Parkersburg, W.Va. (August 17, 2022) – Forty nurses who are empowering their communities, advancing nursing, and leading change have been nominated for the Nurse Excellence award by the West Virginia Future of Nursing Action Coalition.  

Two of these nurses are WVU Parkersburg Associate Professor of Nursing Allison Sayre and alumnus Edward Davis. These innovative, game-changing nurses will be honored at the annual recognition Gala on September 24, 2022, at the Embassy Suites in Charleston and mentored throughout the next year.

Allison Sayre is a Certified Nurse Educator, Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), Master of Science in Nursing, and Registered Nurse (RN) from Marietta, Ohio. Rose Beebe, WVU Parkersburg professor of Nursing, nominated Sayre.

“Her pursuit for excellence, marked by the desire to do better and be better, is a quality that is consistently demonstrated. She truly leads by example, demonstrated through her quest for knowledge, justice, and a virtuous character, to promote the profession of nursing,” Beebe said.

“Nurses touch lives; there is nothing more humbling or inspiring than helping individuals reach their fullest potential, advocating for the vulnerable, and connecting with the human spirit,” Sayre said in response to being nominated.

Edward Davis is an RN from Ripley, W.Va., and a nursing education coordinator at Charleston Area Medical Center.  

His nominator says, “Having the pleasure of working with Edward, I have realized one thing, he has a true passion for the nursing staff to understand the ‘why’ of nursing.” 

“There is no other profession that can have such a profound impact on others. Nurses are looked upon as healers, comforters, counselors, and teachers. Nothing is more meaningful to me than to hear a patient and their family convey their trust in me to care for them,” Davis said.

Laure Marino, Advanced Practice Registered Nurse, DNP, Family Nurse Practitioner Board Certified, Gerontological Nurse Practitioner Board Certified, and Interim Executive Director of Future of Nursing WV said, “Our Awardees are the shining stars of our next generation of nursing leaders. We are proud to recognize their accomplishments and mentor them as they continue on their leadership journey to improve the culture of health in West Virginia.”

West Virginia University at Parkersburg held its fall 2019 nursing pinning ceremony on Saturday, December 14, at 1:30 p.m., in the College Activities Center. The ceremony honors students who have completed graduation requirements for the Associate of Applied Science in Nursing degree at WVU Parkersburg.

The ceremony included greetings from Kathy Frum, Nursing and Health Sciences chairperson; Dr. Chris Gilmer, WVU Parkersburg president; Chad Crumbaker, Academic and Student Services vice president and nursing program graduates Ryan Hesselrode and Allison Monroe. Jessica Huffman, MSN, RN from WVU Medicine Camden Clark Medical Center served as the special guest speaker.

Fall 2019 nursing graduates include:

Kendra Allen

Allie Barton

Brooke Carter

Ali Cooper

Josie Cottrell

Melissa Dailey

Anna Errickson

Cassandra Gold

Casey Harker

Ryan Hesselrode

Allison Hurst

Jennifer Kersey

Amy Martin

Allison Monroe

Lydia Murray

Jasin Plaugher

Kayce Rogers

Ashley Ruble

Michael Seagraves

Womba Shepherd

Mickinzie Smith

Christina Swiger

Jade Walls

Caitlan Swiger

Bobbi Warner

Krystal Webb

During the ceremony, nursing graduates were symbolically welcomed into the profession. The graduates accepted pins presented by faculty members, and were then asked to recite the “Florence Nightingale Pledge.”

Florence Nightingale was honored with the Red Cross of St. George in the 1860s for her selfless care of injured soldiers during the Crimean War. She, in turn, presented medals of excellence to her best nursing graduates at the Nightingale School and Home for Nurses. By 1916, the practice of awarding all nursing graduates became standard.

“The ceremony is rich with symbolism,” said Frum. “This is more than a graduation ceremony. It is a time to celebrate each student’s dedication to the program and future career.”

Visit wvup.edu/nursing for more information on WVU Parkersburg’s Nursing and Health Sciences division programs.

West Virginia University at Parkersburg held its fall commencement ceremony on Saturday, Dec. 14, at 10:30 a.m. The college awarded 267 certificate, associate and bachelor’s degrees to 241 students this semester, with 136 students crossing the stage in front of friends and family during the ceremony.

Fourteen of the graduates are current, full-time Hino Motors employees receiving Associates of Applied Science in Advanced Manufacturing Technology. This is the first class of Hino employees to graduate from the program, which was created two years ago through a partnership between the college and truck manufacturer.

