RTC LPN Program Celebrates 55th Annual Lamp Lighting Ceremony
Rolla Technical Center’s (RTC) Practical Nursing program held its 55th annual Lamp Lighting Ceremony on December 16h in the RTC Board Room. The Lamp Lighting Ceremony, established in honor of Florence Nightingale, is a ceremony to recognize the students’ commitment to the profession of nursing at the midpoint in their education, the point at which students start transitioning from learning theory to applying theory in the clinical setting. The focal point of the ceremony is the presentation and lighting of the lamps, which represent Florence Nightingale. The flame of the lamp, which is a symbol of knowledge, is lit by faculty to represent the passing of knowledge from faculty to students.
The ceremony started with the presentation of scholarships (listed below) and concluded with the lighting of the lamps by each of the 13 students in the 2022 class. This year’s guest speaker was Amber Miller, LPN, a 2019 graduate of RTC’s LPN program. Ms. Miller gave the students an inspirational talk with tips on how to finish the program successfully and achieve their dreams of becoming a nurse.
Students received several scholarships during the ceremony from five local scholarship donors. Representatives from the Rolla Optimist Club, the Mo-Sci Charitable Foundation, the Rolla Lioness Club, Howard Roberts Scholarship Fund, and the PCRMC Auxiliary and Volunteer Services were on hand to present their scholarships to students.
Group Photo:
Front row, left: Shelby Botkin, Sarah Burke, Cassidy Cantrell, Emily Leininger
Second row, left: Program Instructor Michelle Chick,Torie Hance, Jaydan Barr, Alyssa Phillips, Ashley Crannick, Jaraysha Douglas, Program Instructor Jessica Fisher
Third row, left: Abagail Moncreif, Charley Richardson, Caitlin Hughes
Guest Speaker:
Jessica Fisher, Amber Miller, and Michelle Chick
Scholarship Presenters and Recipients:
Optimist Club: Megan Johnson (Optimist), recipient Shelby Botkin and Optimist President, Liz Sperry
Lioness Club: Libby Niles (Lioness), Jaraysha Douglas, Ashley Crannick, Caitlin Hughes, Sarah Burke, Jaydan Barr, and Sharron Lenox (Lioness)
Phelps Health Auxiliary: Crystal Lorah (Phelps Health), Abagail Moncrief, Cassidy Cantrell, Leona Rosenow (Phelps Health)
MO Sci: Dr. Stephanie Broyles (RTI-presenting on behalf of MO Sci) Torie Hance, Shelby Botkin, Abagail Moncrief, Sarah Burke, Cassidy Cantrell, and Karen Lambeth (RTI).
Howard Roberts Scholarship: Dr. Stephanie Broyles (RTI), Sarah Burke, and Karen Lambeth (RTI)