CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – The Austin Peay State University School of Nursing celebrated incoming nursing students with a Welcome to Nursing Stethoscope Ceremony Tuesday at Clement Auditorium.
The auditorium was filled with family and friends of the 58 students who have been accepted into the university’s nursing program and will begin their first semester this fall.

The Austin Peay School of Nursing celebrates incoming nursing students with a Welcome to Nursing Stethoscope Ceremon at APSU’s Clement Auditorium on Aug 29, 2023. (Lee Erwin)

Alaina Chandler & Jerry Chandler at the Austin Peay School of Nursing celebration for incoming nursing students at a Welcome to Nursing Stethoscope Ceremon at APSU’s Clement Auditorium on Aug 29, 2023. (Lee Erwin)

The Austin Peay School of Nursing celebrates incoming nursing students with a Welcome to Nursing Stethoscope Ceremon at APSU’s Clement Auditorium on Aug 29, 2023. (Lee Erwin)

Dr Eve Rice speaking The Austin Peay School of Nursing celebration for incoming nursing students at a Welcome to Nursing Stethoscope Ceremon at APSU’s Clement Auditorium on Aug 29, 2023. (Lee Erwin)

The Austin Peay School of Nursing celebrates incoming nursing students with a Welcome to Nursing Stethoscope Ceremon at APSU’s Clement Auditorium on Aug 29, 2023. (Lee Erwin)

The Austin Peay School of Nursing celebrates incoming nursing students with a Welcome to Nursing Stethoscope Ceremon at APSU’s Clement Auditorium on Aug 29, 2023. (Lee Erwin)

The Austin Peay School of Nursing celebrates incoming nursing students with a Welcome to Nursing Stethoscope Ceremon at APSU’s Clement Auditorium on Aug 29, 2023. (Lee Erwin)

The Austin Peay School of Nursing celebrates incoming nursing students with a Welcome to Nursing Stethoscope Ceremon at APSU’s Clement Auditorium on Aug 29, 2023. (Lee Erwin)

The Austin Peay School of Nursing celebrates incoming nursing students with a Welcome to Nursing Stethoscope Ceremon at APSU’s Clement Auditorium on Aug 29, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
“We welcome them, we don them with a stethoscope that we have paid for through our funds for them and talk about how wonderful the profession is. Also, they get a scholarship envelope in their pocket, that is a surprise,” said Dr. Eve Rice, director of the School of Nursing at Austin Peay.
Rice said the scholarship is $250 for each of the students and is from an endowment from Leavelle McCampbell and the McCampbell Helping Hands Fund. Rice added that the APSU spring nursing class that just graduated had a 100% NCLEX pass rate, which was very high in Tennessee.
One of the students starting nursing school is Alaina Chandler. “It’s been a long journey and I have 2 1/2 years, which I know is going to fly by. I’m super excited to start and be able to have a career of something I am super passionate about and love,” Chandler said.
During the ceremony, students received essential nursing supplies to help them start their nursing program. The supplies included the stethoscope, a pen light, scissors, along with a bag for their supplies.