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UMass Nursing Celebrates Class of 1973 During Homecoming Event

The event featured networking, celebrating, and a tour of Skinner Hall.

November 4, 2023 Community

Content

Nicole Ledwidge, Meghan Fitzgerald, and Gwendolyn Allen Wright.
Nicole Ledwidge, Meghan Fitzgerald, and Gwendolyn Allen Wright.

By Ben Monat

Meet & Greet / Class of 1973 Celebration

Alumni and friends of the Elaine Marieb College of Nursing joined together on November 4, 2023 for a Homecoming gathering at the Old Chapel at UMass. This event was a meet-and-greet with Dean Allison Vorderstrasse and four nursing student ambassadors, giving alumni from multiple decades the chance to meet fellow UMass nurses and make new friends. The event also celebrated the class of 1973, who were celebrating their 50th anniversary of graduating. 

Dean Allison Vorderstrasse honored Nancy Thompson '73, a clinical faculty member, alumni board member, volunteer, and much more for her service to UMass. Class members brought memorabilia from their time at UMass and enjoyed a special slideshow commemorating this momentous occasion. 

It was terrific seeing so many familiar and new faces at the Meet & Greet!

View full photo gallery here.

Image
Linda Riley, Ginger Newell Stokes, Dean Allison Vorderstrasse, Kellene Kiel
Linda Riley, Ginger Newell Stokes, Dean Allison Vorderstrasse, and Kellene Kiel.

Skinner Hall Tour

Afterwards, attendees walked to Skinner Hall for a personalized tour of the nursing building with student ambassadors. Most fascinating was seeing the setup of a Pediatric Simulation and Maternity Room in our Spacelabs Healthcare Simulation Lab. Students are able to have experiences they might not have in their clinical setting. For example, the pediatric simulation room featured a 17 year-old admitted for a head injury after a car accident, where the manikin has pupils that constrict in response to light to simulate real pupil reactivity and size. Its chest can rise and make body sounds, to simulate convulsions. The simulation lab setting allows students to practice their skills, make mistakes, and learn to think critically like a nurse. 

There was plenty of time for questions and answers, and was insightful for alumni and potential students who came on the tour. We were thrilled to welcome back alumni and guests from near and far!

Article posted in Community for Alumni

Contact

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Professional Headshot of Ben Monat

Benjamin Monat

Associate Director, Donor Relations, University of Massachusetts Amherst Foundation
Email: bmonat [at] uma-foundation [dot] org
Phone: (413) 727-2853

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