LMC Names Spirit of Nursing Award Recipient for Spring 2026 Nursing Cohort

Asia Allen-Baugher had a career in ophthalmology. As a certified ophthalmic assistant, she moved up to working in the surgery center of a local eye care center. Following a mission trip to Africa, she was inspired to give more and became a registered behavior technician working with autistic children. But there was still something else she aspired to.

She wanted to be a nurse.

Reflecting on her decision, Allen-Baugher stated, “After working in other areas of healthcare for ten years, I finally decided it was time to invest in myself and my education. I think it is important for women to invest in themselves, and I wanted to be that example for my daughter. So, I decided to start my journey at Lake Michigan College.”

Now, after two years of intensive study and hands-on clinical experience, Allen-Baugher graduates with an Associate in Applied Science degree in Nursing-RN. She is among 39 LMC nursing graduates who will be recognized at the 79th annual commencement exercises on May 3.

Her classmates recognized what she brought to the journey by nominating her for the Spirit of Nursing Award, and nursing faculty chose her from among the nominees. The award is given to the cohort member who exemplifies the program’s standards of leadership and excellence in patient care.

LMC Interim Dean of Health Sciences, Nursing Program Director, and Faculty Denise Gardner said the recognition reflects what Allen-Baugher has demonstrated from the start. "Asia is a strong leader whose professionalism and consistent commitment to representing the nursing program with integrity and compassion make her a great candidate for this recognition. She demonstrates unwavering dedication to high-quality patient care and will be an asset in serving our community's healthcare needs."

While Allen-Baugher had long dreamed of becoming a nurse, finances had always stood in the way. That is, until a co-worker mentioned the Michigan Reconnect scholarship, a State of Michigan program that covers community college tuition for adults returning to school. She saw it as the open door she had been waiting for. The wife and mother from Coloma enrolled at LMC and earned her way into its competitive registered nursing program.

Being successful in the program wasn’t without sacrifice. Allen-Baugher balanced coursework, clinical rotations, and studying while raising a daughter and serving as her cohort's Nursing Student Representative in 2025. Her husband worked 12- to 14-hour days to support the family while she pursued her degree. She built a small circle of people she could lean on: a father-in-law who picked up her daughter from school and friends who would take her daughter to school with their own kids on early clinical mornings.

"It's important to have a support system of people who want to see you succeed," she said. "You can't pour from an empty cup. You can't take care of other people if you're not taking care of yourself and your family first."

Allen-Baugher credits the high expectations of LMC’s nursing faculty with giving her a competitive edge in the job market.

"LMC nursing students are held to a higher standard of professionalism, which makes us valued in the workforce," she said. "That's something I'm proud of because I think it helps make me stand out."

Immediately after graduation, Allen-Baugher will work at Corewell Health Lakeland Hospitals in St. Joseph on the cardiac progressive floor, the same place where she completed her clinicals as a student. She plans to work for a couple of years before adding another layer of education, leading to her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree.

“Approaching this career a little later in life, I bring maturity to the position. I’ve experienced a lot. I’ve felt unseen, unheard, at times in my life. I’ve chosen to put myself in a position where I can advocate for people when they are at their most vulnerable. I can make them feel seen and valued. Not just a room number or a diagnosis but a human being whose health and best outcomes are what I want for them,” Allen-Baugher said.

 

About the Lake Michigan College Spirit of Nursing Award
LMC first awarded the Spirit of Nursing Award in 1991. Its recipients are nominated by their classmates and chosen by the LMC Nursing faculty. Criteria upon which the award is based include:

About the Lake Michigan College Nursing Program
Lake Michigan College’s Associate Degree in Nursing program is ranked among the top five in Michigan for 2025 by NursingProgress.org. The ranking is based on graduation and retention rates, student-to-faculty ratio, first-time pass rate on the licensure exam, affordability, and overall reputation.

Demand is strong for LMC nursing program graduates. The last four cohorts achieved 100% job placement within six months of graduation. Recent licensure exam results also demonstrate instructional quality, with LMC’s first-time pass rate on the NCLEX-RN licensure exam consistently exceeding statewide and national averages.

LMC’s nursing instructors bring extensive expertise to the classroom with an average of 15 years of teaching experience and 20 years of nursing practice. Students gain practical skills through training in the College's high-fidelity SIM lab and by completing hands-on clinical rotations in a variety of healthcare settings throughout the region.