Webb garners national nursing recognition

Whitney Webb of Fort Smith, a senior in the bachelor of science in nursing program at the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith, was one of five finalists in the inaugural "Nursing Student of the Year" award program sponsored by a national nursing publication.

Webb, who graduates in May, competed with students from all levels of nursing programs, even doctoral ones, to emerge as one of the top five in the country, according to Dr. Carolyn Mosley, dean of the College of Health Sciences. Webb is profiled along with other finalists in the current issue of StuNurse.com, which is a member of the Publishing Concepts Inc. family of targeted nursing magazines.

Webb, who has maintained a 4.0 grade-point average throughout her college studies, plans to work in an acute care setting after graduation. She was nominated for the award by assistant professor Jamie Flower, who outlined Whitney’s academic activities and her community service involvement while a student.

In addition, Webb has traveled to Canada several times for church planning, Bible studies, sports camps and community service projects with Eastside Baptist Church. She also participated in an "Under the Bridge Project," where food and meals were taken to the homeless, and went to Louisiana during relief efforts for displaced residents of Hurricane Katrina. Church outreach also included a "street reach" program, focusing on providing positive activities for children in low-income families, and involvement in block parties in the Hispanic community.