Graduates honored at the VGCC Practical Nursing pinning ceremony included, first row, from left: Melissa Heeman, Crystal Tant, Jill Pendergrass, Kimberly Watson, Lucy King, Luann Fuller and Adele Mpoy; second row, from left: Keisha Terry, Barbara Gaither, Lauren Eaves, Bukola Adegbola, Christine Walden and Mark Castillo; third row, from left: Selieta Lett, Tabitha Blanchard, Hellen Covington, Tameka Oakley and Cassa Pendergrass; fourth row, from left: Khadijah Taylor, Claudetta Fields, Joy Harris and Soumeya Naqash; top row, from left: Reginald Jackson, Brandy Turner and Miranda Hargrove. Not pictured: Nicolette Lee. (VGCC photo)
Vance-Granville Community College honored 26 students who have completed its one-year Practical Nursing program during a pinning ceremony on Aug. 2 in the Civic Center on the college’s Main Campus. Upon receiving diplomas, graduates of the program are eligible to sit for the national exam for licensed practical nurses (LPNs).
Among the graduates recognized at the ceremony were Melissa Heeman of Bullock; Soumeya Naqash of Butner; Luann Fuller of Durham; Tabitha Blanchard, Lauren Eaves, Miranda Hargrove, Cassa Pendergrass, Jill Pendergrass, Crystal Tant, Brandy Turner and Kimberly Watson, all of Henderson; Selieta Lett of Littleton; Barbara Gaither of Louisburg; Lucy King of Manson; Mark Castillo, Hellen Covington, Claudetta Fields, Joy Harris, Reginald Jackson, Tameka Oakley and Keisha Terry, all of Oxford; Bukola Adegbola, Adele Mpoy, Khadijah Taylor and Christine Walden, all of Raleigh; and Nicolette Lee of Wendell.
In her welcoming remarks, college president Dr. Stelfanie Williams congratulated the graduating students on “reaching this milestone” in their careers. The president said each graduate should be proud to have completed such a rigorous program, and she thanked the college’s “top-notch” Nursing faculty and staff for their dedication.
Class of 2012 president Nicolette Lee was unable to address students in person due to a family medical emergency that took her back to her native South Africa, but she delivered her remarks via a video recording. Next, Selieta Lett presented a contribution on behalf of the class to the Nursing Department grant fund to help students of the future “to reach their goals like all of us have.”
The guest speaker for the ceremony was Maria Bailey, the college’s Health Sciences admissions coordinator. She spent many years as the academic advisor for all Health students, with the class of 2012 being the last Practical Nursing class she advised. Bailey called serving students “a privilege.” Fittingly, she concluded by advising graduates again, on preparing to take national exams and on continuing their education.
VGCC Director of Nursing Erica Jastrow presented academic awards and honors to members of the class. Lee was recognized for having the highest grade point average in the class, a perfect 4.0. Blanchard was also honored for having an overall grade point average of 3.5 or higher. The ceremonies concluded with the graduates receiving their distinctive pins, roses and candles. Finally, instructor Gail Medlin led the group in reciting the “Florence Nightingale Pledge” by candlelight.