By Sarah Griffin
THATCHER — Eastern Arizona College Nursing Program director and instructor Carolyn McCormies was presented with the Arizona Nurses Association’s Outstanding Nurse Champion Award at the 2017 Biennial Convention held at the Embassy Suites in Scottsdale last month.
“One of the greatest honors in the world is to be recognized by peers and experts for the outstanding quality of work and contributions that are made,” said Shelly Vaughn, EAC nursing associate professor, and McCormies’ nominator. “Carolyn has undoubtedly earned that recognition. I initially nominated her for the Outstanding Nursing Educator Award, but when the judges saw all of Carolyn’s accomplishments and qualifications, they awarded her with the highest award, the Nurse Champion Award and it is so well deserved.”
Carolyn has been instrumental to the success of the college’s ASU-EAC Concurrent Enrollment Program (CEP). She worked closely with counterparts at ASU to develop the program, which allows EAC students to concurrently earn their RN from EAC and their bachelor’s in nursing from ASU.
This past May saw the first large cohort of CEP graduates and all 11 were 100 percent first-time passers of the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX). The program currently has 14 students in line to graduate this May and another 21 students enrolled that will graduate next year.
McCormies has also been supportive of EAC nursing students volunteering with Gila Valley Medical Projects, a nonprofit organization that provides healthcare to the underserved in Honduras. Last year, McCormies and six of her CEP nursing students traveled to Honduras to provide community health care.
“It was a true honor to receive this award,” McCormiessaid. “And I share it with the amazing faculty, staff, and students I am privileged to work with every day at EAC.”
For more information about EAC’s Nursing Program or CEP program contact the Nursing Department at (928) 428-8396.
