Nursing Major Named 2022 CHS Valedictorian
Published: April 25, 2022 | Author: Kaylee Condie | Read Time: 3 minutes
Nursing student Sariah Campbell has been named the 2022 valedictorian for the College of Health Sciences at Southern Utah University. Campbell will be graduating this spring and has accepted a position as an RN at a psychiatric facility in Las Vegas, NV. She plans on becoming a psychiatric nurse practitioner in the future.
“I honestly am honored,” said Campbell. “I never expected this and I’m so grateful for all the opportunities I’ve had at SUU!”
SUU’s stellar nursing program called out to Campbell all the way from her hometown in Pocatello, Idaho. SUU gave her a place to strike out on her own for the first time and the opportunity to take advantage of great scholarships. She was involved with the Canyon Creek Women’s Crisis Center as well as Americorps during her time in the nursing program and has participated in numerous nursing clinicals to help further her career and discover her passion.
“During nursing clinicals and classes, I discovered that psychiatric nursing is where I need to be,” said Campbell. “I’ve met so many encouraging and kind people that have changed my outlook on life and helped me become a more positive, better person.”
Campbell has had several mentors in her life, including multiple professors and her father. He taught her how to work hard and be successful while also making time to relax and enjoy life. Campbell is a diligent frequenter at the local gym where she enjoys lifting among other activities. She also enjoys roller coasters, the big scary ones, as well as advocating for mental health and self-care.
“When I was in my first semester of nursing, I had what I like to call a ‘quarter-life crisis’ and started researching how to become a nutrition major instead,” said Campbell. “I felt so overwhelmed and lost and like I was in the wrong place. I wasn’t sure if I could do this whole nursing thing or if I even wanted to. However, I had a professor tell me to not be so hard on myself and stick with it, and I’d find my passion. I’m so grateful for her encouragement and have had many similar experiences with the other nursing professors. They have been a constant source of support, and I can’t imagine going through nursing school without them. They are the reason SUU is the top nursing school in Utah!”
This admiration is reciprocated by her professors. Campbell is described as diligent, happy, and successful, they couldn’t say enough good things about her.
“She’s dedicated to nursing, her profession, and school. She’s one of those people that takes an opportunity and runs with it,” said Dr. Selwyn Layton, department chair and associate professor of nursing. “She doesn’t just rush in. She deliberately thinks about the path she wants to take, and then takes the steps to reach those goals.”
Campbell knows how crazy life can get, but she doesn’t let that stop her from reaching her goals. Her life motto is “Fake it ‘til you make it!” saying that even if you don’t feel like you’re smart enough, strong enough, or daring enough to do something - try it anyway. It’s the only way you can move forward.
In SUU’s Department of Nursing, each of the students is dedicated to the program’s high standards. The program is incredibly competitive and the rigidity of the department pushes its students to achieve high grades. Every student in the program is extraordinary and an unbelievably hard worker and Sariah Campbell is just one example.
SUU’s 2022 Commencement Ceremony will be held on Friday, April 29 in the America First Event Center. Tickets are not required for the ceremony, but seating preference will be made for graduates and their families. The ceremony will also be streamed online by SUTV-9 and on SUU's social media channels.
Visit SUU’s graduation website for more information about the 2022 Commencement Ceremony.
Tags: College of Health Sciences Nursing Graduation