Nursing Honor Society Inducts New Members
Wednesday, May 5th, 2021
This virtual event began with welcome messages from College Dean Marie Foley, Ph.D., R.N., C.N.L. and Gamma Nu President Kathy Black, M.S.N., R.N., NPD-BC, plus an overview of the honor society. Each inductee was then recognized with their own slide, containing a photo, their future plans and to whom they dedicated their Sigma Theta Tau pin.
"After graduation, I plan on focusing on Maternal and Neonatal Nursing, and practicing as a Clinical Nursing Leader before returning to school for a Nurse Practitioner Program," read the slide for Alexus Baux, a student in the Clinical Nurse Leader program and one of the winners of the Gamma Nu scholarship. "I dedicate my pin to my family including my mother, my siblings, my grandmother, and my great aunt."
Additional scholarship winners included B.S.N. senior Melissa Ryan and Ph.D. student Kathleen Horan. Carolyn Rummel, Ph.D., R.N. was the recipient of this year's Gamma Nu Joy of Nursing Service Award. Carolyn is a founding member of Gamma Nu who has remained active in the chapter for over 40 years, serving in various roles including Past President, Archivist, Philanthropy Chair, and representative to the NJ Consortium of STTI Chapters.
The 2021 Francisca Champion Research Award was given to Joyce Maglione, Ph.D., R.N., who is currently the director of the Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Program and has served in various leadership roles in Gamma Nu.
Undergraduate nursing students are invited to join the Gamma Nu chapter of Sigma by having completed one half of their nursing curriculum, earning a 3.0 GPA, ranking in the top 35 percent of their graduating class and meeting the expectation of academic integrity. Graduate students (master's and doctorate) must have completed one quarter of the nursing curriculum, have a 3.5 GPA and meet the expectation of academic integrity.
"Sigma Theta Tau has been an important part of my professional life since my own Induction," said Black, who also serves as a clinical assistant professor at Rutgers School of Nursing. "It is always heartwarming to see the next generation of Gamma Nu members proudly join our Chapter. We welcome them and hope to be an ongoing part of their journey as nurses."
Maryanne Barra-Schneider, D.N.P., F.N.P.-B.C., R.N., clinical associate professor and vice-president of the Gamma Nu chapter stressed the importance of being a member of the honor society. "Sigma enhances our profession by providing research grants, scholarships, awards, continuing education, leadership development and conferences," she said. "Not only does membership promotes networking opportunities with other nursing professionals, but it also provides members with a support system. Plus, Sigma affiliation can be instrumental for future employment and career advancement."
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