Voting is now open for Leadership Succession and President roles. Please refer to the letters of intent that have been submitted. 

• Voting will close July 1st.
• Tessa and Sarah can co-chair leadership succession

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Letters of intent:

1. 

Dear Kaci Wood and Members of the Lambda Kappa Chapter,

I am writing to express my intent to apply for the President position for Sigma’s Lambda Kappa chapter. With a background in both education and clinical practice, I am passionate about bridging that gap for students while continuing to grow professionally as a nurse leader.

My education journey began 14 years ago as an adjunct instructor at Messiah University. Since then, I have continued teaching alongside my work as a registered nurse, while completing my master’s degree as a Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner, and throughout my current nurse practitioner practice. Education is truly my passion, and it extends beyond the classroom into my clinical work, where I strive to empower women with knowledge and support them in making informed decisions regarding their health. So many woman face inequality, lack of education, and societal pressures within their healthcare choices on a local and global level.

As a result, Sigma’s mission of transforming global healthcare through the development of nurse leaders strongly resonates with me. I value the organization’s role in supporting both students and practicing nurses in their professional development as well as creating opportunities for engagement within the community. As an educator, I have contributed to this mission on a smaller scale, and I am eager to expand that impact through service as President.

I bring strong organizational, communication, and collaborative leadership skills, and I am dedicated to serving with integrity, vision, and enthusiasm. I would be honored to help the Lambda Kappa chapter in continuing to advance excellence in nursing through service, scholarship and leadership and look forward to hearing how I might contribute positively to your team in the future.

Sincerely,

Sarah Curtis, MSN, CRNP, WHNP-BC

2.  I am writing this letter
regarding the open position for Leadership Succession for the Lambda Kappa chapter of Sigma
Theta Tau Nursing honor society. Throughout my academic journey with the nursing department
at Messiah University, I have consistently prioritized integrity, excellence, and involvement. I
would love the opportunity to be more involved with this organization and continue my pursuit
of growth and learning. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Blessings,
Tessa Dunkerton
Nursing Class of 2027

3. Thank you for the opportunity to be involved in Sigma! I am interested in the Leadership Succession role.

I am interested in this role because I enjoy supporting and connecting with others. I would be able to connect and encourage involvement of Sigma through other nursing positions I will be doing next semester, such as tutoring nursing courses and hopefully being involved in nursing bootcamp! This will allow me to build my leadership skills as I help to promote other students’ success in the nursing program!

I would enjoy this role to support and connect with others, as well as helping to plan Sigma events! Thank you again for considering me for this opportunity!

Sincerely,

Sarah Heldibridle

Greetings!

We are seeking donations of used bedsheets to make bandage rolls to give to Macha Mission Hospital in Zambia. The Macha Mission Hospital was established by the Brethren in Christ Church in the late 1950’s and has served the region well now for multiple decades. The hospital provides care for a “local” catchment area that includes more than 170,000 people using limited financial support from the Zambian government combined with donations from foreign benefactors. We make bandage rolls to help Macha Mission Hospital stretch its resources. These bandages often hold sterile dressings in place (especially for burn patients) or the rolls can be sterilized by autoclaving when appropriate.

We are seeking clean bed sheets that are at least 50% cotton (more cotton works better when treating wounds). Please do not donate sheets that have been used as paint (or other) drop cloths or that contain large holes.

To make the bandages, we tear the sheets into 3-inch-wide strips. We remove loose threads from the edges, fold the strips and stack into piles and provide these stacks to individuals who can sew them together (overlap the ends slightly and sew across once to produce long chains). We wind long chains of sewed strips into rolls that are three inches in diameter (cut the chain when a roll is the appropriate size) and secure individual rolls using painter’s tape.

We transport the rolls to Macha in the luggage of groups and individuals who travel to Macha.

Event date for this project will be in the fall 2026. Stay tuned for more information!

Board Meeting

May 11, 2026

Attendees: Kaci Wood, Pamela Keller, Stephanie Gigous, Sarah Heldibridle, Sophia Garman, Adam Hollinger, Tessa, Laura Lebo

Absent: Rebekah Stanko

Approved the previous minutes.

·       Treasurers Report

For March to May 26'

o   Current balance $5187.69

o   Expenses: Sigma induction $591.92   

o    $300 from Sigma for member dues. 

