Twelve Nursing students made Penn more vocal on the national scene at the 56th annual National Student Nurse's Association convention at Grapevine, Texas earlier this month.
Nursing freshman G.J. Melendez-Torres became the first Penn student to be elected to the NSNA national board. He is now its youngest member.
The new position gives Penn a direct voice in an organization with over 50,000 members.
"We as a chapter agreed that it was important to have someone from Penn" in national office, he added, given that the most active NSNA chapters have members on the board, said Melendez-Torres.
The convention, held March 26 to 30, highlights nursing achievement through scholarships and gives 3,500 students the chance to discuss issues by lobbying and voting on resolutions.
Nursing students Michelle Holshue, Laura McWilliam, Komal Patel and Jennifer Wilson earned a total of $9,000 in scholarships honoring their talents from Johnson & Johnson.
The School of Nursing also received recognition with its winning video submission featuring associate professor of Cardiovascular Nursing Kathleen McCauley tap dancing to cardiac rhythms in Johnson & Johnson's Promise of Nursing for Pennsylvania video contest.
Overall, students had the opportunity to interact with future colleagues and employers, and develop professionally through focus sessions.
