Verde Valley News – It was a semester for milestones for the Yavapai College Nursing Program, illuminated at a traditional pinning ceremony on Dec. 13 that saw 52 future RNs receive the rewards of their hard work and the first Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree-earners honored.
The future RNs were joined onstage by loved ones of all ages bestowing the well-earned pins and posing for celebratory photos. The six of a total of 19 BSN graduates who participated in the ceremony also were joined by family and presented with a medallion commemorating their continuing education.
The ceremony also featured a candlelight recitation of the “Commitment To Nursing” pledge, congratulatory speeches and individual award presentations.
YC President Dr. Lisa Rhine welcomed the overflow audience in the Jim and Linda Lee Performing Arts Center, sharing that she was overwhelmed with emotion seeing the large graduating class of future RNs and the first-ever BSN candidates gathered on stage. Dr. Rhine heralded as a “rite of passage” the ceremony celebrating the nursing students’ “intense study, fortitude, diligence and– as our graduates are well aware, –sacrifice.” She acknowledged the sacrifices of family members, thanking them for “supporting and walking this journey with our students.”
Dr. Rhine said that while the graduates have the knowledge and skills to be “wildly successful” nurses, being a good human will ensure it. “Good humans and great nurses live their lives with integrity and grace, conduct their lives with purpose and give their best effort. Believe there is good in the world and BE the good in the world,” she said.
In his ceremony address, YC Nursing Associate Professor Trevor Nordin gave the fall 2024 graduating class a glimpse of the future saying, “as nurses, you’ll face days where everything is coming at you all at once, blurring everything together in the chaos of patient care. So I say trust your training, seek guidance and know that every challenging day will sharpen your instincts and build confidence.”
Before the ceremony, BSN graduate Amber Ewart of Prescott said the four-year degree on top of the associate’s degree that taught her how to be a nurse “opens a lot of doors” to possible leadership roles, teaching and administration in healthcare.
Associate degree graduate Sarah Gregory of Prescott said she started nursing school after working in healthcare for many years and caring for her father before his passing. “That was it. I came home after that and started chipping away at school.” Sarah said she was elated to be joined at the graduation and pinned by her young son and daughter who have “watched me work so hard for this, so it’s a big deal to them, too. We can finally make our dreams come true.”
Following are the first recipients of a Yavapai College bachelor’s degree in nursing:
Sirena Alvarez, Karen Black, Rhyann Davies, Michelle Diaz, Jennifer Doerksen, Amber Ewart, Shailee Hamm, Nicole M. Johnson, Starlett Morales, Aimee Olum, Emma Pundt, Aidan Raute, Gabriel Roybal, Jennifer Santoyo, Julia St. Pierre, Annalicia Stann, Nicole Welker and Clark White.
Following are the 52 student nurses and future RNs (following a national licensing exam) who earned associate of applied science degree in nursing at YC fall semester.
- Alexandra Alvarado
- Katie Anderson
- Gianmarco Anzelmo
- Emily Armijo
- Courtney Bauer
- Sheron Brown
- Karissa Buchanan
- Morgan Castillo
- Katelyn Chapman
- Clay Crane
- Jordyn Cromer
- Caitlynn Dickinson
- Madison Dowell
- Joey Farley
- Raechel Ferguson
- Jenna Fields
- Holly Forsberg
- Destiny Gilpin
- Sarah Gregory
- Alexis Haidet
- Sada Hendricks
- Cheyenne Hull
- Noi Jackson
- Adam Johnson
- Ronnie Kohlhauer
- Kendall Kunick
- Jennifer Leibin
- Matthew Mabbitt
- Nicolette Maestas
- Hailey Mayhan
- Aiden McCarter
- Haydee Mesta
- Brad Milan
- Justin Miller
- Geri Mills
- Audrey Norman
- Alejandro Ocampo
- David Podkowa
- Chloe Polacek
- AJ Purinton
- Kaylee Rhodes
- Patricia Robinson
- Kyla Rolfes
- Eric Ross
- Alister Rothrock
- Katelyn Schield
- Anna Sharp
- Christine Teague
- Jennifer Thomas
- Alyssa Wasil
- Christopher Wengerd
- James Youngblood
Yavapai College operates six campuses and centers throughout Yavapai County and offers over 100 degrees and certificates, two baccalaureate degrees, student and community services, and cultural events and activities.
To learn more about YC, visit www.yc.edu