Honor Society History
In the Spring of 2001, a group of Tarleton Student Nurse’s Association members were visiting after a meeting discussing the upcoming TSU Alpha Chi induction. Several SNA members as well as other nursing students were being inducted. It was verbalized that nursing should have an honor organization of it’s own. Not only was this a desire for academic recognition for what had been accomplished to date, but also a sincere desire to bring the Nursing program to the attention of the rural area in which we live. Promoting and advancing the profession of nursing could begin with such an organization while we were still acquiring our education.
In speaking to faculty members about this desire it was found that there existed such an organization, Sigma Theta Tau. A member of SNA contacted Sigma Theta Tau to acquire information detailing the procedure for forming a local chapter. Meetings began informally in the spring of 2001. The first formal planning meeting took place on October 5, 2001. The steering committee consisted of 6 faculty and professional members and 5 students members. Faculty and professional members were as follows:Elaine Evans, RN, PhD; Paula Faulk MSN, RN; Marie Holdridge, MS RN; Jackie Swanson, RN, PhD; Diana Kunce MS RN; and Dok Woods, MA,MS,RN. Student members were as follows: Delette Jenkins-Gazaway, Donnelle Sterling, Melinda Thompson, Tara Tibljas, and Jennifer Weber.
The first induction ceremony took place December 13, 2001. The inductees consisted of 11 faculty, 4 community, 11 alumni, and 23 student members. The induction was held at a local facility that specialized in catering events. Ellen Palmer, PhD, RN was the guest speaker. As each inductee’s name was called, they came forward and were presented with a membership book to sign, a certificate of membership and a copy of the Nursing Honor Society Bylaws. A brass oil lantern was presented to each inductee and lit.
Spring 2002 saw a second induction ceremony involving 6 community/faculty and 9 student members. Fall 2002 induction ceremony added 3 community 1 faculty, and 8 student members to our fold. Two community, 1 faculty and 18 student members were inducted in Fall 2003. Plan were currently underway for the Fall 2004 induction ceremony.
The current Nursing Honor society Officers are listed in section G. Sigma Theta Tau fulfills the needs we had first envisioned as students and extends well beyond. The excellence of the membership body as well as the incredible research resources available to the members adds greatly to our excitement at the prospect of being affiliated. As many of us who began this quest have joined the ranks of working professionals in rural areas, we have often felt alone and separated from other nurses. It is vital to have a connection with each other for the sharing of problems and the solutions different ones of us have found for some of these problems. We are a group of extremely diverse people from all over the world, yet we are all working to accomplish the same goals. As members of Sigma Theta Tau. We cam truly be a part of the many hands that make the load lighter.