Ina, Ill. (May 17, 2022) – Family and friends packed the Rend Lake College Theater Thursday evening to celebrate the pinning of the Associate Degree Nursing graduates. This class of students showed incredible perseverance in finishing the program while navigating the uncertainty brought on by COVID-19.
Families and friends gather in the Rend Lake College Theater to celebrate 2022 Associate of Nursing Degree Graduates.
The Associate of Nursing Degree at RLC provides career mobility, emphasizing critical thinking, problem-solving, decision-making related to the clinical area, clinical reasoning, and nursing judgment. Graduates will be prepared to practice professional nursing in various health care settings.
Dr. Susan Wiley, Director of the Nursing Program at RLC, reminded students about the importance of their new roles. “Nursing is literally changing lives. It is not what you do. It is who you are. You will impact peoples’ lives, so what will your impact look like?”
Class Speaker and honors graduate Erica McCormick shares memorable moments and words of wisdom with the audience in the Rend Lake College Theater.
Class Speaker Erica McCormick addressed her fellow graduates. “Our clinical experience is what made nursing school. Many came in with no experience at all. Soon, we were waiting for our RT to be called so that we could help. We felt so prepared when we went into our second year and last clinical rotations.”
Thirty-seven students were celebrated for their perseverance and accomplishments in the program.
2022 Associate Nursing Degree Graduates
Megan Barczewski (Pinckneyville)
Caitlyn Breann Barr (Sesser)
Vanessa Bean (Mt. Vernon)
Abigail Pryce Bennett (Ewing)
Breanna Lehte' Bowers (McLeansboro)*
Rebecca Bowers (McLeansboro)*
Lucas Cash (Trenton) ♦
Phillip D. Catt (Tamaroa)
Corey Thomas Dahn (Pinckneyville)
Kariena Draper (Herrin)
Lindsey Mae Easley (Thompsonville)
Amanda R. Egbert (Tamaroa)
Amanda Erskine (Tamaroa)
Lindsay Marie Feltmeyer (Pinckneyville)
Miranda Frisbie (Red Bud)
Mackenzie Lynn George (Tamaroa)
Tylar Breigh Ann Hanson (Bluford)*
Kelsey A. Hill (Mt. Vernon)
Sydney Hutson (West Frankfort)
Khortnee Paige Kerkemeyer (Christopher)*
Torrie Kiel (Bluford)
Erin Joy Klamm (Tamaroa)
Megan Link (Dahlgren)
Stephanie Nicole McCaleb (Murphysboro)
Erica Nicole McCormick (McLeansboro)*
Kaitlyn M. Owens (Cutler)
Adalynn Dawn Pierce (Tamaroa)
Lucas Prior (Benton)
Halie Dawn Ragan (McLeansboro)
Michaela D. Rexing (McLeansboro)*
Avery Ellarose Shively (Benton)
Victoria D. Sledge (Bluford)*
Alex Tambala (O' Fallon)
Jacob Paul Uraski (Royalton)
Allyson Vuichard (Mt. Vernon)
Lucas Wolfe (West Frankfort)
Whitney Young (Christopher)
♦ Indicates the graduate is a veteran.
* Indicates the graduate is graduating with honors.
Photo Gallery
Front Row (L-R) Halie Ragan (McLeansboro), Miranda Frisbie (Red Bud), Megan Link (Dahlgren), Whitney Young (Christopher), Victoria Sledge (Bluford), Lindsey Easley (Thompsonville), Kelsey Hill (Mt. Vernon), Lindsay Feltmeyer (Pinckneyville), Tylar Hanson (Bluford), Vanessa Bean (Mt. Vernon), Amanda Erskine (Tamaroa)
Middle Row (L-R) Alex Tambala (O' Fallon), Breanna Bowers (McLeansboro), Lucas Wolfe (West Frankfort), Erica McCormick (McLeansboro), Rebecca Bowers (McLeansboro), Megan Barczewski (Pinckneyville), Caitlyn Barr (Sesser), Torrie Kiel (Bluford), Lucas Prior (Benton), Avery Shively (Benton), Sydney Hutson (West Frankfort), Kariena Draper (Herrin), Khortnee Kerkemeyer (Christopher)
Back Row (L-R) Kaitlyn Owens (Cutler), Jacob Uraski (Royalton), Abigail Pryce Bennett (Ewing), Stephanie McCaleb (Murphysboro), Phillip Catt (Tamaroa), Corey Dahn (Pinckneyville), Michaela Rexing (McLeansboro), Lucas Cash (Trenton), Adalynn Pierce (Tamaroa), Erin Klamm (Tamaroa), Mackenzie George (Tamaroa), Amanda Egbert (Tamaroa), Allyson Vuichard (Mt. Vernon)
