Honor Society of Nursing/History

HISTORY OF ASHLAND UNIVERSITY
DEPARTMENT OF NURSING
HONOR SOCIETY

(AS PRINTED IN THE STTI APPLICATION FOR CHARTERING AND CATALOG OF PETITIONING HONOR SOCIETIES FOR 2002)

Ashland University is a mid-sized regional teaching University, historically related to the Brethren Church. Our mission is to serve the educational needs of all students-undergraduate and graduate, traditional and non-traditional, full and part-time by providing educational programs of high quality in an environment that is both challenging and supportive.

The National League of Nursing first accredited the Department of Nursing in 1986. The Department of Nursing is a RN to BSN completion program, which builds upon the knowledge and career experiences of the student to prepare acceptance in leadership roles and the practice of professional nursing in numerous settings.

The first steering committee of nine members met on April 5, 1989 to form the Ashland College School of Nursing Honor Society. Dorothy Stitzlein of the School of Nursing faculty directed the steering committee. The committee followed the eligibility requirements from Sigma Theta Tau. Other members included faculty Patricia A. Stevens and Pat Torak, alumni and community leaders Helen Kline, Nancy Smith and Carol Reece, and senior students Vivian Leggett, Regina Smeltzer and Holly Finks. In 1997, Dr. Dorothy Stitzlein became the Chair of the Department of Nursing and continues her support and leadership role in the Honor Society. Holly Finks and Regina Smeltzer later became faculty at the School of Nursing.

The first Induction Ceremony was held on May 7, 1989 and the twenty-five inductees became the original members of the Ashland College School of Nursing Honor Society. Since then we have had thirteen Induction Ceremonies with a total of 156 members. Speakers for Induction and scholarly meetings have included Eldonna Shields-Kyle M.S.N., R.N.,C., F.A.A.N., former President of the Ohio Board of Nursing and Linda Kerr, M.S.N., R.N., C.P.N.P., past president of the Honor Society. The Honor Society has two scholarly meetings per year and an annual business meeting. The first annual research conference was held on march 8, 1990 at Ashland University and was co-sponsored by the School of Nursing and the Honor Society. "You Can make a Difference: Grass Roots for Nursing Research" was well attended and deemed a success. The second annual research day was held on March 14, 1991, "Under the Big Top: Utilization of Nursing Research" was held at Ashland University and co-sponsored by the School of Nursing and the Honor Society.

Being a RN to BSN completion program, small numbers of inductees made the goal of reaching the membership criteria for Sigma Theta Tau International a slow process. In 1997, Dr. Ella Kick , Emeritus Dean of the Ashland University School of Nursing was appointed Chair of an Ad-Hoc committee with the purpose to again explore the possibilities, requirements and commitment in becoming a chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International. Since this time the Honor Society has met the criteria for membership and has been diligent in pursuing and meeting the other requirements for becoming a chapter of Sigma Theta Tau.

In the past several years the Honor Society has contributed to the Carol J. Chrisman Memorial Endowed Scholarship for nursing students employed in public health. Dr. Chrisman was a faculty member of the School of Nursing. In 1999, Dr. Ella Kick (Dean Emeritus of Ashland University School of Nursing 1994-1997) along with her family, friends, and colleagues established the Ella Kick Endowed Scholarship. The fund is awarded annually to a single parent registered nurse pursuing a nursing degree at Ashland University. The Honor Society has made a donation to Dr. Kick's Scholarship. On April 6, 2001 the Department of Nursing sponsored a celebration:

Ella Kick: Celebrating 50 years of Nursing

This event was held at the Ashland University Convocation Center. The Department of Nursing sponsored the event and the Honor Society participated on the planning committee and obtained the continuing education hours. The event celebrated the following:
-Dr. Kick's 50 years of Nursing
-Dr. Kick's endowed scholarship and presentation of the first year recipients
-The Department of Nursing 25 years of nursing education
The speaker for the event was Dr. June Patton, Ph.D., R.N., Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing, Distinguished Lecturer. Dr. Patton is a member of the Ashland University Department of Nursing faculty and Second Counselor for the Honor Society. Her presentation, "Celebrating the Journey" shared her personal and vast professional experiences as a nurse. Over 100 participants attended the dinner event as alumni, Honor Society members, faculty and Dr. Kick's colleagues were in attendance to honor her for the contributions she has made in the nursing profession.

