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Beryl Stetson of Flemington, Professor of Nursing at Raritan Valley Community College, and RVCC alumna Rachel Kopp of Washington Township (Warren County), formerly of Branchburg, were both honored by the New Jersey League for Nursing (NJLN) at its 2017 NJLN Nurse Recognition Awards Gala.

The annual event, held this year on November 3 at the Pines Manor in Edison, brings together the best in nursing to honor and recognize nursing excellence and benefit nursing education. The New Jersey League for Nursing is an Affiliate of the National League for Nursing.

Stetson, RNBC, MSN, CNE, who has been working as a nurse for 45 years and teaching for 27 years, was one of 11 members of the nursing profession to be honored with the prestigious 2017 NJLN Nurse Recognition Award for her contributions and successes in nursing and healthcare.

Stetson has taught at RVCC for 21 years and currently chairs the College’s Health Science Education Department. As a Registered Nurse, Stetson has worked in a number of hospitals including the Brooklyn VA hospital, Maimonides Medical Center, Somerset Medical Center (now Robert Wood Johnson Barnabas Health Somerset), and Robert Wood Johnson Barnabas Health New Brunswick in various roles such as staff nurse, IV nurse, nurse manager and hospital educator. Stetson received an AAS in Nursing from Kingsborough Community College, a BSN in Nursing from the College of Staten Island, and an MSN in Nursing from SUNY Health Science Center, Brooklyn. She is currently pursuing a Doctorate of Education at Walden University.

Kopp, who graduated from RVCC in 2015 and served as president of the College’s Student Nurses Association, was one of seven students to receive a $1,000 Nursing Scholarship from the NJLN Scholarship Program. Kopp is completing her BSN at Chamberlain University. She works as an overnight ER nurse at Hunterdon Medical Center, where she serves on several task forces focusing on ER redesign, Code AMI, Code Stroke, and miscarriage and perinatal bereavement.

“Our recognition awards celebration is one example of what the NJLN embodies, it is about recognizing nursing excellence and promoting education, which is at the forefront of what we do as an organization. We also are very proud to congratulate all of the Nurse Recognition and Scholarship Award recipients, who really are the shining stars of our Gala evening, and are to be commended for all of their accomplishments and commitment to the nursing profession and their education,” said Donna Murray, MSN, RN, APN, WHNP-BC, President, New Jersey League for Nursing.

The New Jersey League for Nursing supports and implements the mission of the National League for Nursing to promote excellence in nursing education to build a strong and diverse nursing workforce to advance the nation's health at the constituent level. The NJLN is the longest running nursing organization in the state, with over 100 years of promoting nursing excellence through education and collaboration. The New Jersey League for Nursing believes in the professional advancement of nursing education and practice through programs and opportunities that address the needs of diverse students, faculty and practicing nurses in a rapidly changing health care environment. The NJLN believes in the importance of promoting collaboration and forming partnerships. For information on the NJLN, or to become a member, please visit www.njln.org.

Raritan Valley Community College’s main campus is located at 118 Lamington Road in Branchburg, NJ. Serving Somerset and Hunterdon County residents for close to 50 years, RVCC is an educational and cultural center that is nationally recognized for its innovative programming, service to the community and environmental leadership. The College offers more than 90 associate degrees and certificates, as well as career training, professional development, and adult and youth personal enrichment courses. RVCC is committed to offering a quality and affordable education through effective teaching, liaisons with the community’s businesses, and state-of-the-art technology. For further information, visit www.raritanval.edu.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 20, 2017

Media contacts: RVCC: Donna Stolzer, 908-526-1200, ext. 8383

NJLN: Susan Chandler, 908-789-3398

PR #53