Congratulations, new grads, and Happy Anniversary to the college, too! Lakeview nursing college brings back first bachelor's recipients for anniversary | News-Gazette.com

In May 1990, Lakeview College of Nursing conferred bachelor's degrees on its first five graduates.

School officials will mark the 20th anniversary of that occasion by inviting those graduates to attend this year's graduation ceremony on May 1.

"The students from the Class of 1990 were an integral part of our new beginning as a bachelor's degree-granting institution, and we thought it would be fitting to invite them (to) share in the celebration," said Dean Sara Rich Wheeler. "They paved the way for over 880 students who have since graduated from the program."

Lakeview College of Nursing is a single-purpose, upper-division college that has specialized in educating nurses since 1894. It began its baccalaureate program in 1988 in Danville, and its extension campus in Charleston in 2001.

This year's commencement ceremony will be held at 10:30 a.m. May 1 at the Danville High School auditorium, 202 E. Fairchild St. Officials will award bachelor's of science degrees in nursing to 62 people.

At the ceremony, officials also will present Marlene Lucas Davis with the Alumni Hall of Fame award. Davis was the first black student to attend the School of Nursing, and graduate in 1968.