Like many of the college's classes, the 63 Winter 2024 graduates of the Washtenaw Community College nursing program is representative of a rich tapestry of experiences and backgrounds pursuing a common goal.
"All of our paths, however different, led us here. Some of us are parents, full-time employees, caregivers for our loved ones, and so on. And yet, through every other life commitment we persisted and gave nursing school our all," said one of the graduates, Hamdi Ali. "No matter how hard and rocky the road to this moment was, we still made it."
Ali was chosen as the graduate speaker, representing the latest graduating cohort, and described the experiences of the class to a near-capacity crowd of family and friends at Towsley Auditorium and those watching via a live stream on Friday, Dec. 13.
"My fellow graduates, you deserve this. Nobody but you put in the hard work and dedication to get you this far," Ali said, wrapping up her address to loud applause. "You made it because you are you. Congratulations and best wishes to my fellow future nurses."
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WCC President Dr. Rose B. Bellanca, Executive Vice President for Instruction Dr. Brandon Tucker, Dean of Health Sciences Dr. Shari Lambert and Nursing Department Chair Dr. Theresa Bucy provided congratulatory messages and Nursing faculty member Dr. Marva Brooks served as the Mistress of Ceremonies.
In her address, Bellanca noted the quality of the WCC Nursing program — citing its re-designation as a Nursing Center of Excellence by the National League for Nursing — thanking the faculty for creating such a rigorous and respected academic curriculum and congratulating the graduates on completing the challenging programming.
"It's because of our faculty that our Nursing program is so outstanding," Bellanca told the graduates. "You have learned from the best. ... What you learned at WCC will be with you throughout your career, and we're very proud of that."
Kristy Shepherd, a clinical instructor at the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, provided the faculty address. During her speech, she revealted that eight student nurses from the program had been nominated for a DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nursing Students, created by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to celebrate above-and-beyond care and compassion shown to patients and their families.
The DAISY Award is one of the exclusive awards that every nurse strives for," Shepherd said. "To receive a nomination while still in nursing school is a testament to the profound impact you've had on your patients, your peers and your instructors."
Recipients include Lindsay Abele, Kassie Bentley, Sara Desgranges, Brenae Hall, Maggie Kaechele, Megan Kadoguchi, Isaac Skochelak and Kelsi Thomas.
The graduating class was taking a giant step closer to joining the nursing profession by participating in the pinning ceremony, a time-honored tradition dating back to the 1880s that represents a transition from academia to profession.
Up next for the group is passing the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) to become a licensed Registered Nurse. Many members of the graduating class plan to continue their education and earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing.
Members of the Winter 2024 WCC Nursing Graduating Class include (in alphabetical order):
- Lindsay Abele
- Iesha Alexander-Lott^
- Hamdi Ali
- Marcus Apostoleris+
- Raymond Apostoleris+
- Lindsey Arnold
- Melak Ayesh
- Megan Balawender
- Nicholas Barnes
- Keenan Patrick Bear^
- Kassie Bentley
- Lindsie Bowen
- Madison Boyer
- Julia Buck
- Christina Cardenaz
- Shamya Chance
- Miao Chen
- Tiffany Cromity^
- Dioselina Danley
- Sara Desgranges*
- Mary Dominguez
- Karen Ely
- Angela Evans
- Joseph Fee
- Kala Gaines
- Alexis Haley
- Brenae Hall+
- Cheyenne Hines
- Lauren Jacobs
- Ronda James
- Janna Jenson
- Angela Johnson
- Megan Kadoguchi
- Margaret Kaechele
- Sarah Kennedy
- Michael Lehman
- Paula Lesser-Lee
- Aurora Liepe*
- Allison Maisano
- Vanessa Marecle
- Brittany McNeal
- Danielle McReynolds
- Alexis Mellinger
- Mackenzie Memering
- Simone Miller
- Corrinne Nelson
- Heather Rayer
- Jazzlyn Robinson*^
- Taylor Rodocker
- Rita Schmittling
- Andrea Schomberger
- Isaac Skochelak
- Courtney Stephens*
- Adam Stonebraker*
- Kelsi Thomas
- Tiana Thurman
- Edward Vick
- Chelsea Vitale
- Nicole Vladimerou
- Cailin Ward
- Alaina Wiley
- Breanna Wilson
- Erika Wrenn
+ - Members of Advancing Men in Nursing
* - Graduating with honors as members of Organization of for Associate Degree Nursing
^ - Member of the National Student Nurses Association/WCC Student Nurses Association
Tags: Center of Excellence in Nursing Education, Class of 2024, Graduation, Nursing, Pinning Ceremony