Fifty-three Surry Community College students have graduated from the Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) program.
The pinning and graduation ceremony was held May 7 on SCC’s Dobson campus. The ceremony began with a welcome from SCC President Dr. David Shockley, followed by remarks from Allison Bedsaul, MSN, RN, Interim Director of Nursing. SCC Nurse Educator Molly Pardue, BSN, RN, led the presentation of the stripes in which the rising second-year nursing students were honored for completion of the first year of nursing school, as signified by the placement of the first stripe on their nursing cap.
The guest speaker was Brittney Preslar, FNP-C, MSN, RN, Northern Regional Hospital Urgent Care Provider. Preslar encouraged students to keep evolving after graduation. “Stay open. Stay grounded. Keep learning from your patients, your colleagues, and every experience you encounter. Keep asking questions. Keep pushing yourself. Keep becoming better than you were yesterday.”
SCC Nursing Instructors Sarah Broadstreet, MSN-NE, RN, and Kimberly Hall, MSN-ED, RN, CNRN, NCSN, presented awards to the following students.
The Clinical Excellence award recognizes two students who exemplify caring in nursing, practice thorough competence, compassion, commitment, confidence, and professional character; this award was presented to Kelly Flood and Joanna Brewster.
The Nightingale award recognizes a graduating nursing student who exemplifies the values of the nursing profession through compassion, professionalism, leadership, and excellence in patient care. It honors a student who not only performs well academically and clinically but also shows a genuine commitment to serving others and upholding the highest standards of nursing. This award was presented to Ellisa Dickson.
Dr. David Shockley presented diplomas to the graduates, while Allison Bedsaul, MSN, RN, presented the graduates with pins. Sarah Broadstreet, MSN-NE, RN, and Kimberly Hall, MSN-ED, RN, CNRN, NCSN, also presented graduates with lamps. Lucinda Fallin, MSN, RN, CHPN, led the recitation of the Nurse’s Pledge.
Associate Degree Nursing graduates are Elizabeth Antunez of Dobson, Terri Arnder of Mount Airy, Ariadna Benavides Mendez of Boonville, Jessilyn Bowen of King, Joanna Brewster of Siloam, Ella Briggs of State Road, Jordon Byrd of Elkin, Jimena Castillo-Rodriguez of Mount Airy, Brandi Childress of Elkin, Erica Conrad of Winston-Salem, Elizabeth Creed of Elkin, Jovita Cundiff of Winston-Salem, Zeus del Rosario of Hays, Ellisa Dickson of Tobaccoville, Bluford Wayne Dumas, Jr. of Greensboro, Aliea Duncan of Mooresville, Kaylee Edwards of Mount Airy, Mindy Kay Farmer of Sparta, Kelly Flood of Walkertown, Alexandra Flores-Ruiz of Yadkinville, Katie Flowers of Mount Airy, Elizabeth Frederick of Mount Airy, Lindsey Gaalswyk of Yadkinville, Cheyenne Glass of Liberty, Pate Gordon of Pinnacle, Brittany Grimmett of Madison, Emily Haithcock of Mount Airy, Brittany Harp of Mount Airy, Grace Harrison of Elkin, Taylor Heath of Dobson, Lindsey Hutchens of East Bend, Shianna Johnson of Mount Airy, Shana Jordan of Kernersville, Madison Moore of Boonville, Jaylen Morgan of Winston-Salem, Skylar Mosley of Yadkinville, Lenitta Murray of Dobson, Madison Ramey of Westfield, Allison Riggins of Walnut Cove, Hailey Rodriguez-Jimenez of Hamptonville, Cheyenne Rogers of Mount Airy, Enrique Rosales-Estrada of Pinnacle, Haylee Santiago Orellana of Dobson, Lauren Scott of Yadkinville, Georgia Simmons of Ararat, Emma Sturdivant of Jonesville, Chloe Anne Tew of Pilot Mountain, Kasey Thompson of Rural Hall, Adrian Torres of Mount Airy, Emily Tunat of Sandy Ridge, Aubrey Weaver of Hamptonville, Kandi Webster of King, and Autumn Willey of State Road.
A special part of the ceremony included the ‘passing of the lamp,’ which symbolizes the nurses’ dedication to providing continuous nursing care to their patients. Just as Florence Nightingale passed her lamp on to the next shift of nurses, the SCC ADN graduates symbolically pass the lamp to the freshman class. ADN graduates Enrique Rosales-Estrada and Jaylen Morgan passed the lamp to Angie Luffman and Emily Padilla, representatives of the rising second year class.
Surry Community College students can choose to complete the ADN, which is a two-year program, or currently Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) can choose to complete the LPN-ADN program, which is a three-semester program. Graduates are eligible to apply to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX). Employment opportunities are vast within the global health care system and may include positions within acute, chronic, extended, industrial, or community health care facilities. The average annual salary for a registered nurse if approximately $66,220.
If you would like to learn more about SCC’s Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) program, contact Megan Stanley, SCC Health Science Advisor, at stanleyjm@surry.edu or (336) 386-3308.
Course registration is currently underway at SCC. The fall semester begins August 17. For assistance with college application, financial aid, or registering for classes, contact Student Services at (336) 386-3264 or studentservices@surry.edu.
