Thirty-Two Nursing Graduates Are Pinned At VGCC Candlelight Ceremonies
In ceremonies capped by reciting the nurse’s pledge by candlelight, the 32 members of the Vance-Granville Community College Associate Degree Nursing class of 2004 received their pins on May 11 in the Civic Center.
Graduating May 12 were Kerri Lynn Adcock, Tammy Lee Brooks, Stacy Marie Handy and Tarry Denise Walls of Creedmoor, Dawn Inez Bauknight, Stephanie Sasser Blair, Lynetta Michelle Cameron, Geraldine Hamme Downey, Linda Jeffcoat Henley, Debra Ann LaRaia, Crystal Gayle Sparks and Angela Michelle Stem of Oxford, Tracy Lynn Brogden of Bullock, Niki Michelle Beatty, Patricia Anne Henkel and Amanda Jean Lockwood of Youngsville, Alyssa Benita Brodie of Louisburg, Kelly Ann Ernst and Doris Carol Tilley of Franklinton, Heather Marie Bolton and Caroline Shearin Fleming of Norlina, Marquita Faye Cheek of Warrenton, Fawn Bergstrom Hunt of Manson, Shannon Page Woody of Macon, Wendy Rudd Dickerson, Barbara M. Faulkner, Shannon Nicole Perdue and Joy Hicks Walker of Henderson, Melodie Sue Kernahan of Wake Forest, Omorinsola C. Abisogun and Gilberta Ebun Perry of Raleigh, and Michelle Shelton Porterfield of Hurdle Mills.
VGCC Vice President Fred H. Wilson Jr. congratulated the graduates and welcomed to the ceremonies a Civic Center filled with guests. He noted that since the Associate Degree Nursing program began at the college in 1983, it has educated several hundred nurses who now serve the healthcare needs in the four-county area served by Vance-Granville Community College. More than 90 percent of the graduates of the VGCC program each year have passed the state registry exams qualifying them as registered nurses.
Wilson said that 27 of the 32 graduates already have been hired by hospitals and clinics in the area.
Noting the diversity of the group, Wilson said they range in age from 19 to 53, 21 are married, and four others have weddings planned within the next six months. Altogether, the new nurses have more than 30 children. Two of the graduates – Michelle Cameron and Stacy Handy – gave birth to children during the two-year training program.
In her remarks, Beth Phillips, VGCC nursing program director, said that as diff erent as the 32 graduates are, they are alike because they all demonstrate genuine, compassionate caring for patients. She compared nurses to coal, which becomes diamonds when placed under stress.
Phillips gave out several awards during the ceremonies. Pattie Henkel was cited for having the highest academic average, a 3.5 in the demanding nursing curriculum. Academic awards for maintaining a 3.0 or better average went to Henkel, Debra LaRaia, Melodie Kernahan, Alyssa Brodie, Fawn Hunt, Carol Tilley and Joy Walker.
LaRaia and Walker also took home North Carolina Nurse Scholar awards, and Kernahan won the Spirit of Nursing Award given by the U.S. Army.
Nursing instructor Debbie Wood described the nursing pin and said that the VGCC pin is unlike any other. She urged the graduates to always wear it with pride.
The 32 Associate Degree Nursing graduates who received their Vance-Granville Community College pins in ceremonies May 11 are, all left to right, front: Caroline Fleming, Alyssa Brodie, Kerri Adcock, Crystal Sparks and Tracy Brogden; second row: Geraldine Downey, Shannon Woody, Stephanie Blair, Niki Beatty and Linda Henley; third row: Heather Bolton, Joy Walker, Dawn Bauknight and Debra LaRaia; fourth row: Doris Tilley, Michelle Cameron, Angela Stem and Tammy Brooks; fifth row: Tarry Walls, Stacy Handy and Marquita Cheek; sixth row: Wendy Dickerson, Amanda Lockwood, Michelle Porterfield and Barbara Faulkner; seventh row: Shannon Perdue, Melodie Kernahan, Kelly Ernst and Patty Henkel; back row: Gilberta Perry, Omorinsola Abisogun and Fawn Hunt.
