Memphis, Tenn., Feb. 28, 2000 - The St. Joseph School of Nursing will hold its final graduation ceremony at St. Michael Catholic Church, 3863 Summer Ave., on Saturday, March 25 at noon.

Thirty-six students will receive their diplomas at the ceremony, which will feature a commencement address by Sister Jane Marie Klein, chairwoman of the board of directors at Sisters of St. Francis Health Care Services Inc. The graduation will be followed by a reception for graduates, guests and alumni.

"This ceremony marks the end of a grand chapter in the history of our city," said Ann Warblow, director of education at St. Joseph School of Nursing. "For more than 80 years St. Joseph has given the Memphis area many great nurses. We are very proud of the school's contribution to health care in this community."

The St. Joseph School of Nursing has graduated more than 2,000 nurses since it began in 1918. St. Joseph Hospital joined the Baptist Memorial Health Care system in August 1998 and officially closed in December of that year. Baptist has operated the Baptist College of Health Sciences since 1995, and graduated 96 students from its baccalaureate program last spring. For more information, call 227-6800.

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