MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Three seniors from the West Virginia University School of Nursing – Emily Wade, Olivia Shimko and Kevin Steurer – participated in the Annual Northeast Leadership Conference, sponsored by the National Student Nurses’ Association, on July 30 at the Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City.

Wade, the 2010-2011 president of the WVU Student Nurses’ Association (SNA), said the chapter was one of almost 20 schools that traveled from all over the country to participate in the annual symposium. This was the first time that WVU participated in this conference.

“The bulk of the discussion centered on student leadership and governance among the local chapters,” she said. “It was really beneficial because we realized that the WVU chapter can definitely do a lot more to get the campus and Morgantown community involved in our events. We’d also like to get more involved with chapters at other schools.” 

Shimko said the conference highlighted the value of obtaining a degree in nursing. “The SNA leaders discussed the importance of higher education in nursing. . . . It gave me more confidence that my degree from WVU will put me ahead of the pack.”

The conference also provided the students with the opportunity to get advice from and network with leaders in the nursing field. Wade said she and her fellow nursing students also had the opportunity to meet with prominent people in the nursing field, including Dr. Diane Mancino, executive director of the National Student Nurses’ Association.

For more information on the WVU School of Nursing, see www.hsc.wvu.edu/son.

Photo caption: (left to right)) Kevin Steurer, Olivia Shimko, Emily Wade.