Their presentation, “Using Simulation to Bridge Faith and Health in a Non-Traditional Setting,” highlighted a unique, interdisciplinary approach to simulation design that integrates healthcare, ethics and religious studies. Developed as part of Koonts’ Bridging Faith and Health work, in collaboration with interdisciplinary partners Elon faculty members Brian Pennington and Helen Orr, and supported by Interfaith America, the project addresses a growing need to prepare future nurses to navigate complex patient situations where religious beliefs, patient autonomy and evidence-based practice intersect.

The session showcased a multi-module educational initiative and an accompanying simulation experience designed to foster interprofessional collaboration, communication, and clinical judgment in ethically challenging scenarios. By engaging learners in realistic, non-traditional simulation environments, the project aims to strengthen students’ ability to deliver patient-centered care while respecting diverse values and beliefs.

Conference participants responded enthusiastically to the presentation, particularly its emphasis on:

• Addressing moral distress in clinical practice
• Enhancing interprofessional education (IPE)
• Expanding simulation beyond traditional clinical settings
• Promoting culturally and spiritually sensitive care

This work is part of a broader, Interfaith America grant-funded initiative that will continue over the next two years, with plans to expand the simulation model and contribute to the growing body of knowledge in faith-health integration and simulation-based education.

The conference brought together educators and simulation specialists from across the state to explore emerging trends such as artificial intelligence, virtual reality and innovative �þ��� strategies. Elon’s contribution reflects the department’s ongoing commitment to excellence in nursing education, leadership in simulation and preparation of practice-ready graduates.

�þ��� football player and nursing student Jake Marion ’26 was recently for donating bone marrow through the National Marrow Donor Program (formerly Be The Match)

The national nonprofit agency works to spread awareness of the need for bone marrow donation and to increase the number of participants in the��bone marrow��registry. While��Elon Football has worked��with the organization for several years, Club Nursing��joined��in 2024��for an annual awareness and registry event.

Marion joined the registry through Elon Football in 2022. He was almost matched in previous years, but blood testing revealed it was not a high enough match necessary for donation. That all changed this year when he got a call in January to begin the donation process, which was completed this spring.

“He’s a part of me now, and I’m a part of him,” Marion said of the recipient. “My cells are inside his body and hopefully they’re doing their job, and they’re helping him, so it’s hard. I’m just praying he’s going to get better, and I’m rooting for him.”

Marion was matched earlier this year as an exact genetic donor after previously joining the donor registry. He described his decision to donate as deeply personal, noting that the experience of caring for his sick grandmother helped inspire his nursing path. After completing the three-hour stem cell collection process, Marion emphasized the significance of giving someone a real chance to fight cancer — even if the donation procedure is taxing on the body.

“Those stem cells are basically binding to the bone marrow, and it’s giving him a shot to recover, because this is the first time in his life where his body has been strong enough to fight the cancer,” he said. ��“From there, what they can do is actually attack with chemotherapy. It might be a tiny bit taxing to your body, but it’s well worth it for the person that’s struggling with their life.”

Assistant Professor of Nursing and Club Nursing faculty advisor Jeanmarie Koonts offered thoughtful commentary in the article on the role of compassion in healthcare education. She highlighted that while clinical skills and techniques are essential, the ability to empathize and truly care for others is equally vital to the nursing profession.

“For many years running, nursing has been voted the most trusted profession,” Koonts said, adding that empathy cannot always be taught but is a defining trait of exceptional caregivers.

Marion joined the registry through Elon Football in 2022. He was almost matched in previous years, but blood testing revealed it was not a high enough match necessary for donation. That all changed this year when he got a call in January to begin the donation process,��making him��Elon’s first bone marrow donation since the collaboration between the football program and Club Nursing.

