Sixteen students in the Practical Nursing Program at Pennsylvania College of Technology's North Campus were recognized in a graduation ceremony held Dec. 19.
Lee Strange, a registered nurse at Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hospital, Wellsboro, was selected by the students to be the distinguished speaker.
Sharon K. Waters, dean of the School of Health Sciences at Penn College, gave the opening remarks. Larry L. Michael, executive director of workforce and economic development at the college, gave the charge to the graduates. A holiday reception for family and friends was held following the graduation ceremony in the North Campus lounge.
Pins and certificates in practical nursing were presented by Natalie O. DeLeonardis, coordinator of practical nursing, and George Ann Foreman, nursing instructor, to: Shannon Amaral and Christina Wilkins, of Middlebury Center; Jonni Atwell, of Westfield; Melinda Catherman, Jennifer Clark, Elizabeth Dillman, Terri Kehoe and Andy McIlvain, of Wellsboro; Meagan Colegrove-Stermer, of Mansfield; Jala Craft, of Knoxville; Tiffany Kreger, of Morris; Sharon Mattison, Lee Ann McFarland, Patti Swain and Kristen Townsend, of Tioga; and Jackie Ware, of Towanda.
The Lyle Goodreau Award for professionalism and excellence in the nursing clinical area was presented to Kehoe by Janie Hilfiger, chief nurse executive at Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hospital. The Green Home Award for excellence in geriatric care was presented to Craft by Jacqueline Werts, director of nursing at the Green Home.
The Area Health Education Center Award for exemplary personal growth was awarded to Mattison by Dr. Ardys Boostrom, health professions training coordinator for AHEC. McIlvain and Kreger received awards for perfect attendance.
A special presentation of a Florence Nightingale lamp was made to Catherman by Becky Gordon, retired nurse. Clark was nominated for a Governor's Achievement Award through the Trehab Center.
Graduates completed 1,504 hours of classroom and clinical instruction with clinical experiences obtained at Laurel Health System facilities. They are eligible to sit for the National Council Licensure Examination for licensure as an LPN.
Graduates of the 12-month Practical Nursing Program are eligible for employment in hospitals, long-term care facilities, clinics, hospice and other health-care organizations. Practical nursing classes at the North Campus begin the first week of January each year.
The program is fully approved by the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing and is in candidacy for accreditation by the National League for Nursing Accreditation Commission, with a site visit planned for Feb. 3-5. Public comments are invited.
For more information about the Practical Nursing Program, call the North Campus at (570) 724-7703.