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Mount Wachusett Community College held a traditional pinning ceremony for the graduates of its Associate Degree in Nursing program on May 18, 2023 with family and friends at the Mount Fitness facility.
“On behalf of everyone at MWCC and in the communities you will serve, we thank you for choosing a caring field, and commend you on your success,” MWCC President James Vander Hooven told students. “You are going out into the world to make a difference, you will touch and sometimes save lives, provide healing, and above all comfort and empathy. Congratulations to you all.”
The Class of 2023 is the 50th class to earn their Associates Degree in Nursing. The class was made up of students who were enrolled in either the day nursing program or were licensed practical nurses who returned to MWCC to continue their education through the Bridge to Nursing program.
Dean of Nursing, Kim Shea, DNP, RN, addressed graduates, “It has been a long two years learning not only what is needed to become a registered nurse, but learning to do so through the tail end of a global pandemic. This curriculum and clinical schedules are demanding and extremely time consuming. Many of you faced life challenges while in the program, some you have shared, some shouldered them in silence, rest assured that your struggles have not gone unnoticed.”
“You have persevered,” Shea continued. “You have been challenged, and have risen to that challenge, each and every time. You have fought for this, and you have won. I, along with the faculty and staff of MWCC, am extremely proud of you all.”
Each student was given the opportunity to share a few words of thanks for the love and support shown by their friends, family, and faculty through their education before receiving their pin from their chosen faculty, friend, or family member.
MWCC extends a special thank you to the clinical partners who provided learning facilities for all of the graduates over the past two years, AdCare Hospital, Athol Hospital, Baldwinville Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Gardner Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, Heywood Hospital, LifeCare Center of Leominster, Quabbin Valley Health Care, Seven Hills, Tara Vista Behavioral Health, The Highlands, The Reservoir Center for Health and Rehabilitation, UMass Memorial Health Alliance Clinton and Leominster Hospitals, and UMass Memorial Medical Center.
The class of 2023, in order by town are:
Emily Mildred Jones, Acton, MA
Cheryl Ann Landry, Ashburnham, MA
Symantha Marie Vallee, Ashburnham, MA
Nicole-Marie Catherine Cain, Athol, MA
Christopher Michael Knickle, Athol, MA
Ashley M. Peirce, Athol, MA
Lydia Stone, Barre, MA
Cassandra Jane-Marie Fournier, Charlton, MA
Lilian W. Wangari, Dracut, MA
Sophy Yim, Dracut, MA
Avery Elizabeth Johnson, Erving, MA
Cherilyn M. Bierwagen, Fitchburg, MA
Britta Margaretha Carlson, Fitchburg, MA
Kara E. Daniels, Fitchburg, MA
Nadege F. Dussuau, Fitchburg, MA
Kathleen Ewings, Fitchburg, MA
Janice Margaret Kennefick, Fitchburg, MA
Rechell Maria Reinoso Sanchez, Fitchburg, MA
Rebecca Grace Sherockman, Fitchburg, MA
Brianna L. Coburn, Gardner, MA
Cyndi M. Godin, Gardner, MA
Abby Elaine Haines, Gardner, MA
Trenequz Finese Hernandez, Gardner, MA
Rachel S. Collins, Gardner, MA
Lilian R. Thimtotti, Lancaster, MA
Tasmine Serwah-Konadu Agyepong, Leominster, MA
Melissa Beatriz Gamez Mendez, Leominster, MA
Annette Gatakaa, Leominster, MA
Andrea Christine Giordano, Leominster, MA
Jenny Thi Duong Myles, Leominster, MA
Rachael Elizabeth Sullivan, Leominster, MA
Stella Waruinu Mwangi, Lowell, MA
Lizabeth Velez, Lunenburg, MA
Esther Young, Lunenburg, MA
Samantha L. Piragis, Orange, MA
Justine Naomi Pottinger, Orange, MA
Sarah Acheampong, Oxford, MA
Jennifer Lee Navarijo, Phillipston, MA
Esther K. Asare, Rutland, MA
Christine Elizabeth Jean, Rutland, MA
Alexa Rae Rodrigues, Shirley, MA
Tyffannie Fluitt, Shutesbury, MA
Ashley A. Lacroix, South Grafton, MA
Emma Kate Tyndall, Spencer, MA
Jaime Renee Harris, Springfield, MA
Summer D. Day, Sterling, MA
Brianna L. Talcott, Townsend, MA
Craig M. Gazzilli, Westborough, MA
Denae Michelle Hollenbeck, Westminster, MA
Kristan L. Johnson, Westminster, MA
Tracey L. Savastano, Westminster, MA
Danielle Marie Knight, Winchendon, MA
Samuel Adjei, Worcester, MA
Bright Kwao Adjei, Worcester, MA
Lionel Richie Agyemang, Worcester, MA
Mavis Antwi Asante, Worcester, MA
Clement Baffoe-Yeboah, Worcester, MA
Danielle F. Belpedio, Worcester, MA
Philippa Braimah, Worcester, MA
Felicia Bynn, Worcester, MA
Ana I. Curiel, Worcester, MA
Fidele Marcial Fosso, Worcester, MA
Ivy N. Githiomi, Worcester, MA
Jillisa S. Johnson, Worcester, MA
Colleen Joy LeBlanc, Worcester, MA
Frances Montanez, Worcester, MA
Peter Njau, Worcester, MA
Louis Osei-Wusu, Worcester, MA
Noella Nfed Penn, Worcester, MA
Vinicius D. Queiroz, Worcester, MA
Abigail Sam-Arthur, Worcester, MA
Margaret Waithira, Worcester, MA
Elijah Mukono Maitai, Nashua, NH
Krystyne Leigh Curtis, Nottingham, NH