Carrington Society Dinner honors donors and scholars as part of ‘incredible legacy of giving’
April 23, 2026
When Chelsea Turner’s family filled a time capsule with letters 25 years ago, she wrote herself a note: that one day she would have eight children and become a nurse.
Turner, a current ABSN student and recipient of the Ruppalt Undergraduate Nursing Scholarship, told the donors, students and friends gathered for its annual Carrington Society Dinner on April 16, 2026, “Well, I have six kids, and I’m almost a nurse! Thank you, Susan Ruppalt Lantz, for supporting me in achieving my childhood dreams and for helping me show my children what commitment and hard work can achieve.”
The Carrington Society Dinner recognizes the donors whose scholarships and contributions make meaningful investments and transformational impacts in the lives of not only students, but also on nursing education at Carolina.
On behalf of this year’s scholarship recipients, Turner thanked donors “for seeing something in each of us that we do not always see in ourselves. Thank you for believing in us, investing in us, and trusting us to work hard as the future of nursing.”
That support has meant more than financial assistance, Turner said.
“Your generosity gave us the freedom to volunteer more, shadow in different units, participate in study abroad opportunities, and protect our mental well-being during a very challenging time in our lives. That kind of support changes what is possible for students, and we are deeply grateful.”
School of Nursing Dean Valerie Howard said the Carrington Society Dinner is a tribute to the incredible legacy of giving that sustains the School.
“Standing on the shoulders of such giants, the individuals in this room carry on their tremendous culture of generosity that has grown to $50 million in private assets for the School over the years, with untold millions that have supported people and programs throughout our proud 75 year history,” said Howard. “Each year, thanks to you, our students receive more than $2 million in scholarships, making their education and their dreams more accessible.”
Turner’s complete remarks from the evening are included below, and we invite you to relive the highlights of the Carrington Society Dinner by visiting the event’s photo gallery.
Speech by Carolina Nursing Student Chelsea Turner
Good evening, everyone. My name is Chelsea Turner, and I am so honored to stand before you tonight representing the scholarship recipients who are present in this room. I am a current ABSN student and a grateful recipient of the Ruppalt Undergraduate Nursing Scholarship.
25 years ago my family created a time capsule and wrote letters to our futures selves. In mine, I wrote, “You’ll likely have 8 kids and be a nurse by now.” Well I have 6 kids and I’m almost a nurse. Thank you Susan Ruppalt Lantz for supporting me in achieving my childhood dreams and for helping me show my children what commitment and hard work can achieve.
To the Donors: Thank you for seeing something in each of us that we do not always see in ourselves. Thank you for believing in us, investing in us, and trusting us to work hard as the future of nursing.
Your support has meant more than financial assistance. It has been encouragement through every exam, clinical rotation, and assignment. Because of you, many of us were able to spend less time worrying about how we were going to pay for tuition, rent, gas, and groceries, and more time fully committing ourselves to this demanding program.
Your generosity gave us the freedom to volunteer more, shadow in different units, participate in study abroad opportunities, and protect our mental well-being during a very challenging time in our lives. That kind of support changes what is possible for students, and we are deeply grateful.
To the Teachers and Leadership: Thank you for being there for us every step of the way. Thank you for reassuring us when we felt uncertain, for giving us the tools we needed to succeed, and for laughing with us, and sometimes even crying with us, when things got hard. You were firm when you needed to be, but also flexible and understanding when unexpected situations arose in our personal lives.
Whether through office hours, mentorship, or simply a kind word at the right moment, you helped turn our uncertainty into confidence. Because of you, our therapeutic communication skills are dialed in, our understanding of evidence-based practice is spot on, and our desire to serve our patients is greater than ever. You have prepared us to step into nursing with confidence, compassion, and purpose.
To the Students: Well, for many of us, we are on the homestretch. It feels like just a short time ago we were pulling everything together just to apply to this program, hoping for the chance to be here. Then came the excitement, the tears, and the reality of what it would take to make it through.
Since then, we have spent months studying for long hours, stressing about grades, navigating sleep deprivation, caffeine overload, and the unexpected challenges life brought to us and the people we love. And yet, through all of it, we have been successful.
We have supported one another through late-night study sessions, skills labs, simulations, clinical rotations, and all of the moments in between. We have made lifelong friends and memories that will stay with us long after graduation. Keep those friendships close, because we are still going to need each other.
Never underestimate the power of the small things that carried us through: a walk with a friend between classes, singing karaoke before Leadership class, bringing treats to share, grabbing lunch together, and yes, always finding more caffeine. I am so proud to stand alongside each of you, and I cannot wait to see the difference you will make as Carolina nurses.
To everyone who helped organize this evening and make it so special, thank you. And to the donors, teachers, leaders, and students in this room, thank you for helping shape what it means to be a Carolina nurse: someone prepared to lead, to advocate for the care, safety, and well-being of patients,
and to serve as a team-oriented, patient-centered professional. Because of all of you, we are ready to carry that forward. It is an honor to stand among you tonight. Thank you.
