SCHUYLKILL HAVEN, Pa. — On May 9, Penn State Schuylkill hosted its second annual pinning ceremony to honor the 33 graduating students from Penn State's Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing. The ceremony marked a significant milestone for these students as they transition from academics to professional nursing practice.
The event opened with a warm welcome from Marianne Adam, nursing program coordinator, followed by remarks from Interim Chancellor Cory Scherer who praised the graduates for their perseverance, compassion, and dedication to the field of healthcare.
"As you step into your role as a nurse, know that you carry not only knowledge and skill, but also the power to make a lasting difference in the lives of others," said Scherer. "We are proud of all you have accomplished and confident in the meaningful impact you will make in the world.”
The evening’s featured guest speaker, Maureen Sanders, nursing faculty, delivered an inspiring message about the responsibilities and rewards of a nursing career. Representing the graduating class, student speaker Ryan Curtis Brooks shared heartfelt reflections on the cohort’s journey, emphasizing the strong bonds, challenges overcome, and lasting memories formed throughout the program.
"I hope each of you leaves here today with your chest out, head up, and shoulders back and be proud of what you have achieved through your unwavering dedication, passion, and resilience," said Brooks. "Our journey with one another has come to an end, so now let us go forth and confidently leave here today believing that we will make a difference, we are ready, and we are capable. We are the Penn State Schuylkill Nursing class, of 2025."
As part of the ceremony, Karen McMenamin, nursing faculty, presented a brief history of the nursing pinning tradition and read aloud the names of the 2025 graduates. Faculty members, alongside proud family members, participated in presenting pins to each graduate, symbolizing their entry into the nursing profession.
Following the pinning, Jaclyn Sims, nursing faculty, led the lighting of the lamp — a symbolic tribute to Florence Nightingale and the light nurses bring to patient care. The ceremony also included the recitation of the International Council of Nurses’ Pledge, led by Patrice Rimbey, nursing faculty, reinforcing the graduates’ commitment to ethical and compassionate care.
The 2025 Bachelor of Science in Nursing program graduates are:
- Sachelle Maria Alfred
- Olivia Yost Armenise
- Gordon Joseph Arnold
- Ryan Curtis Brooks
- Sarah Erin Calsam
- Fallon Layne Chicosky
- Lauren Michelle Covely
- Ivy Kathrine Daniels
- Savannah Marie Deysher
- Taylor Mary Dombrosky
- Larissa Hanlon
- Jessica Robin Hollenbach
- Mackenzie C. Illyes
- David Irizarry
- Noah Christopher Karnish
- Morgan E. Kleckner
- Mikayla Kupstas
- Kassidy Collins Milligan
- Mackenzie Lee Moser
- Isabelle Joy Myers
- Madolyn Rose Purcell
- Greta Lynn Schultz
- Haily Matthis Showers
- Mariam Sylla
- Scarlet Tejada Rodriguez
- Christine Danielle Thompson
- Morgan Layla Timm
- Morgan Alexa Tohill
- Tiffany Aivy Tran
- Paige Madison Truscott
- Marshaya Dianah Tucker
- Osareimen Godswill Unuigbe
- Alexia Zoe Webb