 (formerly Be The Match)��is��a national nonprofit agency whose mission is to spread awareness of the need for bone marrow donation and to increase the number of participants in the��bone marrow��registry. While with the organization for several years, Club Nursing��joined��in 2024 for an annual awareness and registry event.����

“I remember at Lakeside, it was cool because there was the football team, me in the middle, and then a lot of people from Club Nursing,” Marion said. “So, it was cool to see both of those groups merge.”����

To begin the donation process, Marion had his blood tested to make sure he��is��a 100% match, filled out a long questionnaire, got a metabolic panel, and an in-depth physical examination.��

Assistant Professor of Nursing and Club Nursing faculty advisor, Jeanmarie Koonts commends Marion for his ability to delegate his coursework while being there for someone in need.����

“I am in awe and it makes me feel so humbled. Jake is putting��the��compassion,��commitment��and caring of nursing into action. He is truly giving himself to make someone’s life better,” Koonts said. “And Jake is a busy man. He is a senior with an intense workload, who is also a varsity athlete. Yet, he has put someone else’s need��above all of��this.”��

In preparation for the retrieval process, Marion will begin receiving injections, called filgrastim, a week prior.����

“It’s basically a medication they give to cancer patients, but for donors, it’s specifically to increase your stem cell count,” Marion said. “And then on the day I get the donation,��it’s��usually a six-hour process. They put an IV in each arm at the elbow bend, and you just sit there.��It’ll��take your blood, and then it goes into a machine, grabs all the stem cells, and returns the blood back into the other IV. After that, you just��kind of avoid��strenuous activities for a week.”����

To complete the donation, Marion will miss three days of classes and make up the work afterwards in recovery. Despite it all, his main concern is the ability to make a difference.����

“Cancer is a huge problem, and I think the ability to even have the chance to help someone live longer or cure their specific type of cancer is really just an awesome feeling,” Marion said.��“It’s��something that��not many��people experience, and��I’m��very grateful��for it.��I’m��just glad��that I can help someone.”����

The next football and Club Nursing registry event will be held on March 30, 2026. For more information, contact��.����

The tour was designed to expose students to clinical practices beyond the mainland United States and to highlight both the strengths and challenges of healthcare systems serving diverse populations. �þ��� observed patient care areas, learned about hospital operations, and engaged in discussions with local healthcare professionals about pediatric nursing in Puerto Rico.

Adding to the significance of the visit was an unexpected coincidence: the Governor of Puerto Rico, Jenniffer González-Colón, was also touring the hospital that same day. The governor held a press conference on site to address a recently announced increase in pay for nurses across the island, drawing attention to one of the most pressing issues facing Puerto Rico’s healthcare system today.

Like many regions across the United States, Puerto Rico is experiencing an acute shortage of nurses. Years of workforce migration, demanding working conditions and comparatively lower wages have contributed to staffing challenges that impact patient care and hospital capacity. The governor’s announcement of increased nurse compensation was widely welcomed by healthcare professionals and administrators, who see it as a critical step toward retaining talent and strengthening the island’s healthcare infrastructure.

For Elon nursing students, witnessing the Governor’s visit firsthand brought classroom discussions about workforce shortages, healthcare policy, and professional advocacy into sharp focus.

“It was powerful for students to see how policy decisions directly affect nurses and patient care,” said Kuussman. “This experience connected theory, practice and policy in a very real way.”

Koonts echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the value of experiential learning.

“Our students were able to observe not only clinical environments, but also the broader systems that shape healthcare delivery. That kind of exposure is invaluable as they prepare for their future careers.”

�þ��� noted that seeing nurses at the center of a public policy discussion reinforced the importance of advocacy and leadership within the profession. Others reflected on the global nature of nursing challenges, recognizing that workforce shortages and compensation concerns extend far beyond any single location.

The visit to the pediatric hospital underscored the critical role nurses play in healthcare systems and highlighted the importance of continued investment in the profession. For Elon’s nursing students, the experience served as both a learning opportunity and a reminder of the impact nurses can have—not only at the bedside, but also in shaping the future of healthcare.

