Kishwaukee College nursing students were honored during a pinning ceremony on Wednesday, May 17, at the College. Kish recognized 18 students for their successful completion of the Registered Nursing program and presented each graduate with a special pin before family and friends during the ceremony.
The registered nursing graduates of Spring 2023 are:
Emma Akers, Audra Bell, Amelia Bock, Eric Davis, Abigail Diehl, Alexis Downey, Shannon Gardner, Hayley LeBouef, Lauren Lieser, Samantha Mastores, Icela Mendoza, Madisen Miller, Bryan Mora, Wesley Read, Khayrta Saleh, Laura Santiago, Madison Twitty and Jessica Wojdyla.
Diehl, Downey, Gardner, LeBouef, Lieser, Mastores, Mendoza, Miller and Santiago were recognized as members of the Alpha Delta Nu Nursing Honors Society. Lauren Lieser was named the Spring 2023 Outstanding Student. Lieser provided an address highlighting the close-knit atmosphere of the nursing program and the dedicated work of Kish’s instructors.
“The nursing program at Kishwaukee College has gone above and beyond and expertly prepared us for what lies ahead. It is relevant and all-encompassing with a curriculum that truly equips its students for greatness,” Lieser said.
Graduates shared how prepared they felt to take the next step in their careers or education.
“The clinical experience and labs we did in the nursing program have been very helpful because the instructors have so much wisdom and experience to share,” said graduate Icela Mendoza.
The ceremony included an address from Angela Delmont, Director of Nursing, and Barbara Leach, Interim Vice President of Instruction. Delmont shared the history and importance of the nursing pinning ceremony from its origins under Florence Nightingale to the present.
“The pinning ceremony is not just tradition. It is an important symbol of a nursing student’s hard work and dedication. It is a time for students to come together and celebrate their achievement,” Delmont said. “Most importantly, this pivotal moment represents their transition from being a nursing student to a full-fledged nurse.”
During the ceremony, each graduate was individually pinned by a friend or family member who had supported the student or acted as a mentor while completing the program.
The Registered Nursing program at Kishwaukee College prepares students to become fully licensed registered nurses in Illinois. For more information on nursing at Kishwaukee College, visit www.kish.edu/nursing.