Section: Sub-Section

Meghan Friesen Selected for the Excellence In Nursing Student Performance Award

Senior Meghan Friesen was honored by being selected for the Excellence in Nursing Student Performance Award from Kappa Epsilon Chapter-At-Large of Sigma Theta Tau International, the honor society of nursing.

Ms. Friesen received her award at the April 20, 2005 Induction and Installation Ceremony. Friesen was noted for her work as a research assistant in community based, participatory action research in three urban neighborhoods in Grand Rapids. In this context, Meghan has provided assistance to Gail Zandee, Department of Nursing Community Partnership Coordinator, in creating a Community Health Worker Program, conducting a review of the literature, composing a manual for the program, and designing a research study to measure the impact of this program.

Presently the two are in the data collection phase and plan to submit an article for publication. Ms. Friesen also studied abroad in Belize and Guatemala in a cross cultural nursing interim course, was active in the Calvin College Nursing Student Organization in the area of fund raising, and attended professional conferences on the topic of Health Care Missions during her undergraduate career.

Ms. Friesen has plans to attend graduate school in nursing in the future. One faculty described Meghan by saying, "I have worked with many academically bright nursing students such as Meghan over the years. However, what sets Meghan apart from the rest is her creativity, gifts in research, and motivation to make an impact in her career."

Ms. Friesen and fifteen of her peers joined future colleagues from Grand Valley State University and Hope College who were inducted that evening into Kappa Epsilon Chapter-At-Large of Sigma Theta Tau International.

We offer our congratulations to the following members of the Calvin College Department of Nursing Class of 2005 for this achievement: Kristin Broersma, Ruth Anne Dekker, Sarah De Kraker, Grete Dietlin, Kari Feddes, Meghan Friesen, Elizabeth Groendyk, Katherine Hugen, Jennifer Kingma, Naomi Kruis, Sara Malda, Jesse Moes, Katherine Shaw, Rachel Sportel, Lydia Stushek, and Kathryn Veenstra.