UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — For 1972 Penn State nursing graduates, the camaradie and close friendships developed throughout their time in clinicals would stay with them for a lifetime.
Alumnae Annette Hanson and Sara Songer are two of many 1972 graduates that recently celebrated their 50th reunion at the Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing. These reunions have been a longstanding tradition for the group since their graduation, with no plans to stop anytime soon.
The group has been inseparable since their clinical experience at the Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh during part of their third and fourth years. Given the unique nursing school experience with similar clinical and class dynamics, students undoubtedly become very close with one another, cultivating a strong bond that not only kept them motivated through school but long after graduation, too.
“We’ve always kept in touch and stayed in each other’s lives after all these years. There has been this strong camaraderie that has continued to exist among all of us. One thing that has helped us stick together is that we were a fairly small class, about 30 of us, and during clinicals we lived together,” said Hanson. “We cooked, played, went to the gym, even had a singing group; I mean, we were together 24/7.”
The group even drove up together on weekends for Penn State football games.
“It was a really special shared experience for all of us,” Hanson said. “It wasn’t a sorority, but I can imagine if it was, that’s what it would’ve felt like. We all made it through that time together, and we are all very grateful for each other.”
After their 45th reunion, the group jumped right into planning the next one. But this time, they wanted to make sure their 50th was special for everyone. After getting in touch with the Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing’s Alumni Relations Office, the group decided to host their next reunion right where it all began.
The reunion took place on the second-floor atrium of the Nursing Sciences Building, where fourteen 1972 graduates from across the country came together once again to rekindle their special bond. The group enjoyed their time catching up with food and drink and received a tour of the building, which included the college’s state-of-the-art nursing simulation lab.
“We thought it would be nice to have our class come back to see what changes have happened at the university and in the college. It was really interesting to see and hear about all of the innovations and improvements to the simulation lab. Dean Badzek was even able to talk with us about her vision and where she hopes to see the college progress to in the future,” said Songer.
Seeing the improved and innovated simulation lab and overall nursing program was not only interesting in terms of how nursing education has evolved over the years, but also rewarding for both Hanson and Songer, as they both give to the college. Giving to the college not only supports the students financially, but also supports the college’s nursing infrastructure.
“It’s a way of giving back to the college that gave us such a great education and paying it forward to new students and faculty that may need support,” stated Songer. “The students are the ones that will be taking care of us when we are older, so I want to make sure they are well skilled in their application of the nursing process. People trust and have confidence in nurses, and you never stop being a nurse.”
Hanson and Songer both hold Penn State Nursing in high regard as the program that has given them not only great foundational nursing skills, but also lifelong friendships — the perfect mix of people and environment.