Related Articles

• Health Sciences graduates urged to prioritize connection
• Former teacher Sarah Jenkins ’25 finds new purpose in Elon nursing program
• Healing with Knowledge and Heart

�þ��� in �þ���’s Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing program have already undergone the college experience; the program requires them to hold a bachelor’s degree before enrolling. But as graduating nursing student Haley Savastano ’25 noted: “you don’t leave your past behind – you get to bring it with you.”

“We quickly realized that our differences made us stronger and became the strengths we leaned on, lessons we shared and perspectives that shaped the kind of nurses we’re going to become,” said Savastano.

Savastano addressed her fellow ABSN cohort during the Department of Nursing’s pinning ceremony on Thursday, Dec. 11, in Whitley Auditorium. In 2021, Elon launched both a traditional four-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing program and a 16-month accelerated program for those who already hold a bachelor’s degree and seek to earn a nursing degree in a shorter timeframe. During the ceremony, each student received a pin symbolizing their transition from student to professional nurse.

“Tonight isn’t just about pins and degrees, it’s about everything we’ve become along the way,” Savastano said. “We’ve learned to roll with the chaos, care for people in all kinds of situations and bounce back from days that felt impossible. We’ve laughed, stressed, studied and survived together, and somehow, we made it through. Now we are ready for whatever comes next, even if it’s just surviving on night shift.”

Cathy Quay, associate professor of nursing and chair of the Department of Nursing, opened the event, along with Maha Lund, dean of the School of Health Sciences.

“The pins you receive today symbolize the achievements, challenges and life experiences that have brought you to this milestone,” said Lund. “As you step into your roles as health care providers, I encourage you to always see the humanity in each patient.”

The graduating students also heard from someone who has been in their shoes before: Trish Richardson, a board-certified nurse executive and certified medical-surgical registered nurse, who is now the treasurer-elect of the North Carolina Nurses Association. Richardson originally earned a bachelor’s degree in business from East Carolina University and was a licensed stockbroker. But a decade after earning her first degree, Richardson went back to school for nursing.

“I was committed to a life in the service of others, much like you are getting ready to do, and my decision to continue my education has allowed me to do just that, only this time, as a registered nurse,” she said.

During her remarks, Richardson brought out her own pins, including her Associate Degree in Nursing, Bachelor of Science in Nursing and finally her Doctorate of Nursing Practice, which she will complete next summer. The pins are kept in her jewelry box to remind Richardson of why she does her work. She told a story of a former patient named John who, upon realizing he was dying, went missing in the hospital one night. Richardson found him outside, taking the opportunity to look at the stars “one more time.”

“Those are the moments that will transform you,” she said. “Throughout your career, you are going to have moments like this that will absolutely take your breath away.�� There are moments you will never forget. John is just one of the thousands of patients that God has given me the gift of caring for throughout my career.”

As Richardson addressed the group of future nurses, she reminded them to commit to being brave, speaking their truth, being a leader, advocate, and champion, and being a voice that makes a difference.

“I can see in the faces before me that the future of our profession is bright indeed,” she said. “My friends, lives will be touched, and generations transformed because of you. Our profession needs your courage. Your patients need your heart, and the world needs to hear your voice.”

Following the presentation of pins, the students took the Nursing Professional Oath, followed by closing remarks from Quay.

“Each of you had your own personal reasons for pursuing nursing at Elon, but I am confident that part of your decision was a shared purpose: the decision to care for people in need,” said Quay. “People need you, and our healthcare system needs you. Our communities need you, our world needs you. Because nursing, perhaps more than any other profession, holds the power to change lives.”

ABSN Class of 2025

Layla Abumayleh
Sarah Acuff
Ashley Banegas
Kiara Batts
Joshua Brower
Abigail Chester
Claire Cummings
Jessica Claire David
Emily Easthom
Samantha Eldredge
Abigail Franklin
Cyntasia Hammonds
Sarah Jenkins
Caroline Maness
Carmen Mesa
Shania Oyler
Alexa Porter
Avery Riley
Mia Rose
Haley Savastano
Lillie Shamblin
Lauryn Smith
Madison Steele
Suleyma Torres-Garcia
Anna Wheat

Department Awards

The Heart of the Cohort – Sarah Jenkins ’25
This award is presented to a senior nursing student who inspires their peers and demonstrates a commitment to encouraging and supporting fellow students. Nominated and voted on by students, the recipient is known for their positive attitude, ability to motivate others, and perseverance throughout the program.

