Whitney Shiver named College of Nursing graduation student marshal

For Whitney Shiver, nursing has always been close to home. Raised in Cusseta, Ala., by parents dedicated to caring for others, she grew up witnessing the impact healthcare professionals can have on patients and families. Now, as she prepares to graduate from Auburn University’s College of Nursing, Shiver has been selected to represent the college as its graduation marshal for the Summer 2026 commencement ceremony on Aug. 8.

A recognition of academic achievement and leadership, student marshals are chosen based on their outstanding academic performance, leadership qualities, and involvement in the campus community. For Shiver, the honor serves as a meaningful culmination of a nursing journey marked by determination, service and personal growth.

“Being selected as student marshal is a huge honor and adds an exclamation point to the conclusion of my academic career at Auburn University,” Shiver said. “I can’t think of a better way to honor the College of Nursing one last time in front of other colleges within the university.”

Shiver’s path to nursing was shaped largely by her family. Her mother is a nurse, and her father is a paramedic, providing her with early examples of compassion, dedication, and patient-centered care.

“I have always looked up to them and how they care for others,” she said. “The difference they have made in people’s lives inspired me to pursue nursing in the first place, and I cannot thank them enough for their support and wisdom.”

Although healthcare was always a familiar part of her life, Shiver said she truly knew nursing was the right profession when she began caring for patients herself.

“Building relationships with them and being there during some of their most vulnerable moments made me realize how meaningful this profession is,” she said.

During her time at Auburn, Shiver balanced multiple academic and professional responsibilities. Among her proudest accomplishments was successfully completing coursework for her Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) and Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) simultaneously while earning her Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) credential and gaining hands-on experience working as an LPN throughout her college career.

“Whitney is an exceptional representative of the Auburn University College of Nursing and the RN-to-BSN program,” said Amy Curtis, AUCON associate clinical professor and RN-to-BSN program coordinator. “Throughout the program, she has consistently demonstrated academic excellence, professionalism and an unwavering commitment to learning, always going above and beyond expectations in every course.”

In addition to her academic achievements, Shiver served as the RN-to-BSN student representative for AUCON’s college meetings, advocating for her classmates and helping ensure their voices were heard.

“Whitney has been a thoughtful advocate for her classmates, representing them with integrity, maturity and a collaborative spirit,” Curtis said. “Her peers and faculty alike consistently recognize her as an outstanding student and leader.”

Beyond academics, Shiver was involved in Auburn First Year Experience and Greek life, experiences that helped shape her college journey. Yet she says the friendships she built along the way stand out as one of the most rewarding aspects of nursing school.

“I will carry the relationships I have formed with my peers with me forever,” she said. “I could not have done nursing school without them.”

Reflecting on her nursing education, Shiver says one of the most important lessons she learned is that character matters just as much as clinical knowledge.

“I have learned that who you are as a nurse matters just as much as what you know,” she said. “Character goes a long way, not just with patients, but with peers.”

Following graduation, Shiver will continue pursuing her passion for critical care as a nurse in the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit at Grandview Medical Center in Birmingham, Ala., where she recently began orientation. Drawn to both critical care nursing and cardiovascular health, she is eager to begin the next chapter of her career.

“Auburn Nursing taught me to think beyond the bedside and challenged me to grow as a leader and a lifelong learner,” she said.

As she leads fellow graduates into commencement, Shiver will do so as a representative of the values Auburn Nursing strives to instill in every student: excellence, leadership, compassion and a commitment to lifelong learning.

“Whitney embodies the values of the nursing profession through her dedication, compassion and commitment to excellence, making her an outstanding choice to serve as the Auburn University College of Nursing Student Marshal,” Curtis said.

“It has been a privilege to watch Whitney grow throughout the program, and I cannot think of a more deserving student to serve as Student Marshal for the Auburn University College of Nursing. I am incredibly proud of her accomplishments and excited to see all she will achieve in her nursing career.”