Twenty-three Piedmont Community College (PCC) Associate Degree Nursing graduates were celebrated at a memorable pinning ceremony on May 13 held at Roxboro Baptist Church.
The ceremony was a heartfelt moment of recognition for their dedication and success, shared with proud family members, friends, faculty and staff.
Addressing her fellow classmates, class representative Vanessa Garcia Carranza reflected on their journey through nursing school and thanked their nursing instructors for preparing them to be successful nurses. She also addressed her family in Spanish, thanking them for their sacrifices that led her to this pivotal day.
“As we gather here today, let us all reflect on the journey that has brought us into this moment,” Carranza said. “Our path has been filled with dedication, resilience and the moments that have shaped us into compassionate and skilled nurses.”
“Each of us carries a unique story, a unique background and together we unite to serve a common purpose and that is to make a meaningful impact on the lives of those that we serve.”
Darrick Woods, Director, Nursing Programs, acknowledged the hard work and dedication of the graduates.
Woods presented Lisa Barker with the Friend of the Program Award for her dedication and service to PCC’s Nursing program as a clinical partner. Barker has been instrumental in securing clinical placements for students, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic when many community colleges were unable to complete clinicals.
Dressed as Florence Nightingale, nursing instructor Janine Wall was recognized for her upcoming retirement after 19 years of service to PCC.
Woods also presented the following awards:
- Alan Duncan – Student Nurses Association (SNA) cord
- Keyra Cowan – SNA cord
- Mallori Martin – SNA leadership cord and Red Cross cord for her help in recruiting blood donors during the SNA blood drive
- Lu’Keithha Satterfield – Nightingale Scholarship
- Tolulope Laolu-Fashuyi – Nightingale Scholarship
- Brooke Keech – Nightingale Scholarship
- Isabella Johnson – Nightingale Scholarship
- Shanekia Hunt – Bradford Nursing Legacy Scholarship
- Yondora Satterfield – Person Memorial Hospital Auxiliary Scholarship
Satterfield was also presented with a cord to wear during commencement for her involvement in the SNA.
- Racquel Green – Person Memorial Hospital Auxiliary Scholarship
Green was also presented with a cord to wear during commencement for her involvement in the SNA as well as a golden lamp pin for scoring the highest on the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) predictor.
- Jacob Welborn – Rowan Walters Scholarship
Welborn was also presented with a cord to wear during commencement for being the SNA projects chairperson, a Red Cross cord for his help in recruiting blood donors during the SNA blood drive and a cord for being one of the first students from PCC to attend the national SNA convention.
- Courtland Salter – Rowan Walters Scholarship
Salter was also presented with a cord to wear during commencement for being the president of the SNA, a Red Cross cord for her help in recruiting blood donors during the SNA blood drive and a cord for being one of the first students from PCC to attend the national SNA convention.
- Vanessa Garcia Carranza – Nursing Values and Integrity Award
Carranza was the first graduate to be awarded the Nursing Values and Integrity Award, established by Wall. The award recognizes a nursing graduate who has exemplified core nursing values of compassion, care, competence and courage.
Each graduate was presented with a nursing pin, a symbol of their entry into the nursing profession. The pins were affixed to their white nursing uniforms by family members or faculty members in attendance. After receiving their pins they were presented with lamps, a symbol of the nursing heroine, Florence Nightingale. Once the lamps were lit the graduates recited the nursing pledge in unison led by nursing instructor Angel Rogers.
The Associate Degree Nursing graduates are as follows: Elizabeth Byrd, Vanessa Garcia Carranza, Keyra Cowan, Ecaterina Dege, Alan Duncan, Jami Eckemoff, Kelly Ellis, Kaitlyn Evans, Tolulope Laolu-Fashuyi, Abigayle Fowlkes, Racquel Green, Shanekia Hunt, Isabella Johnson, Brooke Keech, Paige Lee, Mallori Martin, Quanate Neal, Ashley Robinson, Courtland Salter, Lu’Keithha Satterfield, Yondora Satterfield, Jacob Welborn and Dishane Wood.
The graduates will now have the opportunity to take the NCLEX, which is the final step for them to become registered nurses.
PCC’s Associate Degree Nursing curriculum provides individuals with the knowledge and skills necessary to provide nursing care to clients and groups of clients throughout the lifespan in a variety of settings. Visit www.piedmontcc.edu/nursing for more information about PCC’s Associate Degree Nursing program.
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