Phoenix Award – Samantha Eldredge ’25
The Phoenix Award is given to a senior nursing student who excels in supporting peers and the Elon Department of Nursing throughout their program. Nominated and voted by students and faculty, the recipient demonstrates outstanding academic achievements, excellent character and interactions, active involvement in university organizations and significant community services, all while promoting the nursing profession and enhancing student life.

Trailblazer Award – Sarah Acuff ’25
This award is presented to a senior nursing student who exemplifies integrity, accuracy and innovative leadership. Nominated and voted on by students and faculty, the recipient shows outstanding leadership, listens and guides others, is dedicated to driving change, raising awareness of social justice issues, and fostering an equitable campus community.

Academic Achievement Award – Graduated with a 4.0 GPA

Samantha Eldredge ’25
Sarah Jenkins ‘25
Anna Wheat ‘25

And as she prepares to retire from the university having influenced many hundreds of graduates and earning in 2024 the university’s highest faculty honor, the Daniels-Danieley Award for Excellence in Teaching, Johansson sought to share her wisdom in a Commencement address to some of the newest members of the healthcare profession.

Her key takeaways on Dec. 12, 2025, for �þ��� students conferred with degrees in nursing, physician assistant studies and physical therapy included:

• Prioritize human connection over individual achievement in both career and life.
• Practice compassion with boundaries to sustain caring without burnout.
• Treat yourself with self-compassion and accept help as part of belonging.

Delivering her afternoon remarks in Alumni Gym to School of Health Sciences graduates, Johansson challenged the familiar advice to “follow your bliss,” calling it inconsistent with both evidence and lived experience. She cited the , which has tracked participants for the better part of a century and found that strong relationships matter more to long-term happiness than wealth or physical health.

“If you want to pursue an evidence-informed approach to happiness, you have to focus on other people and not just yourself,” Johansson said. “I suspect that most of you sitting here came to healthcare because you already care about relationships. It’s quite possibly also why you chose to study at Elon.

“So it’s good to know that relationships are also the key to professional success and happiness. Studies indicate that the more people focus solely on themselves, the worse off they are likely to be—physically, mentally, and professionally.”

For healthcare professionals, Johansson said, those connections may be brief but still lasting. Even short encounters, including supportive words offered in moments of care, can leave a lifelong impact. Research was cited showing that compassion improves patient experiences and protects providers from burnout, a condition marked by emotional exhaustion and detachment that disproportionately affects healthcare workers.

Johansson emphasized that compassion differs from empathy alone because it moves people to action while reducing personal emotional distress. Studies of compassion training show increased activity in brain regions associated with reward and belonging rather than pain.

Sustaining compassion over time, she reminded graduates, requires boundaries, self-compassion and a willingness to accept help. Johansson also stressed that fulfillment depends on connecting to something greater than oneself, often experienced through relationships with patients, colleagues and communities.

“When we think of relationships, we tend to imagine longevity,” Johansson said. “Yet for many of us, our intersections with patients may last only a few minutes and we never see those people again. But your supportive words and your moments of caring can stay with a person for a lifetime.”

The Commencement program welcomed families, friends and mentors of 45 candidates for the Doctor of Physical Therapy, 38 candidates for the Master of Physician Assistant Studies, and 25 candidates for the university’s Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing program.

Maha Lund, dean of the School of Health Sciences, in her welcoming remarks thanked clinical partners who provided practical learning experiences for students, and she shared her gratitude for loved ones who supported graduates throughout their academic journeys. Lund also spoke directly to those about to enter the healthcare profession.

“Graduates, know that you are needed!” Lund said. “Today our communities face significant healthcare challenges and inequities. You have worked hard to develop clinical and leadership skills that can help you address these challenges and reduce healthcare inequities.

