Pearl River Community College Associate Degree Nursing Graduates held a socially distanced pinning ceremony recently to celebrate hard work, dedication and a semester to remember.
“Encourage, be empathetic, be compassionate,” Pearl River President Dr. Adam Breerwood said. “Continue to take your heart, empathy, understanding and ability to heal out into the world. It’s needed not only in the hospitals but beyond.”
Like many college students, these soon to be nurses waited to see when they would return to normal classes as the weeks after Pearl River’s spring break flew past. They soon realized there would be no return to “normal” for them this semester and quickly went to work adapting and learning in what became the new normal. The students waited in anticipation Wednesday for a pinning ceremony that was as unique as their final semester at The River.
Graduates, along with up to two family members, were spaced across Pearl River’s band practice field that faces the nursing building. As each name was called the students made their way across the field where they were pinned by a family member.
Arianna Buckley shared a thank you from her fellow classmates to all those that had supported them along the way including their nursing instructors.
“Thank you for having an open door, sharing advice and offering an open learning environment,” Buckley said.
“You are entering a different world than you thought you would upon graduation,” said Associate Degree Nursing Department Chair Dr. Arlene Jones. “It’s a world that needs you now more than ever.”
The next step for these graduates before joining the workforce will be to take the National Council Licensure Examination exam, a standardized test that each state regulatory board uses to determine if a candidate is ready to become licensed as an entry-level nurse.
Those interested in learning more about PRCC’s ADN program can visit http://www.prcc.edu/academics/plans/health-nursing/adn.
2020 ADN graduates are as listed:
Angie, LA: Allison Stuart, Heather Wilson;
Brandon: Stephen Beane;
Carriere: Jean Ann Achee, Leah Hahn, Alyssa Mancuso, Brandon Murray, Makenna Pope, Hannah Purvis, Shekera Smith;
Columbia: Desiniqua Collins;
Hattiesburg: Marissa Lee, Shyla Lewis, Michael McCool, Loan Thi Pham, Anna Katherine Pickett, Alyssa Rasberry, Angel Walker;
Laurel: Eriana Buckley;
Leaksville: Rachel Smith;
Lucedale: Bailey Broadus, Ramey Cochran, Kallie Ezell;
Lumberton: Victoria Cerniglia, Matthan Jenkins, Catherine Junkin, Allison Russell;
Mobile, AL: Logan Deese;
Ocean Springs: Noah Lafferty;
Pearl River, LA: Skylar Landor, Samantha Moseley;
Perkinston: Jordan Ladner, Sierra Necaise;
Petal: Kayla Fokakis, Catherine Shoemaker;
Picayune: Shamecha Bender, Ashley Bozeman, Taia Cuevas, Debra Howell, Megan Tucker, Madyson Turnage;
Ponchatoula, LA: Lauren Perez;
Poplarville: Jenna Belsome, Canton Comardelle, Mollie Ann Lee, Harlee Stuart;
Purvis: Amelia Bennett;
Sandy Hook: Avery Williams;
Slidell, LA: Raycheal Cook;
Sumrall: Jaiden Jackson;
Wiggins: Kayla Grinstead.