Alumni Association Banquet

The Ashland University Dwight Schar College of Nursing alumni held their annual banquet at the Brown Derby Roadhouse on June 17, 2011. There were approximately 90 members and guests in attendance. The earliest graduate present was Helen Wappner---Class of 1936. The most recent graduate was Becky Mangas---Class of 2009. Members attended from the following states: California, Florida, Indiana, Michigan, Nevada, Ohio, Texas and Virginia.



A buffet dinner was served followed by a short business meeting during which Susan Ehret Baker---Class of 1965 was elected secretary. A person to serve as vice president is still being sought. Since the nursing alumni now function under the AU Alumni Association, Rules of Order were developed to replace the Constitution. The Rules of Order were approved by a majority of the members in attendance.

During the program, the 50 year and the 25 year classes were recognized and presented gifts. There were 17 members of the 1961 class who attended. They memorialized the ten members of their class who are deceased. There was one member of the 1986 class in attendance.
The alumni presented four scholarships to current nursing students. The students were selected based on essays they wrote describing a critical moment in their educational experience. Traditional students enter the BSN program and attend for four years. Traditional students awarded scholarships were: Michaela Phillians---$2000; Addie Runkle---$1000 and Kelly Hudak---$1000. RN to BSN students have already attained their RN but return to college to complete work for a BSN. The RN to BSN student who received a $500 scholarship was Sarah Koehler.

The Alumni Wall of Fame inductees were announced. Nurses are nominated for the honor based on their nursing career accomplishments and their work with the nursing alumni association. This year the inductees were Connie Nelson Gouge---Class of 1959 and Judy Greer Davis---Class of 1965. Their pictures will be placed on the Alumni Wall at the College of Nursing.
Faye Grund, Dean of the Dwight Schar College of Nursing and Jeff Alix, Director of AU Alumni and Parent Relations attended the banquet and offered comments about the college and the nursing alumni.