Special to the HHES

The Central Texas College (CTC) Department of Nursing and Allied Health recognized 31 graduates of the Associate Degree Nursing program during a pinning ceremony in the Anderson Campus Center. The pinning signifies the passage of the student nurse role to that of a practicing nurse. Guest speaker for the event was Rashidah Nefertiti Danquah, PhD, MSN.

Courtesy Photo
Central Texas College (CTC) student nurse Austin Callahan (right) lights the candle of classmate Tabitha Berryhill during the candle lighting portion of the CTC Associate Degree in Nursing pinning ceremony.

During the ceremony, Maria Villagran was recognized as a highest honors graduate for maintaining a 4.0 grade point average in her nursing courses. Several students were also acknowledged as honor graduates for achieving a grade point average between 3.5 and 3.79 in their nursing courses. The honors graduates were Tabitha Berryhill, Morgan Day, Gilda Donis-Lake, Rachael Holland, Sonni Hunt, Tanya Foster, Brianne Lubetich, Amy Parrott and Anitra Smithey.

Based on nominations from her student peers, Janeen Talton received the Caring Heart Award for exemplifying the three C’s (caring, compassion and concern) of nursing. Cited for exemplary performance, Sandra Hinrichsen received a gift card from Monarch Uniforms and Villagran received a gift card from Scrubtopia Medical Outfitters.

Following the awards, students received their nursing pins and participated in the traditional candle lighting ceremony. Each nursing graduate, along with their semester faculty team leader, is presented a candle which is lit prior to citing the Nurse’s Pledge.

The spring 2017 CTC associate degree in nursing graduates are Chioma Acho, John Allen, Celestine Barrientos, Tabitha Berryhill, Austin Callahan, Daniel Castillo, Maria Chavez, Victoria Dalhberg, Morgan Day, Gilda Donis-Lake, Alison Ford, Tanya Foster, Mercedes Groover, Marissa Hill, Sandra Hinrichsen, Rachael Holland, Yauhen Horbik, Sonni Hunt, Kreisha King, Kathryn Lovett, Brianne Lubetich, Meagan Mandel, Mark McKeel, Amy Parrott, Meghan Saavedra, Briana Sims, Anitra Smithey, Jade Solis, Janeen Tarlton, Maria Villagran and Frances Washington.