Tri-County's Student Nurses Association Chapter Has Highest
Percentage Increase for National Membership at State Convention

CONTACT: TAMMY MORTON, EXT. 2242

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 2/5/99
(By Lisa Garrett)

PENDLETON --- Tri-County Technical College's Student Nurses Association (SNA) chapter had the highest percentage increase for national membership at the annual state SNA convention held recently in Hilton Head.

This year the chapter recorded 43 national members -- a 75 percent increase over last year, according to Tammy Morton, a Tri-County associate degree nursing (ADN) instructor and co-advisor for the organization. More than half of the ADN majors at the College are members of SNA, said Mrs. Morton.

Fourteen Tri-County ADN majors and three faculty members attended the four-day state convention held for students studying nursing at two- and four-year colleges and universities in the state.

Three students, April Burton and Debbie Brock, both of Westminster, and Mary Watkins, of Fair Play, served as delegates for Tri-County at the convention.

Ms. Burton is president of Tri-County's SNA chapter, Ms. Watkins is vice president, and Ms. Brock is president of the College's freshman associate degree nursing class.

Scott Jones, a senior who lives in Anderson, won the convention's contest to rename Intake/Output, the state SNA newsletter. The new name is Nurses Notes. Mr. Jones received free registration to the conference for his winning entry.

Mrs. Morton, a 1989 alumna of Tri-County's ADN program and co-founder and president of Tri-County's first SNA chapter, encourages students to join the organization. "Through membership, students learn leadership skills and the legislative process of a professional organization," she said. "Most importantly, at the convention they are able participate in review classes for the state board exam."

The conference and the organization prepare them to function professionally as members of the SNA organization, she added.

Members of SNA also receive discounts for national and state meetings and conferences, such as the fall workshop and the state convention.
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