“Congratulations on your accomplishments. We wish you continued success and happiness as you apply your learning to serve those around you.”

In a charge to graduates to conclude the ceremony, �þ��� President Connie Ledoux Book cautioned about the world in which healthcare workers now practice where science, once an unquestioned foundation, is too often dismissed or distorted.

Graduates will also practice in systems where business models shift rapidly, Book said, and the pressures on clinicians and the needs of patients are growing ever more complex.

“Go forth with compassion. Be a steady presence in spaces where uncertainty and instability can distract from the heart of healing,” she said. “Serve with integrity when you face difficult decisions, and let your training guide you toward what is just and wise.

“Be advocates for your patients, for your communities, and for a healthcare system that honors each and every person. And hold fast to the belief that your work matters deeply, especially in times when the world needs compassionate clinicians more than ever.”

Candidates for the Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing

• Layla Abumayaleh
• Sarah Allison Acu:
• Ashley Emelda Banegas
• Kiara Lyniece Batts
• Joshua Isaiah Brower
• Abigail Chester
• Claire Elizabeth Cummings
• Jessica Claire Davis
• Emily Anne Easthom
• Samantha Page Eldredge
• Abigail Heath Franklin
• Cyntasia Dene’ Hammonds
• Sarah Jenkins
• Caroline Grace Maness
• Carmen Mesa
• Shania Brianna Oyler
• Alexa Porter
• Avery Lane Riley
• Mia Gabrielle Rose
• Haley Josephine Savastano
• Lillie Grace Shamblin
• Lauryn Alexandra Smith
• Madison Jaycee Steele
• Suleyma Torres-Garcia
• Anna Josie Wheat

Candidates for the Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies

• Sarah Lane Edwards Adams
• Fatema Alhajeri
• Haley Brooke Brennan
• Brianna Laurel Bromley
• Mia Cameron Cleary
• Cynthia Chisom Dimgba
• Devron John Felder
• Samir Halalou
• Chandler Reid Halvorsen
• Grace FuJia Huisking
• Katrina Anastasija Jackson
• Nadia Zein Ja:al
• Lillian Rae Kerchinsky
• Blessed Kisakye Wiele
• Michael Richard McCormack
• Lina Concetta Meikle
• Danielle Martine Meyen
• Jordan-Lee Napolitano
• Sarah Michelle Newman
• Sydney Marie Noldin
• Brian Walter O’Hare Jr.
• Dylan James Paracka
• Robert Arthur Plagmann
• Gabriela Jazmin Quintanilla
• Patricia Lourdes Raj
• Joshua Lewis Rambeaut
• Yeimi Lizbeth Reyna Romero
• Savannah Joyce Richardson
• Andrea Leigh Robertson
• Dakota Austin Sampson
• Erin Elizabeth Schiemann
• Laura Staeheli
• Savannah Cherie Summy
• Douglas James Thompson
• Vivian Chau Tiet
• Eddie Dean Tyler White
• Julia Christine Wyner
• Ellie Christine Yakubu

Candidates for the Doctor of Physical Therapy

• Nicholas Michael Bush
• Katelyn Brooke Carpenter
• Emiliano Chirigliano
• Raya Imani Coley
• Kasey Copeland
• John Carl Daniels
• Jazmyne Nechole Davis
• Rachel Laurel Davis
• Logan Gregory Deese
• Danielle Sanford Essex
• Michaela Faith Fitzgerald
• Gabrielle M. Flocco
• Josephine Freeman
• Madison Leigh Friday
• Taylor Marie Grikis
• Terris Hightower
• William Huie
• Kaleigh Iris Jenkins
• Samantha Rose Kosmacki
• Kyle Matthew Langworthy
• Breanna M. Lanouette
• Kieran Best Mahoney
• Katherine Briana Messikomer
• Alex Miller
• Andrew G. Miller
• Jamshed K. Mistry
• Sara Moore
• Isaac Murdock
• Alexis Nowell
• Airiann Marie Page
• Ashlyn Wolfe Panagrosso
• Chaney Leigh Patton
• Samantha Nichole Pawlovich
• Wesley Allen Roberson
• Veronica Romero-Perozo
• Jacob Dean Rosengarten
• Milani Denise Lavarias Saldon
• Virginia Royal Shafer
• Anthony William Shea
• Charles Fairbank Sigloh
• Addison Kay Swo:ord
• Alannah Marie Thomas
• Matthew L Urrutia
• Thomas Ryan Van Dorp
• Hannah Michelle Wright

