to patient”, according to Practical Nursing Program faculty member Tiffany Medley, who gave the opening remarks of the graduation ceremony.

“Over the past year each one of you has made sacrifices and worked very hard to achieve your goals, take that drive, that positivity into your career,” Browning said.

Perfect Attendance awards were presented to Aaliyah Sanders and Cheyenne Welch.

This year’s Nursing Salutatorian was Ashton Swaggerty. She could not be at the graduation, so her sister and fellow nursing graduate Emily Swaggerty accepted the award on her behalf.

The 2024 Nursing Valedictorian with the Overall highest GPA was Cheyenne Welch.

“This next award is one of the highest honors in nursing. This person is chosen by their peers based on clinical performance. ‘Goes above and beyond, always gives 110 percent, works well with everyone’, these are just a few of the things said by her fellow students. This year’s Clinical Excellence Award goes to Jade Johnston,” Browing said.

According to her classmates, “Jade was their encourager, and … everyday she told us we could make it … she was our leader.”

The August 2024 Nursing Graduates are Bailey Carr, Katelin Coker, Jennifer Collins, Kayla Huddleston, Nicholas Hughes, Jade Johnston, Savannah Kemp, Donna Mahar, Teresa McGhee, Tina Monday, Lakien Nelson, Haley Phillips, Devyn Plageman, Faith Prewitt, Kaleigh Roberts, Taylor Rogers, Aaliyah Sanders, Ashton Swaggerty, Emily Swaggerty, Megan Thomas and Cheyenne Welch.

A special thank you was extended to TCAT’s Clinical Partners, without which, nurses in training would not receive the critical clinical experience they need for hands on training.

“Being a nurse means being compassionate, caring and strong, having empathy and sympathy, always giving every patient your best no matter what. Some days will be hard, but we can’t forget who we are.”  – Friday’s Nursing Graduate Speaker and Clinical Excellence recipient Jade Johnston.

Clinical Partners are Beech Tree Post-Acute & Rehabilitation Center, Community Health of East Tennessee, Cumberland Village, Dayspring Clairfield, Dayspring Jellico, Dayspring Pediatrics, Dayspring Williamsburg, LaFollette Medical Center, Tennova Clinic Caryville, Tennova Clinic Clinton, Tennova Clinic LaFollette, Tennova Clinic South, Wilkens Medical Group Jellico, and Williamsburg Family Medicine.

“Not only does it take our faculty and staff to make graduation a reality, but we also have several partners to thank; thank you to the LaFollette Church of God for hosting tonight’s event, it is wonderful to work with you. In addition, we want to thank our clinical partners for providing clinical experience for our nursing students. About half of our state approved curriculum takes place in a clinical setting and without the support of those providers, our college could not operate our nursing program.  Many additional health care partners also participate in our advisory committee. It is also critical that we have quality adjunct instructors to assist our full-time staff. This nursing program could not be a success without all of you and our amazing students. Congratulations to all of our 2024 graduates!” TCAT Counselor Camilla Gambrel said. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 08/27/2024-6AM)