Coronavirus Volunteer Earns Rowan College President's Award

BURLINGTON COUNTY, NJ — A Rowan College at Burlington County nursing student who volunteers at the Burlington County Health Department’s testing site for new coronavirus will be honored with the President’s Award during the college’s virtual graduation ceremony next week.

Timothy Wilkinson is among several students who joined the fight against the coronavirus. He volunteers at the Burlington County testing site at the Emergency Services Training Center behind the Burlington County Institute of Technology on Woodlane Road in Westampton.

The site is open Tuesdays and Thursdays, and testing is free. No doctor's prescription is required and tests are free of charge. Symptoms of coronavirus include coughing, fever or shortness of breath. Appointments can be made by calling 609-726-7097.

New Jersey Coronavirus Updates: Don't miss local and statewide announcements about novel coronavirus precautions. Sign up for Patch alerts and daily newsletters.

“When this (pandemic) hit, I realized I had a set of skills that could be beneficial to the community. And when the call was put out for volunteers, I think it took me fewer than three minutes to respond,” said Wilkinson, a Riverside resident in the college’s 3+1 nursing program. “Since then, we’ve tested over 2,500 Burlington County residents. It’s been a lot of work, but it’s also been very rewarding. This is exactly what we had been training for.”

Wilkinson has always had an interest in nursing, but was pushed to pursue the career path by his wife, Christine. She battles a rare, incurable disease known as idiopathic gastroparesis, a disease characterized by delayed gastric emptying and increased weight loss.

“Dealing with all that, she’s still been my rock and my support. She’s pushed me to accomplish everything I’ve been able to,” Wilkinson said.

He calls receiving the RCBC President’s Award a “surreal and exciting prospect.” After graduation, Wilkinson said he plans to continue his education to earn his BSN and a master’s degree, aiming to eventually work in a critical care environment.

“I think I want to end up in surgery, whether it’s as a nurse practitioner or nurse anesthetist,” Wilkinson said.

Rowan College at Burlington County will hold a virtual commencement ceremony at 1 p.m. on May 15. The college will stream a video via Facebook Live that includes messages from Rowan College at Burlington County President Dr. Michael A. Cioce, a faculty member and the class valedictorian.

The celebration will also include a visual listing of every graduate by name and recognition of several award recipients that are typically presented at the end of an academic year. Students will be able to engage in a live chat with one another throughout the event.

Graduates, community members and internal college departments are encouraged to submit well wishes that will be displayed in a video tribute. Students can thank their parents, their professors, express their excitement about graduating or include anything else related to the special day. To submit a message, click here.

All 2020 graduates will be invited back in May 2021 to walk across the commencement stage and participate in the more traditional graduation experience.

Read more: NJ Coronavirus Updates: Here's What You Need To Know