�þ��� hosted affinity celebrations on Dec. 11, 2025, for students in the School of Law and School of Health Sciences set to graduate the following day at Commencement exercises inside Alumni Gym.

Coordinated by the Division of Inclusive Excellence with support from additional university offices and programs, the three affinity celebrations inside the Lakeside Meeting Room honored and recognized the rich histories and cultures of Elon’s community.

A heartfelt program to recognize ‘authentic selves’

Elon’s Lavender Celebration, coordinated by the Gender and LGBTQIA Center and the Division of Inclusive Excellence, recognized seven graduating students from Elon’s School of Health Sciences and School of Law as allies and members of the LGBTQIA+ community.

“We celebrate you: your hard work, your resilience, and the unique journeys that have brought you here,” Melissa Scales, associate professor of physical therapy education, said in her welcoming graduates. “Each of you has made a significant impact, not only through your academic achievements, but also by being your authentic selves and advocating for a more inclusive world.”

Each student received a rainbow stole and heard a personal tribute from friends, family and faculty, including Scales, Assistant Professor Bob Minarcin and Krista Contino Saumby, associate director of career development for Elon Law.

Among the tributes were those to Taylor Streuli L’25, executive director of OUTLaw. Minarcin, also OUTLaw’s faculty co-adviser, called their kindness and courage “a superpower” that connects people.

“Taylor’s constant efforts to improve both Elon and our broader community come from a place of genuine love and bravery,” said Minarcin, recalling OUTLaw’s trip to the Lavender Law Conference where Streuli fearlessly engaged with everyone. “Keep being you, Taylor — the world desperately needs more people willing to introduce themselves to an entire bar full of lawyers.”

Scales celebrated Raya Cubley, a Doctor of Physical Therapy candidate in the School of Health Sciences. “Raya advocates fiercely for equity — for her peers and for her patients,” Scales said. “She is brilliant, compassionate, and unapologetically herself.”

Closing the ceremony, Luis Garay, director of the Gender and LGBTQIA Center,�� recognized the importance of family and friends in supporting the achievements of these graduate students.

“As we close our time together, I want to extend my heartfelt congratulations to all our Lavender graduates,” Garay said. “We hope the messages shared today inspire our community as we continue to support you beyond this moment.”

¡Celebremos! honors journeys, roots and communities

Heritage, community and the journeys that shaped graduates were at the heart of the ¡Celebremos! Graduates Take Flight ceremony, which honored nine Latinx/Hispanic students from Elon Law and the School of Health Sciences.

“When you think about today, think back to when you first dreamed of receiving a professional degree,” Adriana Hernandez Ordonez L’25 said during her keynote address. “The same person who worked hard every single day to accomplish their goals is the same person sitting here, now waiting to walk on the stage.”

In its third year for December graduates of Elon Law and the School of Health Sciences, ¡Celebremos! recognizes the achievements of students as well as the “villages” of family and friends whose support has been instrumental throughout their educational journey.

Building on that reflection, Hernandez Ordonez reminded graduates of the meaningful influence they’ll bring to the communities they serve.

“Our families are the emotional support we held onto through this journey,” Hernandez Ordonez said. “Our roots keep us grounded and remind us of where we come from, even when life becomes overwhelming.”

During the ceremony, each graduate received a stole adorned with a monarch butterfly design created by Carolina Ferreyros ’20. As graduates received their stoles, faculty read heartfelt letters they had written to members of their “village,” sharing gratitude, acknowledgment and reflections that honored their heritage and culture.

