Alumni Weekend 2002
Sandra Clements, 82MN, (left) received the Distinguished Nursing Achievement Award. Her husband, Jerry, and his mother, Doris, came along to celebrate.
Carmen Woodson, 59C, 80N, (center) and
Helen O’Shea proudly name Darla Ura (left) as an Honorary Alumna.
Christa Dell, 93C, Carmen Woodson, 59C, 80N, and Debbie Ilchak, 01MSN, (L–R) attended the reception for young alumni and students at the School of Nursing.
Ann
Fleetwood Martin, 52N, (L–R) listens as Betty Marie Davis Stuart,
52N, introduces the Dialogue of Generations by reading “The Reunion,”
a poem by Carol Bataglia, RN, from her book Murmurs.
Martha
Ann Willis Bailey and Ann Oster Rooney (L–R) were among the lively
group of 1952 classmates who captivated students with personal stories
during the Dialogue of Generations.
The
Class of 1952 kicked off the Golden Benchmark initiative, comprised of
all gifts to the School of Nursing made by a class
during its 50th reunion year.
Gail Walls, 99MSN, was among the NAA board members who planned Alumni Weekend 2002.
Of
Memories and Miracles
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| The Class of 1952 contributed to a scholarship endowment named for Dr. Elizabeth Mabry. |
Things were a bit
crowded when the Class of 1952 attended nursing school at Emory. Students
often jostled for space as residents of Harris Hall Annex, where eight
students shared one of its rooms. But if the spirit of the class is any
indication, living in close quarters is one of many colorful memories
these alumni share today.
It also was a class divided, comprised of both baccalaureate and diploma
students, who were the last three-year program students to graduate from
Emory. Many went on to receive advanced degrees. "The miracle of
this class is that our basic education was the same. We had a good foundation,"
recalls Betty Marie Davis Stewart, 52N, reunion
co-chair for Alumni Weekend 2002.
Her classmates’ feisty nature, sense of humor, and professional wisdom
were evident throughout the weekend’s activities. That included learning
about natural healing from keynote speaker Donna Donache, participating
in the Dialogue of Generations with students and faculty, and making a
splash at the Nurses Alumni Association (NAA) banquet at the Swissôtel
in Atlanta.
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| Anna Jean Jones Allen, 52N, (left) accepted the Reunion Cup on behalf of her class, which gave the most contributions to the Annual Fund. |
As in years past,
the NAA recognized the reunion class that contributed the most funds and
the most participants to the 2002 Annual Fund. This time, the Class of
1952 captured both honors— the Reunion Cup for raising approximately
$10,000 and the Spirit of Nursing Trophy for a class participation rate
of 57%.
But the Class of 1952 wasn’t finished yet. It launched the Golden
Benchmark, a new fund-raising challenge comprised of all gifts made by
a class during its 50th reunion year. Together, classmates contributed
$8,720 to the Annual Fund and, on Alumni Weekend, $13,000 toward establishing
a $50,000 scholarship endowment in honor of Professor Emerita Dr. Elizabeth
Mabry. Other alumni and friends may contribute to show their appreciation
for the mentor and friend who made a difference in so many lives.
Alumni everywhere deserve congratulations as well. Thanks to their efforts,
the NAA raised $101,000—a record amount—for the Annual Fund
to support scholarships and programs for nursing students. "That
is very significant and very special," said Dean Marla Salmon during
the banquet. Not content to rest, Alumni Weekend participants got the
2003 Annual Fund rolling by raising $5,200 during the NAA’s silent
auction, held prior to the banquet.
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| Patsy Getz, 52N, 58MN, displays her Award of Honor. |
It definitely was
a special night for three outstanding nurses honored by the NAA. Reunion
co-chair Patsy Getz, 52N, 58MN, received the
Award of Honor for her many years of service to the Emory health sciences
community. Getz taught in the School of Nursing for several years and
practiced nursing in orthopaedics, rheumatology, and rehabilitation medicine.
After retiring in 1997, she worked briefly as a private duty nurse before
returning to Emory as a research project coordinator at Wesley Woods Center.
Sandra Clements, 82MN, joined Getz in the
spotlight as the recipient of the Distinguished Nursing Achievement Award
for outstanding leadership
in treating epilepsy patients. Clements has
cared for them since 1994 as a clinical nurse specialist in the Emory
Epilepsy Center, which is part of The Emory Clinic. She has been recognized
by the Epilepsy Foundation of America and the Epilepsy Foundation of Georgia
for her efforts to support patients and their families.
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| Anna Maltby Sullivan, 52N, displays the Spirit of Nursing Trophy for the highest participation rate in the Annual Fund. |
Darla Ura, associate
professor (clinical) of nursing, joined the ranks of the NAA as an Honorary
Alumna for her many contributions to the School of Nursing. Beloved by
her students, Ura has earned several teaching honors, including the university’s
prestigious Emory Williams Teaching Award and the nursing school’s
Distinguished Teaching Scholar Award. She plays a vital role in overseeing
clinical instruction in the Charles F. and Peggy Evans Center for Caring
Skills, the school’s state-of-the-art learning facility for students.
Time after time, NAA award winners have shown that the rewards of nursing
are deeply personal and inspiring to others. “After 34 years in nursing,
I continue to learn the most from patients,” says Clements. “I
have the utmost respect for patients who deal with a chronic disorder
such as epilepsy. I trust that what they taught me in turn will make life
easier for others who are challenged in this way.”