April 27, 2015- Albany, GA- Albany Technical College will hold a special Pinning Ceremony commemorating the first graduating class of the Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) program on Tuesday Evening, April 28, 2015, beginning at 6pm in the Kirkland Conference Center. Keynote speaker for the program will be Dr. Dorothy King Garner, former Dean of Healthcare Technology division at Albany Technical College.
Dr. Dorothy King Garner retired from Albany Technical College after serving as the Dean of the Health Care Technology division for 32 years. A native of Arlington, Georgia, Garner is a 1968 graduate of Monroe High School. She graduated from the Practical Nursing program at Albany Tech (then, known as Albany Area Technical School) in 1971, and from Darton College (then, known as Albany Junior College) in 1977 with her associate's degree in Nursing. She received her bachelor's degree in Nursing from Albany State College and both bachelor's and master's degrees in Education from Valdosta State University, as well as her Ed.S. degree from the University of Georgia. She also earned a Doctor of Theology from the Christian Life School of Theology and a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership from Argosy University.
Currently, Garner is the Senior Pastor of Rivers of Living Water Church, International. A nurse for 42 years, she has received honors recognition from SIGMA ALPHA CHI Honor Society, ALPHA CHI Honor Society, Albany State College Nursing Honor Society, and PHI KAPPA PHI Honor Society. She was a recipient of the Scholastic All-American Collegiate Award, the United States Achievement Academy Collegiate Award, Who's Who in American Nursing, and the Outstanding Clinical Instructor for Health Education Occupation. She has served as an NCLEX Review Writer for Mosby Publishing Company and has written curriculum for several health programs.
"The faculty is happy to see this historic event take place for the college," said Annette Holloway, ASN Nursing Instructor at Albany Technical College.
Being the first class graduating since Albany Tech began the ASN program in 2012, many of these students had to manage their studies, along with employment and family obligations. The program was offered in the evenings only with long clinical hours.
"The faculty has worked hard to keep the students on track and motivated as they matriculated through the night program," said Holloway.
Fifteen Albany Tech ASN students who have been in the program for two years will be recognized during the ceremony on Tuesday evening. Five of the 15 students have already secured employment, including three at Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital, one at a doctor's office, and one at the VA Clinic.
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