“This stole symbolizes the journey that brought you to Elon,” said Sylvia Muñoz G’02, assistant dean of students and director of the Center for Race, Ethnicity and Diversity Education.

The ceremony concluded with an alumni presentation that welcomed graduates into the Elon alumni family and underscored the value of staying engaged and lending voices to a community that now extends beyond campus.

“Your paths to this moment have taken many shapes,” said La’Tonya Wiley ’97, assistant director for alumni affinity engagement. “Some of you studied on main campus, others at locations across the region and in immersive placements far beyond North Carolina. Regardless of where you learned, you are now part of a global alumni community rooted in connection, culture, and shared purpose.”

Donning of the Kente celebrates identity, journey and achievement

A ceremony that celebrates the achievements of graduating students who recognize their African roots included keynote remarks from a former chief justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court.

In her address, Cheri Beasley, �þ���’s Justice Sandra Day O’Connor Professor, encouraged graduating students to claim their future – even if those futures are uncertain.

“This moment really is about who you are as people of color in your African heritage and all that you’ve accomplished,” Beasley said. “I hope that you have begun to take the time to relish in your accomplishments and think about what this journey has really meant for you.”

Each graduate who participated in the afternoon program received a handwoven kente cloth stole imported from Ghana to be worn during Commencement. Elon faculty and staff read tributes written by student’s faculty, family and friends, as each graduate stood before the audience.

The kente cloth symbolizes prestige in many African societies dating to the 12th century. Worn during ceremonial events by royalty and important figures of state in Ghanaian society, the kente cloth is a visual representation of African history, philosophy ethics, oral literature, moral values, social code of conduct, religious beliefs, political thought and aesthetic principles.

Beasley discussed her own meaningful trip to the village in Ghana where the kente cloth is made and how a student’s educational and career journey is comparable to the journey of the cloth itself.

“Your career will be filled with unexpected twists and turns,” said Beasley. “Many of your twists will be joyous, and other times less so, and I also know that transition often does cost stress. Life happens that way, much like that woven loom that creates the Kente, that takes months to develop this really beautiful piece of fabric. But you put in the investment and the hard work, and you always see the fruits of your labor.”

The Rev. Kirstin Boswell, �þ���’s chaplain and dean of multifaith engagement, opened the ceremony with an invocation that was followed by an introduction from Maha Lund, dean of the School of Health Sciences.

“You have crossed rivers that your professors couldn’t see. You have spoken truths that your peers could not hold. You have spoken truths that your peers could not hold. You have carried the weight of brilliance and burden of community and of contradiction. And still, you continue to rise,” Boswell said. “This kente cloth, this sacred ritual, this moment, is not performance. It is a moment of proclamation. You are the ones who made it.”

Closing the ceremony, Elon Law Dean Zak Kramer reminded students to celebrate their accomplishments but get ready to do the work of their professions.

“We expect you to throw your all into that, because we need you. Our communities need you. The world needs you,” Kramer said. “It means the world to us that you started that journey, which will be long, but you started here. And you will always be part of Elon.”

“I’m so proud of our students,” said Maha Lund, dean of �þ���’s School of Health Sciences. “Their research topics and the depth of the work are impressive. What it shows me is that they have learned how to access original research and resources that will help them take care of their patients.”

Twenty 3rd year DPT students presented 12 posters on topics related to their personal and professional growth while learning and exploring culturally unique healthcare settings across the world. As part of the DPTE Global Learning Opportunities program, students took DPT courses in locations across the US and around the world, including Peru, Italy, Australia, Belize and various US locations.

“We are celebrating students’ development of intercultural skills necessary to effectively work across differences, with the ultimate goal of delivering equitable, culturally responsive, and individualized healthcare,” said Paula DiBiasio, associate professor and director of the Global Learning Opportunities Program in the Department of Physical Therapy Education.

