VGCC Honors Nursing Graduates At Annual Pinning Ceremonies
Vance-Granville Community College awarded unique VGCC nursing pins to 42 graduates of the Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) program during ceremonies May 11 in the Civic Center.
The 37 women and five men graduates received their Associate in Applied Science degrees at spring graduation May 14. They are now eligible to take the state nursing boards and, upon passing the boards, become registered nurses.
Members of the ADN class of 2005 are: Martin A. Gister, Jr., Elizabeth Gray Grissom, Shannon Renee Langley, Haley Renee Peace, Stephanie Barker Thomas, Kristi Lee Williams and Sandra H. Williamson of Henderson; Sandra Gail Barnes of Kittrell; Freda Chandler Williams of Townsville;
Audra Westbrook Benfield and Shwanda Vernedenia Thomas of Louisburg; Jennifer Leigh Bragg of Franklinton; Kristen Leigh Heathcoat, Ronald Lee McDowell and Crystal Nicole Tuck of Youngsville; Dolly Pearce White of Bunn; Tracy Griffin Wood of Castalia;
April Keith Camillo, Julie Amber Litalien-Hammond, Mara Renee Shelton and Trina Moss Walker of Creedmoor; Jessica Mae Clayton, Rebecca Ruth Greene, Roylena Johnatta Hawkins, Thera Fae Jones, Darlene Wilkerson Parrish and Chadwick B. Royster of Oxford; Judith Diana Hester, Debra Lynn Hosier and Denise Elaine Wilson of Stovall; Christia Priscilla Marrow of Bullock; Donald L. Togisala of Stem;
Jennifer Rebecca Felts, Shaunna Rae Holt and Nichole Lloyd Weldon of Warrenton;
Crystal Elana Ayers of Wake Forest; Lillian O. Okoro, Jeffrey A. Pareja, Shana Russell Smith and Kari Lynn Welt of Raleigh; Tanillya Anne Partridge of Roxboro.
VGCC President Randy Parker congratulated the graduates and welcomed the large crowd of family members and guests. He cited some statistics about the class, including: they range in age from 21 to 53, 22 are married and four are engaged, they have 56 children among them, 17 already have other degrees, and 27 of the graduates have confirmed employment after graduation.
“You are going to fill a real need as more and more healthcare providers are going to be needed in the years to come,” Parker said.
Beth Phillips, VGCC nursing program director, praised the graduates for enduring struggles and sacrifices during their two years of study. She gave them three pieces of advice “… take care of yourselves, maintain both feet on solid ground, and enjoy your profession and leave yourselves room to grow.”
Phillips also paid tribute to Niles Surls who started the ADN program with the class, but who was called to active military duty for service in Iraq. Surls has returned home and plans to re-enter the nursing program this fall, Phillips said.
Graduate Freda Williams, president of the class of 2005, made brief remarks in which she identified her classmates as “our new extended family.” She also offered advice for the first-year nursing students in attendance, “Study, study, study.”
Several awards were given out during the pinning ceremonies. Audra Benfield was cited for having the highest academic average. Academic Achievement Awards for maintaining a 3.0 or better average were given to Benfield, Jennifer Bragg, Rebecca Greene, Ron McDowell, Chad Royster, Trina Walker and Dolly White.
Nursing instructor Debbie Woods described the nursing pin that each graduate received. She said it is unique to the school and will always identify the recipients as Vance-Granville Community College graduates.
The ceremonies ended with the pinned graduates reciting the International Council of Nurse’s Pledge by candlelight.
