Forty Associate Degree Nursing students cross stage at Pinning Ceremony

INA, Ill. (May 13, 2016) - Rend Lake College Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) students celebrated their successful journeys through the program during the annual Pinning Ceremony, held last night in Waugh Gymnasium. A total of 40 students graduated from the ADN program.

Nicole Grasher of Dix is all smiles while being pinned by Kristin Yosanovich, Nursing Associate Professor, Thursday night in the RLC Gymnasium. Click on the image for a larger view.
(ReAnne Palmer / RLC Public Information)

To view more photos of the event, visit out Flickr account at www.flickr.com/photos/rendlakecollege.

During the ceremony, Nursing Associate Professor Kristin Yosanovich and Director of Nursing Betty Jo Herbert, congratulated the students on a job well done and encouraged them to continue growing in the future.

“We wish you all the best in your nursing endeavors. Now, go out and be your best,” said Yosanovich.

Graduate Jennifer Sweet of Benton poses for a quick photo with Angela Ellis, RLC Nursing Instructor, moments after her pinning. Click on the image for a larger view.
(ReAnne Palmer / RLC Public Information)

Class speaker Gwendolyn Upton of Mt. Vernon also spoke to her fellow classmates, with stories and funny anecdotes about her journey through RLC’s program with one motto in mind: keep on keeping on.

Student Speaker Gwendolyn Upton kept the graduates and audience in stitches as she shared several of her experiences in RLC's ADN program over the last two years. Click on the image for a larger view.
(ReAnne Palmer / RLC Public Information)

“It’s easy to keep going when things are going good. It’s when something bad comes along that you think, is this really what I want to do? Is this really what I was called for?” said Upton. “People will forget what you did and they will forget what you said, but they will never forget how you made them feel. I knew I wanted to help people. This is not a role to be taken lightly. It’s been the best-worst two years of my life. Thank you all so much for your support.”

The evening’s prayer was given by graduate Virginia Price (Opdyke). Angela Ellis, Nursing Instructor, ended the ceremony by leading the Nightingale Pledge with the graduates.

While holding a lit candle in honor of Florence Nightingale, the recently-pinned ADN graduates recite the Nightingale Pledge. Click on the image for a larger view.
(ReAnne Palmer / RLC Public Information)

The students who graduated from the ADN program are, in alphabetical order, Katherine Bennett (Christopher), Jason Bernard (Belle Rive), Samantha Braddy (West Frankfort), Sarah Brayfield (Benton), Cynthia Britton (Benton), Jessica Bruns (Pinckneyville), Alyssa Burge (Mt. Vernon), Macie Clark (Pinckneyville), Carla Crites (Benton), Olivia Dalby (Benton), Crystal Defend (Pinckneyville), Rachel Edwards (Benton), Myranda Epplin (Mt. Vernon), Tracy Furlow (Mulkeytown), Brianna Gauch (Tamaroa), Sarah Ganieany (Bluford), Nicole Grasher (Dix), Jessica Hastings (Dahlgren), Leah Hopp (Pinckneyville), Taylor Kringer (Pinckneyville), Kristina Lehman (Mt. Vernon), Andrea Linsley (West Frankfort), Nichole Loker (Mt. Vernon), Autumn Loucks (Sesser), Whitney Lowery (Bluford), Austin Lynch (Benton), Jenny Miles (Mt. Vernon), Paige Pemberton (Christopher), Breanna Price (Zeigler), Ginny Price (Opdyke), Alisha Morgan Rechsteiner (Logan), Stacy Saliba (Benton), Sarah Scott (McLeansboro), Tara Shreve (Wayne City), Megan Simmons (Benton), Tamara Smith (Mt. Vernon), Kimberly Smolley (Woodlawn), Jennifer Sweet (Benton), Cynthia Travis (Mt. Vernon), and Gwendolyn Upton (Mt. Vernon).