HAMLET — A river of white flowed through Cole Auditorium Thursday as 33 nursing students complete one journey and head into the next.
A crowd of friends and family filled the hall in support of their loved ones for the Richmond Community College Lillian Duer James School of Nursing’s 42nd annual Associate Degree Nursing Pinning Ceremony.
In addition to the pins, each graduate — even the male students — was presented with a red rose.
Their journey to the traditional pinning ceremony took them through 76 credit hours of study.
Monica Jacobs, ADN Class of 2019 president, said she would miss seeing her classmates every day.
“The struggle has been real,” she said. “Many of us have self-diagnosed ourselves with stress overload related to sleep deprivation, social isolation, imbalanced nutrition as evidenced by being a nursing student at Richmond Community College.”
At the end of the day, however, Jacobs said it was worth it all.
The trials and tribulations they faced together, she said, “gave us the courage, strength and wisdom that we needed to become the outstanding nurses that I know you will all be.”
“Although we are anxious to start our career, and to know what having a life means again, I know that we’ll all carry a piece of this journey in our hearts for a while,” she concluded. “I know, with time, we will become a powerful force of amazing nurses.”
ADN Class of 2019 (with awards)
Brittany Channel Brower – Harold E. Morrison Compassion and Professionalism Award
Peyton Brianna Butler – Scholastic Achievement Award
Stephanie Brooke Cain
Casey Jean Cairnie
Kalee Diane Carter
Candler Ashton Cochran
Jackeline Elizabeth Cockerton
Sabrina Janine Crowder
Ruby Mae Saluda Dollente
Braxton Marie Faircloth
Matthew Jonathon Hall
Emma Eloise Ellerbe
Conner Gregory Hutchinson
Monica Lynn Jacobs – Scotland Health Care System Nursing Service Award
Cierra Diane Locklear
Lisa Cheyenne Locklear – Scotland Health Care System Administration Award
Destiny Lynn Lowry
Sarah Alexus McMillan
Gabrielle Josephine Melton
Amber Taylor Morton
Shelby Marie Mossman
Robert Lewis Player
Elizabeth Paige Pressley – FirstHealth Richmond Memorial Hospital Professional Nursing Award
Jodi Lynn Purvis
Selena Dawn Quick – FirstHealth Richmond Memorial Hospital Professional Nursing Award
Mary L. Rhodes
Latasha Reaves Ross
Logan Bullock Strange – Joseph W. Grimsley Humanitarian Award
Andrea Catherine Stubbs – Pediatric Award
Kimberly Sellers Tyner -In Memory of Dora Hildreth Sellers
Tabitha Marie Usher
Charlene Kaye Vallance
Tiffany Michelle Vandermark