Chapter Research Grants Awards are given to encourage the conduct of research by chapter members in order to support their efforts in advancing the body of knowledge fundamental to nursing practice. Our chapter is grateful to the members of the Research Committee for evaluating the proposals. Gamma Lambda Chapter is pleased to recognize and give collegial and financial support to the following chapter members:

? Brandi Pierce (PI): An Educational Program on the Knowledge of Assessment
Standards of Care Among Adults with Diabetes Mellitus

? Laura Carousel (PI) with Darlene Petersen & Paula Kopp (Co-Investigators):
Patients at Risk for Atrial Arrhythmias after Off-Pump
Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting

MEMBER RECOGNITION BOOK ENDOWMENT RECIPIENT
FALL INDUCTION CEREMONY – NOVEMBER 11, 2002

In Fall 2002, Gamma Lambda Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau inaugurated the “Member Recognition Book Endowment.” This endowment program has been established to recognize members of our chapter who have consistently supported the goals and mission of Sigma Theta Tau and our chapter and who have contributed to the well-being of patients and nursing through their service, research and scholarly activities, education, or clinical practice efforts.

There are many ways to honor colleagues, e.g., congratulatory words, awards, plaques, flowers, etc. Gamma Lambda has decided to recognize chapter colleagues by dedicating a book in their honor and having this scholarly text available for use by our nursing students and chapter members. Each semester a member or members are recognized and a book donated to Cook Library – Hattiesburg Campus, Cox Library at the Gulf Park Campus, and the USM Library on the Meridian Campus on behalf of our honorees. The distinguished member’s name is emblazoned on a Sigma Theta Tau bookplate and affixed inside of the book cover.

A past distinguished colleague and Gamma Lambda member became part of the “Member Recognition Book Endowment” program. Our treasured colleague is….

SISTER ELIZABETH HARKINS

Book: Creating Responsive Solutions to Healthcare Change
by Cynthia S. McCullough, editor (2001)
In Honor Of: Sister Elizabeth Harkins, past Member and Founder of Gamma Lambda Chapter

RESEARCH SUPPORT AWARDS
SPRING INDUCTION CEREMONY – APRIL 28, 2003

Chapter Research Grants Awards are given to encourage the conduct of research by chapter members in order to support their efforts in advancing the body of knowledge fundamental to nursing practice. Our chapter is grateful to the members of the Research Committee for evaluating the proposals. Gamma Lambda Chapter is pleased to recognize and give collegial and financial support to the following chapter members:

? Selinda Gretz (PI): Knowledge of Low Cholesterol Diet in Hypertensive Veterans

? Deidra Hertz (PI): A Patient Education Program on Obesity and Inactivity Leading
to Type 2 Diabetes in Children

? Dr. Kandy Smith (PI): Home Monitoring of Blood Pressure, Weight, and Glucose in
Hypertensive, Diabetic Veterans via Telemedicine: A Pilot
Study

The Mary Huch Excellence in Nursing Practice Award SPRING INDUCTION CEREMONY – APRIL 28, 2003

The “Mary Huch Excellence in Nursing Practice” award is given to a chapter member who –
• Demonstrates breadth of knowledge in area of clinical nursing practice
• Develops creative approaches to nursing practice that contribute to quality client care
• Possesses clinical expertise and attributes of a clinical scholar
• Advances the scope and practice of nursing, and
• Serves as mentor and preceptor that inspires peer’s practice of nursing

Gamma Lambda chapter is honored to present this award to
Cynthia “Cindy” Luther. Cindy guides and directs graduate students in the Family Nurse Practitioner Program at USM. Cindy, Gamma Lambda Chapter is pleased to present you with “The Mary Huch Excellence in Nursing Practice Award.”

The Theresa Lester Excellence in Mentorship Award SPRING INDUCTION CEREMONY – APRIL 28, 2003

The “Theresa Lester Excellence in Mentorship” award is given to a chapter member who
• Actively shapes and promotes the career of a nurse or the development of a chapter
• Freely shares own resources for the growth and development of the individual or the chapter, and
• Maintains the mentoring relationship over time

Gamma Lambda chapter is honored to present this award to Dr. Linda Mignor.
Linda, Gamma Lambda Chapter salutes you for your joyful and tireless efforts in guiding and mentoring faculty and countless numbers of students at USM College of Nursing. Linda, Gamma Lambda Chapter is pleased to present you with “The Theresa Lester Excellence in Mentorship Award.”

