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Nation’s Oldest Nursing School at St. Luke’s Graduates 150th Class

St. Luke’s School of Nursing held its 150th commencement Thursday in Allentown. Thursday’s graduating class was comprised of 65 students, compared to three when the school was founded in 1884.

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St. Luke's School of Nursing Graduation
St. Luke’s School of Nursing held its 150th graduation exercises Thursday, Aug. 9 at the Scottish Rite Cathedral in Allentown.

St. Luke’s School of Nursing held its 150th commencement Thursday at the Scottish Rite Cathedral in Allentown.

“The nursing program here at St. Luke’s is unique,” said Nursing School Director Sandra Mesics, RN. “Our curriculum is diverse and comprehensive, and our students benefit from the tremendous amount of resources we have throughout our Network. We also seek to employ many of the nurses we train, so it’s a win-win.”

Thursday’s graduating class was comprised of 65 students, compared to three when the school was founded in 1884. (The first class graduated in 1886, and during some years since then more than one class has graduated.)

St. Luke’s University Health Network has the highest-ranked nursing program in the Lehigh Valley, according to the website RegisteredNursing.org. It is ranked fifth out of 76 programs in Pennsylvania, based on graduates’ performance on the National Council Licensure Examination- Registered Nurse (NCLEX-RN) board exam.

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Currently, the Nursing School is expanding access with a new evening/weekend track that allows flex-learning and the ability to attend while still working.

“We are very excited to offer this option for our students,” said Angela Daniel, the school’s recruitment and enrollment coordinator. “We know that our student’s lives are busy and we want to provide them with multiple options to pursue their education.”

Note: This story was contributed by St. Luke’s University Health Network. Its publication is part of a local health news collaboration between Saucon Source and SLUHN.

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Author
Josh Popichak

Josh Popichak is a veteran local journalist with an extensive background in print and digital news. A Bethlehem native, he has a Bachelor’s degree in history and has maintained a lifelong affinity for the subject. He founded Saucon Source to fill a need for independent local journalism, which has thrived with the support of an engaged, enthusiastic readership. He thanks the community, whose continued support makes this site possible.