Columbia State Community College is pleased to announce that its Student Nursing Association chapter has earned the prestigious National Student Nursing Association Stellar School designation. 

Columbia State was the only community college in the country to achieve the Stellar School Chapter status for the 2024-2025 academic year. It also makes Columbia State only the third community college to be home to an NSNA Stellar School Chapter out of fewer than 50 colleges and universities across the country. Moreover, Columbia State is the only college in Tennessee to be recognized.

“It is an honor to have our Student Nurses Association chapter receive this prestigious NSNA Stellar school award,” said Dr. Michele Marbet, Columbia State assistant professor of nursing and SNA advisor. “This recognition reflects our students’ unwavering dedication to leadership, professional growth, and service to the nursing profession.”

The Stellar awards are open to official NSNA school chapters that have maintained constituency status for the previous five years and meet specific criteria for recognition, including:

• Demonstrate leadership participation nationally by sending delegates to the national NSNA convention.
• An SNA chapter advisor has completed advisor training.
• Having students admitted to the Leadership U Honor Society provides representation at the state level.
• Columbia State SNA participated in the Day on the Hill event through the achievement of a grant written by Dr. Marbet. 
• Students completed leadership training to develop as mentors and teach peers about maintaining the mental and physical safety of nurses.

“The NSNA is dedicated to fostering the professional development of nursing students,” said Dr. Loretta Bond, Columbia State program director and associate professor of nursing. “With 50,000 members nationwide, NSNA is the voice of the future of ​the nursing profession. Our chapter stands out across the nation in the receiving of this prestigious award.” 

Since 2009, the NSNA Stellar School Chapter Recognition Program has recognized NSNA school chapters that demonstrate ongoing involvement in the organization, including a strong commitment to shared governance and the professional development of their students and faculty. 

“SNA involvement helps students prepare to be RNs with limitless potential with the skill and desire to network, advocate and continue to learn for a lifetime,” said Dr. Kae Fleming, Columbia State dean of the Health Sciences division. “These SNA students represent the future leadership of the nursing profession!”

The Columbia State nursing program is committed to excellence in nursing education. It has received full approval from the Tennessee Board of Nursing and is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing. The program’s three-year average graduate job placement rate is 99%.

Columbia State’s nursing program has a competitive admission process with applicants admitted twice per year. For more information about applying to the program, visit www.ColumbiaState.edu/Nursing.