SJRCC PRESS RELEASE December 2007 SJRCC honors 35 nursing students St. Johns River Community College recently held a pinning ceremony to recognize the Associate in Science in Nursing students. The pinning ceremony symbolized the "rite of passage into the nursing profession," said Virginia McColm, SJRCC's dean of nursing. The pin is a reminder to the 35 graduates of their purpose to serve the sick and infirmed. McColm described the pinning and lighting ceremony as a symbol of the care and devotion nurses provide. The ceremony is also a continued tradition of Florence Nightingale, who is known as the founder of modern-day nursing. The guest speaker was SJRCC nursing instructor Rebecca Solberg, RN, BSN. Solberg, who has 30 years of experience in nursing, told the students that the evening's ceremony was not to be considered a finale. "Tonight is only the first installment of a larger investment," Solberg said. "Don't forget what it's like to be a student and want someone to take a little time with you. Don't forget what your trip was like." In addition to the ceremony, students were recognized for special achievements throughout their two-year program. Special recognition went to Kairul Lehardi for the Student Nurses Association Award, Brandy Fernandez for the Ihsan Fahri Scholarship Award, Karen Haynes for Outstanding Student of the Year, Stephanie Brown for the Academic Excellence Award, Wanesa Laroque for the C.A.R.E. Award, Kairul Lehardi and Ashton Ennis for the Community Leadership Award, Karen Haynes for the Florence Nightingale Award, Alanna Ward for the Dean's Award, and Jill Scott for Outstanding Instructor of the Year. Students were pinned by family members and then proceeded to light their lamps. This tradition serves as an icon in nursing from Florence Nightingale. In the 1800s, Nightingale was known as the "lady with the lamp," tending to the sick while carrying a lamp to light the way. Students participating in the ceremony were from the program based at the Orange Park Campus. The ceremony was held at the Thrasher-Horne Center for the Arts. The following students are from Clay County: Denise Arnold, Stephanie Brown, Jan Burgess, Brian Burley, Lisa Chapala, Alfie David, Diana Davidson, Stephanie Davis, Cynthia Douglas, Claire Duskin, Ashton Ennis, Eva Fernandez-Herrezuelo, Karen Haynes, Jordan Heminger, Russell Hoagland, Gary Hunt, Victoria Jimenez-Rojo, Seretha Kimbrough, Amy Lee, Myrna Medal, Robert Mills, Lorie Nicholas, Diana Patrick, Katisha Payne, Briana Petty, Kimberly Santiago, Sabrina Santiago, Renee Thomas, AnnMarie Tomski and Alanna Ward. The following students are from Duval County: Wanesa Laroque, Kairul Lehardi, Angie Lewitt, Ginger Mullins and Mellownee Pollard. SJRCC's nursing program is offered in Palatka and Orange Park. SJRCC offers additional health programs such as respiratory care, nursing assistant, medical encoder, health information management and radiologic technology. For more information on degree programs in the health care field, call (386) 312-4176. PHOTO CAPTION: Front row, from left: Denise Arnold, Jan Burgess, Brian Burley, Lisa Chapala, Alfie David, Diana Davidson Second row: Russell Hoagland, Karen Haynes, Ashton Ennis, Claire Duskin, Cynthia Douglas, Stephanie Davis Third row: Seretha Kimbrough, Victoria Jimenez-Rojo, Gary Hunt, Wanesa Laroque, Amy Lee, Sabrina Santiago, Angie Lewitt Fourth row: Robert Mills, Lorie Nicholas, Diana Patrick, Katisha Payne, Briana Petty, Mellownee Pollard, Kimberly Santiago Fifth row: Stephanie Brown, Kairul Lehardi, Renee Thomas, AnnMarie Tomski, Alanna Ward Not pictured: Eva Fernandez-Herrezuelo, Jordan Heminger, Myrna Medal, Ginger Mullins Return to SJRCC home page.