Lakehead University thrilled that 100th student from the Native Nurses Entry Program will graduate with a nursing degree

May 31, 2019 – Thunder Bay, Ont.

Faculty and staff in Lakehead University’s School of Nursing are thrilled that this year they will be graduating the 100th Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN) graduate who has entered through the Native Nurses Entry Program (NNEP).

Altogether, seven NNEP graduates will be graduating with BScN degrees during this Saturday’s 9:30 am convocation ceremony at the Thunder Bay Community Auditorium.

Since its inception in 1987, the NNEP has provided access to the BScN program for Indigenous learners. 

"We are so pleased to honour the BScN class of 2019, who are the 49th class to graduate from basic BScN programs at Lakehead University,” said Dr. Glenna Knutson, Director of the School of Nursing.

This class includes seven Indigenous individuals who entered the BScN program through Lakehead's Native Nurses Entry Program, an access program that the University has offered since 1987.

“This program has now assisted over 100 Indigenous individuals to earn their BScN and become nurses,” Dr. Knutson said.

“This year's class includes over 150 diverse students, including a significant number of men, who arrived at Lakehead from locations across Ontario, Canada and other countries.”

This Saturday, June 1 these students will have their degrees conferred. Yesterday they participated in the 43rd School of Nursing Pinning Ceremony where they received their nursing school pin in recognition of becoming members of the nursing profession.

“We offer warm wishes to all of our graduates,” Dr. Knutson added.

Dr. David Barnett, Lakehead University’s Interim Provost and Vice-President (Academic), echoed the excitement around this milestone achievement. “Our Native Nurses Entry Program has been an exceptional success and we are very pleased to be able to say we have now graduated 100 promising students,” he said.

“Our NNEP is an example of the work being pursued at Lakehead through our new Academic Plan’s Anishinaabe Miikana Gichi Kendaasiwin priority,” Dr. Barnett explained. “Developed in consultation with our Elder’s Council and Regional Elders, our Plan will ensure that we continue to provide access and pathways to higher learning, knowledge, and education.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Media: For more information or interviews, please contact Brandon Walker, Communications and Marketing Associate, at (807) 343-8177 or mediarelations@lakeheadu.ca.

 

 

 

Lakehead University has approximately 9,700 full-time equivalent students and 2,000 faculty and staff in 10 faculties at two campuses in Orillia and Thunder Bay, Ontario. Lakehead is a fully comprehensive university: home to Ontario’s newest Faculty of Law in 44 years, the Northern Ontario School of Medicine, and faculties of Engineering, Business Administration, Health & Behavioural Sciences, Social Sciences & Humanities, Science & Environmental Studies, Natural Resources Management, Education, and Graduate Studies. Maclean’s 2019 University Rankings place Lakehead University among Canada's Top 10 primarily undergraduate universities and in 2018 Research Infosource named Lakehead Research University of the Year in its category for the fourth consecutive year. Visit www.lakeheadu.ca.