ABSN students showcased their research via eight evidence-based poster presentations on important topics, including management of pediatric migraines, family involvement in diabetic foot care, technology innovations to improve medication safety and many others. The students completed this research work as part of their “Evidence-based Nursing Practice” course.

“As these students prepare to begin professional nursing practice, it is essential that they are able to use the current research literature to provide evidence-based support for their practice,” said Associate Professor of Nursing Elizabeth Van Horn. “The students have done an excellent job of exploring and analyzing the research literature to make sound recommendations for nursing practice to improve patient care. We are all very proud of their accomplishments.”

Thirty-eight 2nd year PA students each presented their research findings at the Forum. The students presented on a wide range of topics, including but not limited to research regarding drug trials, surgical options, and new treatments for emerging medical concerns.

“These students are ready to move into their professional role as PAs and will bring this knowledge of the latest research with them in order to practice evidence-based patient care,” said Antoinette Polito, associate professor in the Department of Physician Assistant Studies.

Forty-six 1st year DPT students presented their research via 17 posters from their “Research Design III” course. The research project topics ranged from pediatric-, cardiovascular-, neurologic- and sports-physical therapy.

“These presentations are a culmination of more than 6 months of quantitative, hands-on research experience,” said Srikant Vallabhajosula, professor and research coordinator for the Department of Physical Therapy, who also teaches the course. “Each group has gone through a different journey but culminated in this wonderful conference-like experience! I am proud of their hard work and thankful to the faculty members who mentored these groups in their research endeavors. I am hoping many of these will go to national conferences to give these students a richer exposure to research and evidence-informed practice.”

“I was using parts of my brain that I hadn’t used in a long time,” said Jenkins. “I would tell people I felt like I could actually feel the neurons connecting.”

For years, Jenkins was a teacher for children with dyslexia, but as a single mom of two teenagers, the career became financially unsustainable, and she began looking for something she could get started with quickly.

“I didn’t have a science background and never would have gone into anything in medicine the first time through,” said Jenkins, who has a bachelor’s degree in English and a master’s in �þ���. “But just through life experience, I’ve had the opportunity to see medicine in a different way.”

Jenkins’ son is a type 1 diabetic, which has meant multiple interactions with health care professionals.

“When I think of my son being diagnosed with type one diabetes, and the times my daughter has had different health issues as well, the nurses made a huge difference to our family, and I wanted to be a part of that,” she said.

So, Jenkins enrolled in Elon’s ABSN program, an intensive 16-month program for students who have already earned a bachelor’s degree in any field and want to earn a four-year��Bachelor of Science in Nursing��degree in a shorter time frame. The program also requires 18-24 hours of prerequisite coursework before admission.

“The professors are fantastic, and I’ve felt that so many of them have made an extra effort to be there for us both academically and personally, to encourage us and support us,” Jenkins said. “Especially coming from a �þ��� background, I know all of the different aspects of what it takes to be there for your students, and I’ve seen those professors show up and work hard to provide opportunities for us to learn.”

Jenkins completed her prerequisites online, all while still working as a teacher and being a mom. Then, she transitioned to Elon’s full-time ABSN program, with in-person classes requiring her to commute from Winston-Salem, North Carolina. It was hard work, she says, but she wouldn’t trade it.

“I’ve always been somebody who appreciates education and learning, ��as well as trying new things ��So, for me, it was really stimulating, even though it was exhausting,” she said.

Her hard work paid off through several scholarships, including the Tina Filoromo Scholarship through the National Student Nurses Association, the Donna Lynn Eaton Memorial Scholarship, the Twin Lakes Scholarship and recognition on Elon’s President’s List each semester. Now, Jenkins will walk across the stage during the Winter Graduate Program Commencement, which also recognizes the ABSN program, on Dec. 12 in Alumni Gym.

“I appreciate every bit because being a working mom in school is challenging. The financial aspect with all three of the scholarships was definitely helpful,” she said, “and it meant a lot to be recognized for my work and my story.”

Before graduating, Jenkins has already accepted a position as an operating room nurse with Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist.