The Ohio Nursing Students’ Association has again recognized The University of Toledo for outstanding achievement and overall leadership as a top chapter in the state.
Dr. Jeffrey Gold, chancellor and executive vice president for biosciences and health affairs, and dean of the College of Medicine and Life Sciences, left, and Dr. Timothy Gaspar, dean of the College of Nursing, posed for a photo with members of the 2012 Brain Bowl winning team, from left, Haley Johnson, Heather Gallagher, Betsy Hayes and Joshua Conklin.
The honor is from the Ohio Nursing Students’ Association, which is the state chapter of the National Student Nurses Association.
Outstanding chapter criteria include strong leadership as well as active involvement in the community and research.
According to Kathleen Mitchell, instructor and assistant dean of student services in the UT College of Nursing, the UT-BGSU chapter is one of the more active and vibrant chapters in Ohio.
“In 2011, UT hosted the state convention and had 19 students attend the national convention,” Mitchell said. “Community service initiatives for the chapter include the annual adopt a family, hosting dinner at Ronald McDonald House, Friday night packing party for the homeless in Toledo, and a community garden of which harvests are donated to the Cherry Street Mission.”
Additionally, UT won the 2012 Brain Bowl challenge and has elected multiple students to state office to the Ohio Nursing Students’ Association.
Dr. Jeffrey Gold, chancellor and executive vice president for biosciences and health affairs, and dean of the College of Medicine and Life Sciences, left, and Dr. Timothy Gaspar, dean of the College of Nursing, posed for a photo with students who were elected to offices in the Ohio Nursing Students’ Association, from left, Joshua Conklin, vice president, Ashante’ O’Dell, breakthrough to nursing director, and Leslie Puchala, secretary. Jacob Hunter, membership director, was not at the photo shoot.
The 2012 Brain Bowl winning team members were Haley Johnson, Heather Gallagher, Betsy Hayes and Joshua Conklin.
Mitchell said that nursing students regularly have been elected to state office from UT-BGSU, and 2013 will be no exception as four students hold Ohio Nursing Students’ Association office this year. The students are Joshua Conklin, vice president; Leslie Puchala, secretary; Ashante’ O’Dell, breakthrough to nursing director; and Jacob Hunter, membership director.
“Conklin and the other Ohio Nursing Students’ Association members will attend the National State Nurses Association convention in Charlotte, North Carolina, this April,” Mitchell said. “Conklin plans to run for national office as the Nomination and Elections Committee representative for the North Election area.”
The Ohio Nursing Students’ Association represents 1,500 members throughout the state and helps nursing students enhance their learning and education.
“One of my favorite aspects of being an adviser for the student nurse association is witnessing the transformation our students go through, especially when they are involved at the state and national level,” said Denise Oancea, instructor of nursing and a faculty adviser for the Ohio Nursing Students’ Association. “These are our future nurses that will be leading the profession of nursing, policy development and the world in health care.”
