A Hope College student and professor each received individual recognition for excellence during the recent induction and installation ceremony of the Kappa Epsilon Chapter-at-Large of the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing.

The chapter presented senior Ashley Bainbridge of Schoolcraft with its "Excellence in Student Performance" award and Catherine Clarey-Sanford, assistant professor of nursing, with its "Excellence in Education" award.

The event was held on Monday, April 9, at Grand Valley State University in Grand Rapids. The chapter includes the Calvin College, Grand Valley and Hope nursing programs.

The ceremony was rewarding for Clarey-Sanford in more than one way. In addition to being honored herself, she is the faculty advisor for Bainbridge, whom she had recommended for the student award.

"I have served as faculty for a number of Ashley's undergraduate courses and consider her to be an exceptionally strong undergraduate student," she said. "She has consistently exhibited very strong academic, clinical, research and leadership skills during her four years at Hope College."

Clarey-Sanford has taught at Hope since 2003. She was nominated for her award by her faculty colleagues for her excellent teaching skills in the classroom and clinical setting, her excellent advising skills as the faculty advisor/counselor for the Hope Student Nurses Association and for the Kappa Epsilon Chapter, and excellent leadership skills within the department.

Also during the ceremony, students from each of the three schools were inducted into the society. The students from Hope who were inducted included Bainbridge as well as: Danielle Breuker, Claire DeHaan, Sheila Den Ouden, Gloria DeWaard, Megan Holtrop, Lisa Jewell, Denay Kippley, Ellison Klaasen, Rachel Lauber, Alison Mejeur, Lindsey Miller, Gloria Rak, Allison Trotter and Teressa Withers.

Bainbridge is graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree. During the current semester she has been participating in the college's Chicago Semester program, through which she has been engaged in a nursing internship in a downtown pediatric intensive care unit.

Her activities within the department of nursing have included the Hope Student Nurses Association, with which she has been involved as a board member. While at Hope she has also served as a resident assistant, and participated in the student-organized Dance Marathon fund-raiser for Helen DeVos Children's Hospital of Grand Rapids, Relay for Life, and the Lacrosse Club and intramurals.

Clarey-Sanford teaches courses including special topics in nursing and nursing management and transitions, and also supervises students involved in internships in the program.

Her specializations within nursing include leadership and management, gerontology; home health care; and wound, ostomy and continence care. Her teaching appointments prior to coming to Hope including having served as an adjunct clinical nursing instructor at Indiana University, Southwestern Michigan College and Lake Michigan College.