Denise Griffith, Nursing Instructor, and Megan Barczewski (Pinckneyville)
Denise Griffith, Nursing Instructor, and Caitlyn Barr (Sesser)
Denise Griffith, Nursing Instructor, and Vanessa Bean (Mt. Vernon)
Denise Griffith, Nursing Instructor, and Abigail Bennett (Ewing)
Denise Griffith, Nursing Instructor, and Breanna Bowers (McLeansboro)
Denise Griffith, Nursing Instructor, and Rebecca Bowers (McLeansboro)
Denise Griffith, Nursing Instructor, and Lucas Cash (Trenton)
Denise Griffith, Nursing Instructor, and Phillip Catt (Tamaroa)
Denise Griffith, Nursing Instructor, and Corey Dahn (Pinckneyville)
Denise Griffith, Nursing Instructor, and Kariena Draper (Herrin)
Denise Griffith, Nursing Instructor, and Lindsey Easley (Thompsonville)
Denise Griffith, Nursing Instructor, and Amanda Egbert (Tamaroa)
Denise Griffith, Nursing Instructor, and Amanda Erskine (Tamaroa)
Denise Griffith, Nursing Instructor, and Lindsay Feltmeyer (Pinckneyville)
Denise Griffith, Nursing Instructor, and Miranda Frisbie (Red Bud)
Denise Griffith, Nursing Instructor, and Mackenzie George (Tamaroa)
Dr. Tracy Smith, Nursing Instructor, and Tylar Hanson (Bluford)
Dr. Tracy Smith, Nursing Instructor, and Kelsey Hill (Mt. Vernon)
Dr. Tracy Smith, Nursing Instructor, and Sydney Hutson (West Frankfort)
Dr. Tracy Smith, Nursing Instructor, and Khortnee Kerkemeyer (Christopher)
Dr. Tracy Smith, Nursing Instructor, and Torrie Kiel (Bluford)
Dr. Tracy Smith, Nursing Instructor, and Erin Klamm (Tamaroa)
Megan Link (Dahlgren) and Dr. Tracy Smith, Nursing Instructor
Stephanie McCaleb (Murphysboro) and Dr. Tracy Smith, Nursing Instructor
Erica McCormick (McLeansboro) and Dr. Tracy Smith, Nursing Instructor
Kaitlyn Owens (Cutler) and Dr. Tracy Smith, Nursing Instructor
Adalynn Pierce (Tamaroa) and Dr. Tracy Smith, Nursing Instructor
Lucas Prior (Benton) and Dr. Tracy Smith, Nursing Instructor
Halie Ragan (McLeansboro) and Dr. Tracy Smith, Nursing Instructor
Michaela Rexing (McLeansboro) and Dr. Tracy Smith, Nursing Instructor
Avery Shively (Benton) and Dr. Tracy Smith, Nursing Instructor
Victoria Sledge (Bluford) and Dr. Tracy Smith, Nursing Instructor
Alex Tambala (O' Fallon) and Dr. Tracy Smith, Nursing Instructor
Jacob Uraski (Royalton) and Dr. Tracy Smith, Nursing Instructor
Allyson Vuichard (Mt. Vernon) and Dr. Tracy Smith, Nursing Instructor
Lucas Wolfe (West Frankfort) and Dr. Tracy Smith, Nursing Instructor
Whitney Young (Christopher) and Dr. Tracy Smith, Nursing Instructor
Front Row (L-R)Halie Ragan (McLeansboro), Kariena Draper (Herrin), Avery Shivley (Benton), Whitney Young (Christopher), Erica McCormick (McLeansboro), Lucas Prior (Benton), Lucas Wolfe (West Frankfort), Amanda Erskine (Tamaroa), Vanessa Bean (Mt. Vernon)
Second Row (L-R) Alex Tambala (O' Fallon), Megan Link (Dahlgren), Lindsay Feltmeyer (Pinckneyville), Megan Barczewski (Pinckneyville), Tylar Hanson (Bluford), Victoria Sledge (Mt. Vernon), Lindsey Easley (West Frankfort), Kaitlyn Owens (Steeleville)
Third Row (L-R) Rebecca Bowers (McLeansboro), Breanna Bowers (McLeansboro), Stephanie McCaleb (Murphysboro), Khortnee Kerkemeyer (Christopher), Torrie Kiel (Bluford), Miranda Frisbie (Red Bud), Caitlyn Barr (Sesser), Mackenzie George (Tamaroa)
Fourth Row (L-R) Abigail Bennett (Ewing), Jacob Uraski (Royalton), Michaela Rexing (Mcleansboro), Kelsey Hill (Mt. Vernon), Sydney Hutson (Herrin), Erin Klamm (Tamaroa)
Back Row (L-R) Corey Dahn (Pinckneyville), Adalynn Pierce (Tamaroa), Lucas Cash (West Frankfort), Amanda Egbert (Tamaroa), Allyson Vuichard (Mt. Vernon), Phillip Catt (Tamaroa)
A graduate recites the Nightingale Pledge.
The graduating class celebrates completing the Associate of Nursing Degree at Rend Lake College.
If you are interested in learning more about the nursing program at Rend Lake College, please visit us online.
rlc.edu/nursing
YOUR JOURNEY STARTS HERE.
