Spring semester registration underway

A palpable sense of relief washed over the campus as the fall semester wrapped up last week with final exams and projects. As students move into the winter break, they can enjoy some well-deserved time off, but it is important they remember to register for spring semester before key courses that they need to finish up a degree or certificate fill and close.

All KPC courses (online and face-to-face) can be viewed on the spring 2019 Searchable Schedule listed under Academics on the KPC homepage. Registration for the upcoming spring semester is available by clicking on UAOnline. Spring semester classes begin on Monday, Jan. 14, 2019.

Fall semester Certified Nursing Assistants mark achievement

Both KPC campuses offer robust and dedicated training, delivered in a six-credit course during a single semester, for students who want to become certified nursing assistants. Although an entry-level position, becoming a CNA is a great way to become highly employable in a relatively short time period. It also can be a stepping stone for someone who decides to pursue nursing or other medical disciplines.

Audrey Standerfer, R.N., is the instructor for CNA courses at the Kenai River Campus. She also serves as the Student Clinic coordinator. Standerfer’s students say that “she goes over and above while teaching to help students achieve their goals.” Her classes are known to foster camaraderie and she always tries to make learning fun.

“I am sad that the semester is ending. She is my favorite teacher,” said Trish Tuluk.

In order to properly honor her eight successful students, she hosted a traditional nursing pinning ceremony for her class last week. In a private ceremony, with friends and family, Standerfer “pinned” her students as an official rite of passage into the field. Students and families provided food for a celebratory dinner.

Twilla Daniel, Central Peninsula Hospital’s human resources recruiter, along with a staff member, also attended to discuss employment opportunities for the new CNAs.

The newest class of KPC CNAs include Sonya Astad, Leah Barnes, Jennilee Beilen, Lean Clark, Analyn Elliot, Grace Graham, Larissa Mika, and Trish Tuluk. Each of the class received a frameable certificate along with the pin that they will proudly wear on their scrubs.

Why a pinning ceremony? According to Rasmussen College’s nursing blog, it is a tradition based deep in history and it can be traced back to the Crusades of the 12th century when monks cared for suffering crusaders. When the monks decided to continue helping sick soldiers, the Knights Order held a ceremony where each monk was given a Maltese Cross they wore on their arm.

The tradition continued with Florence Nightingale in the 1860s and by 1916, it became standard in the U.S. KPC’s nursing classes also have a pinning ceremony in May prior to graduating with their nursing degrees.

Japanese language class community service project

Yasuko Lehtinen, longtime KRC Japanese language instructor, and her current fall semester class has taken on a community service project that will result in the donation of 1,000 origami cranes to Soldotna’s Heritage Place Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.

Traditionally, it was believed that if one folded 1,000 cranes, one’s wish would come true. It has also become a symbol of hope and healing during challenging times.

Lehtinen tries to do this class project every two years. In recent years, Lehtinen classes have also done the project for the Kenai Senior Center.