Greetings were presented by Donna Smith, chairperson for the WVU Parkersburg Board of Governors, and Miranda Reed, president of the Student Government Association.

WVU Parkersburg President Dr. Chris Gilmer gave introductions and opening remarks. In his message to graduates, he encouraged students to use the important life lessons they learned at an early age to overcome challenges and inspire them on their journey today.

“Our earliest days provide for us the true foundation of learning,” said Gilmer. “Where I am today is not where I started. Neither is where you are today where you will end. Nor is it lost on this academic community as a whole, the many and real sacrifices so many of our students, and your families, make in pursuit of an education.”

The Honorable Irene C. Berger, Esquire, Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia, served as commencement speaker. Berger holds the distinction of being the first African American to be named a federal judge in West Virginia. In other accomplishments, she is the first African American female attorney to serve as an assistant prosecuting attorney in the state’s largest county and be elected as a circuit court judge. The youngest of nine children, she is the first person in her family to graduate from college.

She shared her personal story of achievement and told graduates to use their degree to pursue their dream job and to be an inspiration and example to others.

“Make sure you do something with your degree that you absolutely love,” said Berger. “It should be inspirational and it should be fulfilling. Whatever your path is, have the courage to reach for that dream job in your chosen field. You should do something with that degree that tells you that you are where you are supposed to be.”

The college also presented a Doctor of Humane Letters to Berger. The honorary degree is the university’s highest academic distinction and honors individuals whose outstanding contributions are important to the state of West Virginia, the nation and the world.

To learn more about WVU Parkersburg and its community of graduates, visit www.wvup.edu. Classes are now enrolling for the Spring semester. Call 304-424-8310 or visit our campus for more information.

West Virginia University at Parkersburg has the distinct honor of welcoming the Honorable Irene C. Berger, Esquire, to its fall commencement ceremony on Saturday, December 14. The ceremony will begin at 10:30 a.m. in the College Activities Center.

WVU Parkersburg plans to award 267 certificate, associate and bachelor’s degrees to 241 students. Fourteen of the graduate candidates are current, full-time HINO employees receiving Associates of Applied Science in Advanced Manufacturing Technology. To achieve this goal, the future graduates attended night classes and completed online courses.

“HINO and WVU Parkersburg partnered over two years ago to make this program a reality and, two years ago, 14 HINO employees and their families committed knowing the sacrifice of time they would make to graduate with the degree,” said Michele Wilson, WVU Parkersburg Executive Director of Workforce & Economic Development.

She continued, “It is exciting to have the first class of HINO employees graduate from this program, and it will be motivating to learn how these student/employees progress through their careers. I commend each and every one of them for their sacrifice of time and true commitment, and I welcome them to become active WVU Parkersburg alumni.”

In addition to the confirmation of degrees, the ceremony will include an address to the Class of 2019 by Judge Berger.

Judge Irene Berger is the first African American woman appointed to the federal bench in West Virginia. Appointed by President Barak Obama in 2019, she was confirmed by the U.S. Senate with an affirmative 97-0 vote. In another accomplishment, Judge Berger is the first African American female attorney to serve as an assistant prosecuting attorney in the state’s largest county and be elected as a circuit court judge.

Judge Berger is the youngest of nine children born in a coal mining family from McDowell County, W.Va. She graduated from West Virginia University (WVU) for her undergraduate program and went on to graduate from the WVU College of Law.

She remains active in community leadership as a recipient of the Distinguished West Virginian Award, West Virginia African-American Woman of Distinction Award and WVU College of Law Caucus Distinguished Woman in the Public Sector Award, as well as WVU Alumni Associate Loyalty Permanent Endowment Fund trustee.

“Having our first Hino graduating class and having a distinguished jurist and public servant of Judge Berger’s stature will certainly be highlights of this commencement,” said WVU Parkersburg President Dr. Chris Gilmer. “Of course, our primary focus and primary celebrities are always the students, with the help and support of their families and friends and under the mentorship of our distinguished faculty and staff, who will become graduates and alumni that day, thus joining the proud tradition of those who have graduated from WVU Parkersburg. We are so incredibly proud of their accomplishments and the sacrifices they and their families made to attain them.”

For those who cannot attend on Saturday or are unable to get tickets, a link will be available at wvup.edu for a live video via YouTube.