The UTMB Student Nurses Association (SNA) made history by hosting the Inaugural Nightingale Ball last month. The SNA board wanted to leave a legacy and give something to its students, faculty and alumni to celebrate them as a whole. SNA’s goal was to have a ball named after the mother of nursing, Florence Nightingale, where stellar nursing students would be applauded.  It felt at times that SNA may be wishing for too much, but with support from the student body, faculty, staff and alumni, SNA attained its goal.

The Inaugural Nightingale Ball was a night to remember with over 160 people attending. The attendants included junior and senior nursing students and their dates, faculty, administrators, UTMB nurses and alumni. It was a night filled with dinner, celebration, awards and dancing. UTMB School of Nursing Dean Pamela Watson was the guest of honor for this historic night.

SNA recognized two students with monetary awards in honor of two great alumni, Chloe Floyd and Anna Pearl Rains. The graduating senior class elected classmates and gave them several awards, such as visionary, biggest flirt and class clown, among others. SON faculty member Ginger Davis was chosen by the senior class as the recipient of the inspiring faculty award.

This momentous event would not have been possible without the support of Julie Cantini for coaching SNA during this arduous process;  Sherri Walker who donated her time, piano skills and all of the floral arrangements for the ball and Roxann Grover who donated her talents while taking professional pictures. SNA would like to thank the faculty, SON Alumni Association and the Parents Council for their contributions. It was a dream come true for the SNA and is the SON board of directors' wish that it be the start of a lifelong tradition.