First nursing cohorts graduate from new Wellsboro facility

WELLSBORO, Pa. – Twenty-two students recently graduated from Penn College at Wellsboro’s practical nursing program, the first to fulfill their requirements at a facility dedicated in May.

The ceremony was held in the Deane Center for the Performing Arts; graduates processed in the Coolidge Theatre, then received family and friends in the lobby. The evening marked commencement for two full-time cohorts: Wellsboro and Coudersport.

The former began its study at Wellsboro High School in February 2019, then moved to the new building at 22 Walnut St. in mid-March. The Coudersport group had the majority of its instruction at the Potter County Education Council, using Penn College at Wellsboro’s UPMC Susquehanna Nursing Lab to refine skills they practiced in clinical rotations.

It was the 33rd class to graduate from Pennsylvania College of Technology’s Wellsboro campus, providing 453 practical nursing students to the Northern Tier since 1983. Presiding were Lauren M. Scheetz, coordinator of practical nursing; George Ann A. Foreman, lead instructor for the Coudersport cohort; and Lindsay M. McCloskey, instructor for the Wellsboro cohort.

Class members and their hometowns are Emily Bastion, of Millerton; Lacey Boyd, of Austin; Lindsay Brown, of Wellsboro; Rena Brown, of Galeton; Julie Conner, of Genesee; Kathi Crooks, of Morris; Heather Crowley, of Duke Center; Heather DeHaven, of Mansfield; Tonya Gail, of Galeton; Amanda Hand, of Wellsboro; Melissa Hartman, of Roulette; Autumn Jackson, of Bradford; Kelcee Kilpatrick, of Montoursville; Meagan Knapp-Moore, of Coudersport; Susan Lenker, of Wellsville, New York; Leanne McIntyre, of Middlebury Center; Shyana Miller, of Roulette; Jessica Smith, of Smethport; Katie Thomas, of Ulysses; Courtney Watkins, of Wellsboro; Cindy Weidler, of Wellsboro; and Rachelle Weimer, of Port Allegany.

The students selected Foreman and Tioga County Commissioner Erick J. Coolidge as guest speakers for the ceremony. Student speakers were Crooks and Lenker.

Scheetz presented awards to Hand for academic achievement and to Kilpatrick for perfect attendance.

Graduates are eligible to sit for the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses and, due to high demand, may be employed in health care facilities throughout the region. The program is fully approved by the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing; another class will begin Aug. 31.

For more information about the practical nursing program, visit Penn College at Wellsboro or call 570-724-7703.

For information about Penn College, a national leader in applied technology education, email the Admissions Office or call toll-free 800-367-9222.