The Excellence in Nursing Research Award
SPRING INDUCTION CEREMONY – APRIL 28, 2003

The “Excellence in Nursing Research” award is given to a chapter member who –
• Conducts distinguished research in nursing and communicates nursing research findings
• Writes scholarly works related to nursing theory and/or nursing research
• Gives evidence of a history of nursing research activities, and
• Encourages research activities within Sigma Theta Tau, nursing, and/or public

Gamma Lambda Chapter is honored to present this award to Dr. Debra Copeland.
Debra, Gamma Lambda Chapter salutes you for your research efforts, for knowledgeably and graciously organizing our Gamma Lambda Research Conference in March 2003, and wishes you great success as a fellow in the Summer Nursing Research Institute at the University of Pennsylvania. Debra, Gamma Lambda Chapter is pleased to present “The Excellence in Nursing Research Award” to you.

Excellence in Nursing Education Award SPRING INDUCTION CEREMONY – APRIL 28, 2003

The “Excellence in Nursing Education” award is given to a chapter member who -
• Demonstrates excellence in teaching
• Advances the science of nursing through clarifying, refining, and/or expanding the knowledge base of nursing
• Promotes a theory/research base for nursing curricula and nursing practice
• Influences scholarly development in nursing education, practice, and/or research through teaching, and
• Influences the professional practice of nursing and the public’s image of nursing through excellence in teaching

Gamma Lambda chapter is honored to present this award to Dr. Patsy Anderson.
Patsy, Gamma Lambda Chapter salutes you for your commitment to nursing education at USM. You have consistently and substantively contributed to the growth and development of undergraduate, masters, and doctoral students at USM College of Nursing. Under your careful and rigorous tutelage, nursing students have learned the art and science of professional nursing and are well prepared to meet the health care needs of Mississippians. Patsy, Gamma Lambda Chapter is pleased to present “The Excellence in Nursing Education Award” to you.

Excellence in Nursing Leadership Award
SPRING INDUCTION CEREMONY – APRIL 28, 2003

The “Excellence in Nursing Leadership” award is given to a chapter member who –
• Receives local, national and/or international recognition as a nursing leader in education, practice, administration, and/or research
• Influences leadership in nursing through visionary and innovative approaches to leadership
• Creates an environment that enhances the image of nursing and nurses, and
• Participates in the development of nursing leaders and leadership

Gamma Lambda chapter is honored to present this award to Dr. Bonnie Reinert.
Bonnie, Gamma Lambda Chapter salutes you for the extraordinary ways in which you have demonstrated leadership within the profession, to the public and on national and international levels. You have charted new pathways for health care and health promotion through your work in the Mississippi Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Project. The creative work of “The Partnership for a Healthy Mississippi” has demonstrated to our state and the nation ways to reduce smoking rates and save health care dollars. Bonnie, Gamma Lambda Chapter is pleased to present “The Excellence in Nursing Leadership Award” to you.

Scholarship Awards for Undergraduate Studies
SPRING INDUCTION CEREMONY – APRIL 28, 2003

These scholarships are awarded to undergraduate students who are members of Gamma Lambda in recognition of clinical and academic excellence and for the pursuit of creative endeavors and research projects.

The recipients of the Gamma Lambda Scholarships for Undergraduate Studies are:

• Ann Kurka. Ann is a senior nursing major on the Hattiesburg Campus and is an active member of Gamma Lambda Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau. Ann, the chapter extends warm congratulations to you and good wishes for an outstanding career as a professional nurse. (Give envelope)

• Callee Redman. Callee is a senior nursing major on the Gulf Coast Campus and was inducted into Sigma Theta Tau in December 2002. Callee, the chapter extends warm congratulations to you and good wishes for an outstanding career as a professional nurse. (Give envelope)
________________________________________________________________________

The Estelle (Pat) Kurtz Scholarship for Graduate Studies
SPRING INDUCTION CEREMONY – APRIL 28, 2003

This scholarship is awarded to a graduate student who is a member of Gamma Lambda chapter in recognition of clinical and academic excellence, for the pursuit of creative endeavors and research projects, and its contribution to the nursing profession and/or the public’s benefit.