·       Upcoming leadership roles:

• President: July 1, 2026
• Will need to send out information and gain interest.
• One candidate: Sarah Curtis
• Vice President: July 1, 2026
• Kaci can serve in this role to guide new President.
• Election opens in July for Presidents and vice president; email interest letters by July 1st
• Searching for a governance and leadership succession chair.
• Reviewed expectations and responsibilities for these roles

Old Business:

• Induction: April 17, 5 pm- 7 pm
• Successful event with new inductees. Invited inductees today and posted in circle prior to meeting. Four inductees in attendance
• Feedback- enjoyed the speaker; grateful that families could attend; timing of the event was good; length of program was liked so that other, separate, celebrations could be fit into the evening
• Follow up – certificates to be handed out yet

New Business/Upcoming events:

• Carwash
• Saturday, September 19, 2026
• SNA partnership TBD; continued interest from members will support this event independent of SNA
• Time – 10a-2p
• Signs – more signs and advertising
• Supplies needed – towels,  drying racks, brushes and extended poles
• Consider venue at Stans Beverage, Carlisle in lieu of doing this in Dillsburg. Then to Kaci’s house for picnic? Kaci to ask about hoses, buckets and soap provisions. Will call Advance Auto if Stan’s does not work out.
• Email in one month with answers to these questions
• Bandages for Macha Mission Hospital – a service project: making bandages out of bedsheets for the hospital to use. Nov 20^th. (John Harmes, Sarah Jones coordinators). 6-8pm with food
• Scholarship for next academic year?
• For students who need help paying for NCLEX or other graduation expenses.  Stephanie will collect information on designing and operationalizing a scholarship program; Pam get info on issuing scholarships within MU and parameters on accounts
• $200-$500 – NCLEX costs around $500
• Multiple students - TBD
• Annual report
• Laura and Kaci completed
• Other agenda items?

§  Kaci reaching out to Duane and Meg

Next Meeting:

·       August 26^th 7pm IN PERSON

o   Need to reserve room; place TBA

o   Bring a snack to share

o   Plan next Resume builder event – Oct 8^th.

o   Make signs for car wash

On April 18, 2026, the Lambda Kappa Chapter inducted 15 students into our Honors Society. The ceremony was organized by the officers of our chapter and conducted by our President, Kaci Woods. Our esteemed guest speaker was Laura Bitterman, MSN, RN, CCRN, an Assistant Professor of Nursing here at Messiah University with extensive experience in critical care and nursing education. She earned her BSN from Messiah College and spent 20 years in the Medical Intensive Care Unit at Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, where she was deeply involved in clinical and educational initiatives. She completed her MSN in Nursing Education in 2023 and continues to contribute to the profession through teaching undergraduate nursing courses and maintaining her Critical Care certification. It was an honor to have Laura deliver an encouraging message to our newest members and to their families and friends in attendance. 

Congratulations to our new inductees and welcome to Sigma!

Messiah University’s Nursing Sigma Chapter, Lambda Kappa, is excited to host a Nurse Residency & Transition-to-Practice Panel for undergraduate nursing students! This event will offer faculty and students valuable insights into the transition from student to professional nurse, featuring nurse residency programs from multiple local healthcare organizations. Join us to learn what to expect, how to prepare, and what opportunities await you as you begin your nursing career!

Dear Sigma Members,

It’s time to make your voice heard! Voting is now open for the Sigma Board of Directors positions of Treasurer and Secretary. Your participation helps shape the future of our chapter and ensures strong leadership for the years ahead.

We are pleased to introduce one of our candidates:

Candidate for Secretary – Laura Lebo, MSN, RN

Laura Lebo earned her BSN from Messiah University in 2000. She began her nursing career as a staff nurse on a cardiac unit at Lancaster General Hospital and has since held diverse roles in Home Health, Endoscopy, and Women’s Health.

Her passion for teaching emerged during her seven years as a Community Health Childbirth Educator. Laura later returned to bedside nursing as an adjunct OB faculty member at the PA College of Health Sciences. In 2017, she earned her Master’s in Nursing Education from Millersville University and began teaching at Harrisburg Area Community College as the Simulation Lab Coordinator and RN Fundamental Skills Instructor.

In the fall of 2022, Laura returned to Messiah University as a Simulation Educator—coming full circle to a place filled with great memories and lasting friendships. She remains deeply committed to creating those same opportunities for today’s nursing students.

Please vote via the survey link below