Serving as Officers on the Board of Directors for Ashland University Nursing Honor Society are the following:
President, Theda (Jody) Hostetler
President Elect, Jackie Shrock
Vice President, Kelly Gray
Secretary, Mary Lou Davidson
Treasurer, Barbara Vaughn
First Counselor, Dorothy Stitzlein
Second Counselor, June Patton

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HISTORY OF ASHLAND UNIVERSITY DEPARTMENT OF NURSING HONOR SOCIETY (AS PRINTED IN THE STTI APPLICATION FOR CHARTERING AND CATALOG OF PETITIONING HONOR SOCIETIES FOR 2002) Ashland University is a mid-sized regional teaching University, historically related to the Brethren Church. Our mission is to serve the educational needs of all students-undergraduate and graduate, traditional and non-traditional, full and part-time by providing educational programs of high quality in an environment that is both challenging and supportive. The National League of Nursing first accredited the Department of Nursing in 1986. The Department of Nursing is a RN to BSN completion program, which builds upon the knowledge and career experiences of the student to prepare acceptance in leadership roles and the practice of professional nursing in numerous settings. The first steering committee of nine members met on April 5, 1989 to form the Ashland College School of Nursing Honor Society. Dorothy Stitzlein of the School of Nursing faculty directed the steering committee. The committee followed the eligibility requirements from Sigma Theta Tau. Other members included faculty Patricia A. Stevens and Pat Torak, alumni and community leaders Helen Kline, Nancy Smith and Carol Reece, and senior students Vivian Leggett, Regina Smeltzer and Holly Finks. In 1997, Dr. Dorothy Stitzlein became the Chair of the Department of Nursing and continues her support and leadership role in the Honor Society. Holly Finks and Regina Smeltzer later became faculty at the School of Nursing. The first Induction Ceremony was held on May 7, 1989 and the twenty-five inductees became the original members of the Ashland College School of Nursing Honor Society. Since then we have had thirteen Induction Ceremonies with a total of 156 members. Speakers for Induction and scholarly meetings have included Eldonna Shields-Kyle M.S.N., R.N.,C., F.A.A.N., former President of the Ohio Board of Nursing and Linda Kerr, M.S.N., R.N., C.P.N.P., past president of the Honor Society. The Honor Society has two scholarly meetings per year and an annual business meeting. The first annual research conference was held on march 8, 1990 at Ashland University and was co-sponsored by the School of Nursing and the Honor Society. "You Can make a Difference: Grass Roots for Nursing Research" was well attended and deemed a success. The second annual research day was held on March 14, 1991, "Under the Big Top: Utilization of Nursing Research" was held at Ashland University and co-sponsored by the School of Nursing and the Honor Society. Being a RN to BSN completion program, small numbers of inductees made the goal of reaching the membership criteria for Sigma Theta Tau International a slow process. In 1997, Dr. Ella Kick , Emeritus Dean of the Ashland University School of Nursing was appointed Chair of an Ad-Hoc committee with the purpose to again explore the possibilities, requirements and commitment in becoming a chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International. Since this time the Honor Society has met the criteria for membership and has been diligent in pursuing and meeting the other requirements for becoming a chapter of Sigma Theta Tau. In the past several years the Honor Society has contributed to the Carol J. Chrisman Memorial Endowed Scholarship for nursing students employed in public health. Dr. Chrisman was a faculty member of the School of Nursing. In 1999, Dr. Ella Kick (Dean Emeritus of Ashland University School of Nursing 1994-1997) along with her family, friends, and colleagues established the Ella Kick Endowed Scholarship. The fund is awarded annually to a single parent registered nurse pursuing a nursing degree at Ashland University. The Honor Society has made a donation to Dr. Kick's Scholarship. On April 6, 2001 the Department of Nursing sponsored a celebration: Ella Kick: Celebrating 50 years of Nursing This event was held at the Ashland University Convocation Center. The Department of Nursing sponsored the event and the Honor Society participated on the planning committee and obtained the continuing education hours. The event celebrated the following: -Dr. Kick's 50 years of Nursing -Dr. Kick's endowed scholarship and presentation of the first year recipients -The Department of Nursing 25 years of nursing education The speaker for the event was Dr. June Patton, Ph.D., R.N., Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing, Distinguished Lecturer. Dr. Patton is a member of the Ashland University Department of Nursing faculty and Second Counselor for the Honor Society. Her presentation, "Celebrating the Journey" shared her personal and vast professional experiences as a nurse. Over 100 participants attended the dinner event as alumni, Honor Society members, faculty and Dr. Kick's colleagues were in attendance to honor her for the contributions she has made in the nursing profession. Serving as Officers on the Board of Directors for Ashland University Nursing Honor Society are the following: President, Theda (Jody) Hostetler President Elect, Jackie Shrock Vice President, Kelly Gray Secretary, Mary Lou Davidson Treasurer, Barbara Vaughn First Counselor, Dorothy Stitzlein Second Counselor, June Patton