MWCC Holds Traditional Pinning Ceremony for Practical Nursing Graduates

Mount Wachusett Community College held the pinning ceremony for the Class of 2025 Practical Nursing Graduates on Friday, December 12, 2025.

MWCC President James Vander Hooven welcomed students, “You have worked incredibly hard to be here this afternoon to celebrate with your classmates, family, friends, and faculty. It has been a difficult program – you have overcome obstacles and challenges, and yet you persevered and persisted, and here you are today.”

“You stand here as a testament to determination, resilience, and the power of dreams realized,” said Kimberly Shea, DNP, RN, Dean of Nursing and Health Sciences. “Over the past ten months you have embarked on a journey that was anything but easy. You balanced demanding coursework, clinical rotations, and countless sleepless nights. You’ve shared wonderful and challenging times together. Today you are not just graduates, you are leaders in compassionate care and the newest ambassadors to the nursing profession.”

Joining Dean Shea were nursing faculty members Collene Thaxton, MSN, RN, Emily Turner, MSN, RN, and Albert Rolon, MSN, RN.

MWCC’s Practical Nursing Certificate program prepares students to sit for the National Council Licensure Examination – Practical Nursing (NCLEX-PN) to earn their license to practice as an LPN. Credits earned in the Practical Nursing program can be applied to the Associate Degree in Nursing.

The recording of the ceremony can be viewed here.

The Practical Nursing graduates are:

Linda Change, Athol, MA

Aida Soto, Athol, MA

Rachel Zubair, Athol, MA

Nicholas Murphy, Baldwinville, MA

Rosimar Marcial-Rodriguez, Fitchburg, MA

Hazel Moua, Fitchburg, MA

Shakira Roman, Fitchburg, MA

Samantha Rivard, Gardner, MA

Ryan Siponmaa, Gardner, MA

Shantee St. Peter, Gardner, MA

Grace Stackpole, Gardner, MA

*Rachel Lucia, Gilbertville, MA

Nelida Feliciano, Leominster, MA

Jenny Gonzalez, Leominster, MA

Marina Kamayou, Leominster, MA

Jivichcar Nerrette, Leominster, MA

Stephanie Nikander, Leominster, MA

Lizette Noudaranouvong, Leominster, MA

Jessica Plumb, Leominster, MA

Terence Nkeng, Malden, MA

Susan Huynh, Millbury, MA

Arman Atoofi, Paxton, MA

Whittany Degnan, Phillipston, MA

Lainey Holombo, Rindge, NH

Brianna Dos Santos, Salem, NH

Alicia Novia, Spencer, MA

*Kate Albertelli, Templeton, MA

Francis Atugonza, Waltham, MA

*Jared Nelson, Winchendon, MA

Cali Hetherman, Worcester, MA

Kayla Kagwe, Worcester, MA

Ana Paula Pace, Worcester, MA

*Class representatives