SCCC honors nursing graduates

Sussex County Community College (SCCC) honored 17 graduating students at a nurse pinning ceremony Jan. 13.

The evening included an awards ceremony, a candlelight ceremony and the International Council of Nurses Pledge recitation.

Jon Connolly, then-president of SCCC; Steven Rose, president of Passaic County Community College (PCCC); and administrators from both colleges gave congratulatory speeches.

After the graduation ceremony, the students must complete one more comprehensive exam, the National Council Licensing Exam, before becoming licensed as Registered Nurses.

The graduates are Marlena Alston, Phillip Angolemmo, Nathalie Cintron, Erin Galley, Kierstin Ingerman, Taylor Knies, Nicole Lance, Katherine Lauterhahn, Bintou Kanteh Manneh, Deven Martinez, Francesca McCarter, Rachael Miller, Chioma Oti, Logan Slate, Heather Stoebling, Molly Thropp and Lauren Vilade.

These awards were presented:

Academic Achievement Award: Bintou Kanteh Manneh.

This award is presented to the student with the highest GPA throughout the nursing program.

Professional Nursing Award: Kierstin Ingerman.

This award is presented to the student who demonstrates clinical excellence throughout the nurse education program as a provider of care, manager of care and member of the nursing profession.

New Jersey League of Nursing Award: Lauren Vilade.

This award is presented to a student who lives in New Jersey and has demonstrated involvement in student and community activities.

Nurse Education Service Award: Erin Galley.

This award is presented to the student who demonstrates both the quality and quantity of contributions to the program, college, community and peers.

Spirit of Nursing Award: Logan Slate.

This award is presented to the student who demonstrates professional involvement, leadership and academic achievement, demonstrating commitment and passion in the student nurse role.

SCCC-PCCC partnership

SCCC has a partnership with PCCC that provides students with the opportunity to receive a nursing education in Sussex County.

Qualified students admitted to the PCCC Nurse Education Program offered in conjunction with SCCC take clinical courses with PCCC on the SCCC campus. These clinical courses comprise a four-semester sequence, which begins each January and is designed to include both general education and nursing courses for students who have selected careers as registered nurses.

General education courses from the sciences and liberal arts enhance the student’s understanding of clients with acute and chronic health problems.

The curriculum prepares students to practice in hospitals and health agencies within the American Nurses Association’s Standards of Practice framework and the New Jersey Nurse Practice Act.

For information, contact advisor Sareena Sciabica at ssciabica@sussex.edu or go online to sussex.edu/nursing