The recipients of the “Estelle (Pat) Kurtz Scholarship for Graduate Studies are:

• Andrea Laird. Andrea has demonstrated academic excellence in graduate studies in advanced practice nursing. Andrea, we thank you for your active participation in Gamma Lambda chapter and extend good wishes to you as you pursue excellence in advanced practice nursing and in your research endeavors. (Give envelope)

• Renee Stickland. Renee, we congratulate you for your outstanding academic achievements and thank you for your willingness to advance the goals and purposes of Sigma Theta Tau. We extend good wishes to you as you pursue excellence in advanced practice nursing and in your research efforts. (Give envelope)

MEMBER RECOGNITION BOOK ENDOWMENT RECIPIENTS
SPRING INDUCTION CEREMONY – APRIL 28, 2003

In Fall 2002, Gamma Lambda Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau inaugurated the “Member Recognition Book Endowment.” This endowment program has been established to recognize members of our chapter who have consistently supported the goals and mission of Sigma Theta Tau and our chapter and who have contributed to the well-being of patients and nursing through their service, research and scholarly activities, education, or clinical practice efforts.

There are many ways to honor colleagues, e.g., congratulatory words, awards, plaques, flowers, etc. Gamma Lambda has decided to recognize chapter colleagues by dedicating a book in their honor and having this scholarly text available for use by our nursing students and chapter members. Each semester a member or members are recognized and a book donated to Cook Library – Hattiesburg Campus, Cox Library at the Gulf Park Campus, and the USM Library on the Meridian Campus on behalf of our honorees. The distinguished member’s name is emblazoned on a Sigma Theta Tau bookplate and affixed inside of the book cover.

Three distinguished colleagues and active Gamma Lambda members, who are retiring from USM College of Nursing, will today become part of the “Member Recognition Book Endowment” program. Our treasured colleagues are….

Dr. Sue Bowman
Janie Harris
&
Dr. Linda Mignor

Dr. Sue Bowman, Gamma Lambda Chapter is honored to recognize you as a superb nurse educator, a learned scholar, and a dynamic clinician in the areas of psychiatric-mental health nursing and gerontology. We salute you for your tireless efforts in promoting academic excellence in the College of Nursing. Across your years at USM, you have actively participated in Sigma Theta Tau as a founding and charter member of our chapter and always as a supportive member. As I reviewed our archival information, it appears as if you have served on every committee many times since the inception of our Chapter. Most notably, you have thoughtfully, graciously, and beautifully orchestrated every Gamma Lambda Induction Ceremony. Sue, Gamma Lambda thanks you for your contributions to our chapter and our College of Nursing. We are honored to recognize your commitment to nursing education and scholarship and Sigma Theta Tau through the Chapter Book Endowment program.

Janie Harris, Gamma Lambda Chapter is honored to recognize you for your outstanding contributions to the art and science of pediatric nursing. We salute you for your tireless efforts in promoting academic and clinical excellence in the College of Nursing. Under your careful and rigorous tutelage, thousands of nursing students have learned the art and science of professional nursing and are well prepared to meet the health care needs of Mississippians. You were instrumental in establishing Gamma Lambda Chapter and served as one of our founding and charter members. The Chapter is grateful to you for your long-term commitment and service on the Eligibility Committee. Each time you served on this committee you carefully reviewed the qualifications of potential members in light of the stringent criteria for membership established by Sigma Theta Tau International. You have enabled hundreds of students and nurse leaders from the community to become members of our honor society. Janie, Gamma Lambda thanks you for your contributions to our chapter and our College of Nursing. We are honored to recognize your commitment to nursing education and scholarship and Sigma Theta Tau through the Chapter Book Endowment program.

Dr. Linda Mignor, Gamma Lambda Chapter is honored to recognize you for your leadership, consistent support, and active participation in our chapter. As coordinator of USM College of Nursing – Gulf Coast campus, you have created new pathways for individuals residing on the Coast, Alabama, and Louisiana to pursue basic and advanced degrees in nursing. Under your careful tutelage as a nurse educator, nursing students are well prepared to meet the rigorous demands of providing quality health care to patients. Gamma Lambda Chapter is indebted to you for your active participation in the Chapter. We wish you great success as you continue your chapter-funded research in “Nursing on Hospital Trains: Memoirs from World War II” and in your work with Dr. Patsy Anderson in authoring a book on Home Health Nursing. Linda, Gamma Lambda Chapter is honored to recognize your commitment to nursing education and scholarship and Sigma Theta Tau through the Chapter Book Endowment program.

In honor of these esteemed colleagues, chapter members and USM nursing students in the baccalaureate, masters, and doctoral programs on the Hattiesburg, Gulf Park, and Meridian campuses will have opportunities to read “Measurement of Nursing Outcomes” by Ora Lea Strickland and Colleen DiLorio. This award-winning series on measurement presents nearly 80 actual, tested instruments for assessing nursing outcomes in a multitude of settings and situations. This research text will enable nurses to identify tools related to measuring patient outcomes, evaluating patient learning, and assessing the effectiveness of teaching and learning in nursing schools.