VGCC honors Associate Degree Nursing graduates with Virtual Pinning Ceremony
Pictured: in front, kneeling, from left, Chris Trotman of Durham and Steven Pierce of Henderson; Standing on front row, from left, Joel Nyamohanga of Zebulon, Stephen Nyambariga of Franklinton, Diana Orina of Raleigh, Mary Wanjiku of Raleigh, Esther Ogachi of Franklinton, Jolina Anne Chiong of Henderson, Rebekah Edwards of Henderson, Emely Aguaviva Reyes of Clayton, Peninah Mburu of Knightdale, Jaslin Renteria of Henderson, Jessica Haskins of Creedmoor, Alicia Moussa of Raleigh and Justin Kortor of Durham; standing on second row, from left, Tiffany Eddie of Warrenton, Kati Hand of Franklinton, McKenzie Howerton of Rougemont, Ashley Speed of Henderson, Karlee Michalina of Butner, Leslie Mata Ruiz of Louisburg, Dianne Davis of Oxford, Amy Matthews of Warrenton and Sarah Riley of Creedmoor; standing on third row, from left, Pamela Rucker of Youngsville, Sharlett Wilson of Creedmoor, Cindy Blankenship of Oxford and Montrella Alston of Garner; standing on fourth row, from left, Angela Okpara of Raleigh, April Zuniga-Trejo of Henderson, Kelsie Park of Fuquay Varina, Natasha Alston of Franklinton, Karla Garcia Cervantes of Butner, Georgina Vanegas Reyes of Warrenton and Cortney Ragan of Louisburg; standing on fifth row, from left, Jaysia Brown of Knightdale, Adrienne Pegram of Henderson, Rocio Crews of Stem, Kirstie Koski of Raleigh, Susan Zenker of Wake Forest, Cara Blalock of Durham, Wyatt Holley of Oxford and Jessica Black of Wake Forest; standing on back row, from left, James Ogidi of Raleigh, Shaquile Hawkins of Warrenton, Chelsea Troutman of Henderson and Monique Watson of Oxford.
Vance-Granville Community College held a Pinning Ceremony virtually, using Zoom, on May 14 at 6 p.m. for the Associate Degree Nursing Class of 2021. The ceremony celebrated the 47 graduates of the program. Family and friends were sent a link to the Zoom session so they could watch the students get pinned.
Graduates included: Karla Garcia Cervantes and Karlee Michalina, both of Butner; Emely Aguaviva Reyes of Clayton; Jessica Haskins, Sarah Riley and Sharlett Wilson, all of Creedmoor; Cara Blalock, Justin Kortor and Chris Trotman, all of Durham; Natasha Alston, Kati Hand, Stephen Nyambariga and Esther Ogachi, all of Franklinton; Kelsie Park of Fuquay Varina; Montrella Alston of Garner; Jolina Anne Chiong, Rebekah Edwards, Adrienne Pegram, Steven Pierce, Jaslin Renteria, Ashley Speed, Chelsea Troutman and April Zuniga-Trejo, all of Henderson; Jaysia Brown and Peninah Mburu, both of Knightdale; Cortney Ragan and
Leslie Mata Ruiz, both of Louisburg; Cindy Blankenship, Dianne Davis, Wyatt Holley and Monique Watson, all of Oxford; Kirstie Koski, Alicia Moussa, James Ogidi, Angela Okpara, Diana Orina and Mary Wanjiku, all of Raleigh; McKenzie Howerton of Rougemont; Rocio Crews of Stem; Jessica Black and Susan Zenker, both of Wake Forest; Tiffany Eddie, Shaquile Hawkins, Amy Matthews and Georgina Vanegas Reyes, all of Warrenton; Pamela Rucker of Youngsville; and Joel Nyamohanga of Zebulon.
The ceremony was opened by Mr. Ugur Celimli, VGCC’s Interim Department Chair of Nursing. Welcoming reflections were given by Dr. Levy Brown, Vice President of Learning, Student Engagement, & Success, CAO; Dr. Anna Seaman, Associate Degree Nursing Program Head; and Cortney Ragan, the class President. Dr. Seaman noted that 2020 and 2021 have presented challenges for Nurses and Nursing students that no one could have imagined, but these graduates persevered through all of the challenges.
Mrs. Jamie Davis, Nursing Instructor, presented cords to students who participated in the VGCC Student Nurses Association, which is a chapter of the National Student Nurses Association. She also recognized those students graduating with honors (a GPA of 3.5 or higher), including Joel Nyamohanga, Cortney Ragan, Steven Pierce, Alicia Moussa, Jolina Chiong, James Ogidi, Diana Orina, Rebekah Edwards, and Kirstie Koski. Mary Wanjiku and Susan Zenker were recognized as the two graduates with the highest GPA in the class.
Mrs. Brande McILroy shared the story of the VGCC Nursing Pin. The graduates were then pinned by a person of their choosing at home. Dr. Seaman shared where the students plan to work or their area of interest in Nursing, plans for continuing education, appreciation to family, friends, and the faculty for their support during their time in school. After this time, the graduates recited the Nursing Pledge (written by Beverly Hansen O’Malley, RN) with Mrs. Vanessa Ramseur, Nursing Instructor. Dr. Anna Seaman presented the class as official graduates of the Associate Degree Nursing Class of 2021. Even though the ceremony was not able to be held on campus in the Civic Center as traditionally held, the graduates remarked that it was still a meaningful and memorable way to mark the end of their journey. The ADN students were excited to have President Rachel Desmarais and other VGCC employees in attendance virtually.
