NORFOLK, Neb. -- Looking to the future, Northeast Community College nursing graduates were advised from one of their own to remember their past.
Madison Hampton of Page provided the nursing address during commencement on Friday, May 9, which included a pinning ceremony.
“We started this journey scared, not sure if we were cut out for nursing after the first week or after the first day, for that matter, when the first day of class wasn’t just spent going over the syllabus. It was an hour-long lecture,” Hampton said. “We have found our forever friends in nursing school, the people we are ‘trauma bonded’ with, the ones who have seen us at our worst and celebrated our highs.”
Hampton encouraged fellow graduates to become the nurses they have been trained to be and will become.
“We will make mistakes, but we are human and will learn and grow from it, and when days get hard, just remember what got you to this point: your passion, your hard work, your resilience, and lots and lots of caffeine,” Hampton said. “So, choose courage, passion, and choose to show up for your patients and for yourself.”
Both Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) and practical nursing students were honored during a ceremony that included the presentation of their diplomas.
In addition, the tradition of nursing students receiving their pins from family members or a close friend who has helped them along their journey was part of the ceremony.
Karen Weidner, director of nursing programs, remembered the words of Colin Powell, former Secretary of State, as the nursing graduates begin their journey in the nursing profession.
“‘A dream doesn't become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination and hard work.’ Today that dream comes true for you, our nursing graduates,” Weidner said.
The nurse pinning observance is the culmination of the students’ initial journey of professional nursing education. It is a bridge from nursing’s past to nursing’s future and is a time-honored nursing school tradition. It also signifies the official initiation into the brotherhood and sisterhood of nurses.
The history of the pinning ceremony goes back to the Crusades of the 12th century. The modern ceremony dates back to the mid-19th century when Florence Nightingale was awarded the Red Cross of St. George for her tireless service to the injured during the Crimean War. To share the honor, she in turn presented a medal of excellence to her brightest graduates.
Each nursing school, at every level of education, has its own unique pin that is worn on the nursing uniform. The nursing school pin that graduates of the Northeast Community College’s associate degree nursing (ADN) and practical nursing program receive is symbolic of nursing’s heritage and tradition.
Leah Barrett, Northeast president, presented each of the graduates with their diplomas during the ceremony.
In addition to the pinning ceremony, one associate degree nursing and one practical nursing student were presented the Essence of Nursing Award for their consistent academic effort, caring actions, positive motivation toward classroom learning and clinical experience, and professional behaviors. Jonatha Tighe, Norfolk, received the award for the practical nursing program, and Sam Rousseau, Blantyre, Malawi, for the associate degree program.
Students who graduate with an ADN are eligible to continue their studies for a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing. The general education courses for a Bachelor of Science in Nursing can be taken at Northeast Community College.
Associate Degree in Nursing
Albion -- Nikole Mewhirter.
Bloomfield -- Hudson Barger.
Columbus -- Jessica Crouch, Alexa Martinez, Halanys Milian Auld, Marisol Montes, Juliana Pelan.
Crofton -- Jaclyn Cooper, Christine Mosher.
David City -- Gretchen Kozisek.
Fordyce -- Makayla Bruce.
Geneva -- Kali Nedrow.
Greeley -- Shelby Behnk.
Howells -- Julie Hypes, Jada Kreikemeier.
Milford-- Sydney Stelling.
Norfolk -- Lauren Hinrichs, Vada Kruse, Allison O'Connor, Elyssa Tuttle, Kiran Walker.
Page -- Madison Hampton.
Pierce -- McKenna Shonka.
Plainview -- Brooklyn Kumm.
Randolph -- Holly Lewon.
Shelby -- Veyra Escudero Rivera.
Wayne -- Elizabeth Schlamann.
Wisner -- Megan Wesemann.
Wynot -- Karley Heimes.
Out-of-State, International
Spearfish, South Dakota -- Kirsten Baxendale.
Malawi, Blantyre -- Samantha Rousseau.
Philippines, Sindangan -- Donnel Ray Pedrosa.
Trinidad and Tobago, Arima -- Anderson Roberts.
Practical Nursing Diploma
Battle Creek -- Miles Nelson, Madeline Oltmanns, Wylie Trowbridge.
Columbus -- Cayden Micek.
Creighton -- Abigail White.
Crofton -- Blair Jordan.
Emerson -- Megan Meyer.
Hartington -- Kendra Loecker.
Humphrey -- Madison Swerczek.
McLean -- Grace Veik.
Meadow Grove -- Krista Rystrom.
Niobrara -- Kristen Rowley.
Norfolk -- Shiyann Bright, Destiny Cabrera, Tresha Koch, Phoebe Matson, Riley Pena, Jonatha Tighe, Kaitlin West, Brenna Wilson, Darienne Wood, Kristen Marcellus
Pierce -- Cheyenne McVay.
Pilger -- Emily Buhrman.
Schuyler -- Eliza Bailey, Ashley McCollum.
Scribner -- Sidney Fletcher.
South Sioux City -- Andrew Gomez.
Wakefield -- Maria Arriaza, Devaney Brown.
Wayne -- Candace Heggemeyer, Natasha Petersen.
West Point -- Grace Reppert-Meiergerd.
Wisner -- Brittney Uhing.
Wood River -- Rachel Carpenter.
York -- Addison Cotton.
Out-of-State
Fulton, Missouri -- Aaliyah Wagaman.
Yankton, South Dakota -- Rose Cooper-Hoebelheinrich.
International
Germany, Kandern -- Olivia Kruse.
Malawi, Mzuzu -- Richard Nyirenda.
Republic of the Congo, Limete -- John Kwete.
Nursing Commencement
A total of 32 Associate Degree in Nursing graduates and 39 Diploma in Practical Nursing graduates were recognized during commencement ceremonies at Northeast Community College on Friday, May 9. (Northeast Community College)
