EDUCATION

me for the demanding curriculum of pharmacy school. Connors was exactly what I needed in my transition from a small rural high school to the rigorous challenges to come.”

Since graduation, Johnny has founded and owns a pharmacy, has had multiple opportunities to speak on leadership to groups, serves as a Campus Pastor for Life.Church, and runs a ministry coaching business.

“My passion is to identify, equip, release, and coach next generation leaders,” said Johnny. “My life is shaped around values: Faith, Health, my wife of 35 years Allison, our three children and their spouses, our six grandkids, and friends.”

Johnny is passionate about growing, creating, coaching, giving and exploring.

The youngest of the boys, Jerrod Roberts, graduated from Connors State in 1986. Originally from Roland, Jerrod now resides in Edmond, OK, and works as a pharmacist and business owner.

Upon graduation, Jerrod attended Southwestern Oklahoma State University and graduated with a degree in pharmacy.

“My time at Connors gave me the foundation to begin the next phase of life, transitioning from the protections of home,” said Jerrod. “Connors gave me the educational environment that was focused on individual students allowing me to find a career path.”

Jerrod said that Connors provides the foundation to prepare students to pursue their degree at a university, as well as teaching students the life skills they need to succeed.

Jerrod and wife Drenda have been married for 31 years, and have three children: Elise, Lauren, and Will, and two grandchildren, Raylee and Brooks.

Jerrod is the proud owner of Flourish Integrative Pharmacy and managing member of Firefly Holdings Company, of which companies include Exakt Technologies, Narrowcast Network, and Flourish Nutraceuticals.

“Having the opportunity to participate on the livestock judging team and having mentors such as Jerry McPeak, and creating lifelong friends, has made a most important impact on my life that I think of often, all these years later,” said Jerrod.

The Roberts family was so moved by their time at Connors State, they created a scholarship endowment.

“The generosity of the Roberts family will be felt by generations of students into the future,” said Dr. Krystle Lane, Connors State College Foundation Director. “Their decision to fund a scholarship endowment reflects not only their confidence in and connection with the Connors’ mission, but also their desire to support deserving students from within the community.”

For more information about the scholarship and qualifications, visit connorsstate.edu.

Fall Nursing Candidates Pinned

Connors State College celebrated the graduation of 21 new nurses in a pinning ceremony held December 11 on the Warner campus in the Melvin Self Fieldhouse.

The pinning ceremony signifies the nursing students’ official initiation into the brotherhood and sisterhood of nurses. The modern ceremony is rich with symbolism; it is the rite of passage which can be traced all the way back to the 1860s when Florence Nightingale was awarded the Red Cross of St. George in recognition for her diligent service to the injured during the Crimean War. By 1916, the practice of pinning new graduates was standard throughout the United States, and Connors follows this practice.

The Nursing Program at Connors State College has a high success rate of students placed after graduating.

Sandra Watson, the Connors’ Division Chair for Nursing and Allied Health, said, “Recently it has been said that nurses are the lifeblood of the hospital. In today’s pandemic, this makes our graduates the lifeblood of our communities.”

“The pinning ceremony is a rite of passage into a noble trusted profession. It is always a very special time. Todays’ graduates are stepping into the unknown and will become part of our nation’s history. These graduates are coming out into our communities at a most needed time. Bedside nurses are displaying incredible courage and dedication to our profession like Florence Nightingale during the 1800s,” said Watson.

“We are proud of these students who have completed a very rigorous academic program,” said Dr. Ron Ramming, CSC President. “We are happy that our students are going to make a difference in a work force that so desperately needs help.”

Among some of the graduates, the class nominated two students who spoke to their fellow classmates and the family and friends present about the class journey. Jennifer Ashwood represented the Traditional Nurse program and Amanda Hamilton represented the Career Ladder program.

Students received their pins from their instructors, participated in the Candle Lighting Ceremony, and gave the Nightingale Pledge.

Students graduating from the Traditional Nurse program were: Jennifer Ashwood, Tasha Caudwell, Robert Fox Glander, Jeancamille Griffin, Timber Hammans, Kenzy Hammons, Tanya Harris, Peyton Kays, Kelsey Lerma, John Lewis, Jaylee Light, Kristen Morton, Jazmyn Stonecipher, Megan Towie, and Kylie Walker.

Students graduating from the Career Ladder program were: Vonnie Asaro, Kylee Battenfield, Julie Bishop, Minerva Cole, Sharame Guess, Amanda Hamilton, Bradley Price, and Cheri Williams.

For more information about the nursing program at Connors State College, visit www.connorsstate.edu/ nursing, or contact Sandra Watson, Division Chair for Nursing and Allied Health, at (918) 684-5436. –

Above: (L-R) Dr. Sandra Watson, and nursing students Cheri Williams and Peyton Kays present the class panel.