Macon State College MVPs is a web feature that profiles notable students, alumni, faculty and staff.
Nursing major Stephanie Gabbard is a recent recipient of a scholarship awarded by the Georgia Woman of the Year Committee in cooperation with the Georgia Commission on Women.
Full Name: Stephanie Victoria Gabbard.
Age: 21.
Hometown & Residence: Macon.
High School: Jones County High School.
Family: Parents, Debra and Andy Gabbard; brothers, James and Paul Smith.
Current Employment: Full-time student.
Degree Objective: Bachelor of science in nursing.
Class Rank: Junior.
Activities: Gay-Straight Alliance and English Studies Organization. Co-vice president of ESO, 2010-2011.
Career Goals: “I want to be a nurse with certifications in psychiatric-mental health nursing as well as wound, ostomy, and continence nursing. I try to follow my interests in deciding what I want to do in life. Things may change, and I try not to decide on anything too concretely and risk missing something good. For example, I had no idea wound, ostomy, and continence could be so interesting, but I’m really fascinated by the idea of helping people in that way.”
She chose Macon State College because … “My top reasons were cost and location. I’ve lived in Macon almost all my life, and I didn’t want to spend thousands of dollars per year attending a college hundreds of miles away. Macon State was the logical choice, and it’s a decision I’m glad I made. This school has certainly exceeded my expectations.”
The one thing that surprised her about Macon State was … “The number of extracurricular activities. I didn't expect there to be so many groups to join or events with free food to attend. There's always something to do, whether just for fun or personal enrichment.”
Her favorite professor is … “Dr. Jeff Burne. I had microbiology as a summer course, and Dr. Burne is so intelligent and funny that you occasionally forget how much hard work you’re putting into the class. He has a ton of diverse knowledge to share, and he’s a great instructor.”
Her favorite place to study is … “Any random hallway of the Professional Sciences building. I like to study in silence, and the PSC building is always really quiet and peaceful.”
One thing people don’t know about her is … “I love Japanese architecture, especially from the Edo period. Clean lines and open space are my aesthetic preferences. If I could live in a traditional style Japanese home, I definitely would.”
Her friends make fun of her because … “I have eight dogs and a cat. My house is practically a zoo.”
The one person she’d most like to meet is … “Mahatma Gandhi. He changed the world with his messages of communalism, peace, and equality. He lived a life of personal simplicity and respect for everyone, and I greatly admire him and all he did.”
Five years from now she sees herself … “Working as a psychiatric nurse and spending as much time as I can volunteering at clinics. One of my main reasons for choosing nursing as a major is to attain skills that allow me to contribute freely to people in need, especially considering how high the price of healthcare is.”