Developing an honor society that would recognize excellence in the student body and nursing leaders in the community was a vision of the administrators of Loma Linda University School of Nursing. Led by Marilyn Christian, EdD, MS, RN, FAAN, Dean of Loma Linda University School of Nursing, and faculty members, Patricia Foster, PhD, MS, RN, and Dorothy Martin, PhD, MS, RN, to initiate the process of a steering committee of faculty, students, and alumni.
The initial work towards membership took a full year. This included dialoguing with University administrators, the Loma Linda University School of Nursing student body, developing bylaws and criteria for eligibility for membership, and obtaining the information required for application by the national organization.
The national organization (later to become international) accepted the application in the fall of 1975 and instructions were given for the planning of the chartering inauguration. A site visit by a national officer to verify and approve the application for inclusion in the Sigma Theta Tau, National Honor Society of Nursing, was required prior to the official vote to induct Loma Linda University School of Nursing as a site for a chapter.
Individual members who are to be remembered for this intense, challenging work are:
Steering committee members: Kathryn Gosse, Chair; Howard Adams; Marie Whisman; Pamela Bracker; Ina Longway; and Patricia Foster
Bylaws committee members: Howard Adams, Chair; Ann Wood; and Nancy Hosek
Eligibility committee members: Patricia Foster, Howard Adams, Kathryn Gosse, Sharon Clark, Colleen Hewes, and Cheryl Smith. Frances Pride, Consultant.
Sister Rosemary Donely, PhD, RN, National President, Sigma Theta Tau, National Honor Society of Nursing, chartered Gamma Alpha Chapter on April 11, 1976. The original charter currently hangs in the foyer of the School of Nursing.
One hundred and fourteen names are recorded as charter members including two transferring members.
Because of the unique mission of Loma Linda University, the chapter was permitted to add a sixth purpose to the standard five, which the national (now international) organization maintains. That purpose remains: "To foster professional excellence and scholarly co-operation within the context of Christian commitment."
When the chapter was only seven years old, a competitive Research Recognition Award was initiated May 3, 1983, under the leadership of Michael Galbraith, PhD, RN (President, 1982-1983). Criteria were established that included active membership status, an application, and an accountability component. A sum of $500 seed money was defined and is granted annually to approved applicants at the induction ceremony. Criteria and an application are available on this web site.
Also in 1983, the chapter assisted Barbara Frye, DrPH, RN (Past President, 1981-1982), with limited funding to make a presentation at Sigma Theta Tau's Research Congress in Madrid, Spain, demonstrating scholarship beyond the local chapter. The chapter also sponsored Lois Van Cleve, PhD, RN, FAAN, Faculty Advisor, to present her research, titled "Parental Coping with a Child with Spina Bifida," at the Biennial Conference held in San Francisco, California.
The calendar year of 1988 records three significant contributions. First of note is the chapter's pledge of $1,000 to support the creation of the National Center for Nursing Scholarship. A brick with Gamma Alpha's name commemorates this commitment in the lobby of the Center. The second significant contribution in 1988 was the establishment of The Clarice Woodward Nursing Excellence in Writing Award under the leadership of Cheryl Anholm (President, 1987-1988). The award was named for Clarice Woodward, MS, RN, a beloved graduate faculty advisor at Loma Linda University School of Nursing who helped many graduate students to produce publications in refereed journals. Criteria were established which included active membership status and an application process. These can be found on this web site. Awardees are recognized at the annual induction ceremony in recognition of members' scholarship.
The third and last significant contribution in 1988 was outreach, networking, and collaborating with the eight Sigma Theta Tau Southern California Chapters to plan and sponsor local research conferences in region 1. Margaret Burns (President, 1988-1989) led the effort that currently continues.
Venturing her leadership beyond the local chapter, Patricia Foster, PhD, MS, RN (Chapter founder, 1976; Past Faculty Sponsor, 1975-1976; and President, 1991-1992), ran for region 1 coordinator at the biennial convention in Indianapolis, Indiana in November, 1993. The chapter provided emotional support and limited funding while the chapter's official delegates provided tangible and emotional support at the convention.
Under the leadership of Patricia Jones, PhD, RN, FAAN (President, 1993-1994), the Excellence in Nursing Leadership in Clinical Practice Award was created in 1994. As with the previous awards, criteria was developed to recognize leadership at the staff level of nursing practice and requires a colleague to initiate the process with a letter of support and recommendation. The first award was presented June 9, 1995.
In July of 1995, after applying for the First Time Researcher Award, Keri K. Medina, MS, a School of Nursing faculty member, received a check for $2,100 from International in support of her dissertation research, titled "Becoming an Exerciser: A Grounded Theory Study."
Her study findings were published a short time later ("Building Exercise Identity," in Reflections. 1997, Volume 22 (1), pages 22, 23).
Lois Van Cleve, PhD, RN, FAAN (President, 1996-1997), chaired the region 1 awards committee and presented the region 1 awards at the 1997 biennial convention in Salt Lake City, Utah. That same year, Dr. Van Cleve was named Sigma Theta Tau International Virginia Henderson Fellow. Her leadership contributions have extended to regional and international levels in the research area of pain in children.
Gamma Alpha Chapter inducted Dr. Siriporn Tantipoonvinia, President of Mission College in Bangkok, Thailand, in absentia. Patricia Jones, PhD, RN, FAAN and Lois Van Cleve, PhD, RN, FAAN (past presidents), made the presentation of membership at the Global Partnership in Nursing Care conference at the Empress Hotel, Chiangmai, on August 10, 1999. This gesture provided the opportunity for a Sigma Theta Tau International initiation in the Adventist School of Nursing in Thailand.
Under the leadership of Vaneta Condon, PhD, RN (President, 1999-2001), two competitive grants were created for students to attend the Southern California Chapters' Joint Research Conference. To compete for this grant, students submitted a research paper that was previously presented in one of their nursing courses. The awards committee then makes the selection.
Sensitive to the economic status of Gamma Alpha's members providing mission service in foreign lands, Veneta Condon, PhD, RN also initiated sponsorship of nursing journals to Adventist Schools of Nursing in Thailand and the People's Republic of China.
In keeping with the organization's goal to recognize excellence, Excellence in Nursing Education, and Student Scholarship and Leadership Awards were created and initiated under the leadership of Jan Nick, PhD, RN (President, 2002-2004). In addition, Gamma Alpha Chapter voted a commitment of $20,000 over the next ten years as a Centennial Fellow of Loma Linda University School of Nursing.
Under the leadership of Sofia Puerto, PhD, RN (President, 2004-2006), a Spirit of Philanthropy Award was presented to Gamma Alpha at the 38th biennial convention at the Chapter Awards breakfast in the Marriott Hotel, Indianapolis, Indiana, on November 16, 2005. This award recognized the chapter's outreach to its members providing mission service in foreign countries through annual membership dues, nursing journal subscriptions for Adventist Schools of Nursing in two countries, Jamaica, and the Philippines, personal hygiene items to nurses in Iraq, a Centennial Fellow contribution to Loma Linda University School of Nursing, and member's contributions to upgrading nurses and nursing education in foreign countries.
Last Revised: Wed, Jan 24, 2007
