Louisiana Tech University’s Division of Nursing was named the 2016 Nursing School of the Year-Undergraduate Degree Program by the Louisiana Nursing Foundation during its Nightingale Awards Gala held recently in Baton Rouge. The annual statewide event of the Louisiana Nursing Foundation recognizes quality, service, commitment and excellence for registered nurses throughout the State of Louisiana.  Nominees in each category are reviewed by a select panel of out-of-state nursing leaders.  The Louisiana Nursing Foundation is the research, education and charitable subsidiary of the Louisiana State Nurses Association. Accepting the award on behalf of Louisiana Tech’s Division of Nursing were Dr. Donna Hood, director and professor of nursing; Nancy Darland, professor of nursing; Carol Owens, associate professor of nursing; Sarah McVay, assistant professor of nursing; and Norlyn Hyde, instructor of nursing and president of Louisiana State Nurses Association.  In addition to Louisiana Tech’s Nursing School of the Year honor, Darland was nominated for Outstanding Community Achievement by a Registered Nurse. John Harris, president of the Louisiana Tech Student Nurses Association, and Aouicha Zorgati, secretary of the Louisiana Tech Student Nurses Association were also in attendance at the event. “The Nightingale Awards Gala is an evening of celebration and recognition of the most outstanding nurses, nursing programs and health care agencies from across Louisiana,” said Hood.  “It was a privilege to represent Louisiana Tech University with this honor.  It reflects the hard work and dedication of our nursing students, faculty and staff.” Louisiana Tech’s nursing program recently celebrated its 40th year of educating registered nurses.  The program was commended by the Louisiana State Board of Nursing in 2015 for its 100 percent licensure pass rate for nursing graduates. “Our program was the only one in the State of Louisiana to have a 100 percent first attempt pass rate on the registered nursing licensure exam for 2015 graduates,” Hood said.  “In addition to excellent students, our nursing faculty is committed to providing an education experience that challenges students to excel and supports their development in an atmosphere that models professionalism, caring, and excellence.” Hood says the reputation of Louisiana Tech and its nursing program continue to attract a growing number of traditional and non-traditional students desiring to enter the nursing profession.  “This outstanding state recognition reflects the excellence of our program and the quality of our nursing graduates,” said Hood. Louisiana Tech’s Division of Nursing is committed to excellence in the education of students of diverse educational and cultural backgrounds preparing them to enter an ever changing health care environment as competent practitioners of nursing. The educational environment fosters critical thinking which is achieved through interaction of faculty with students, is responsive to community needs, is cognizant of regional and national trends in health care delivery, and recognizes its responsibility for research and scholarly activity, and service.