The RLC Associate Degree in Nursing students were honored during a Pinning Ceremony on Thursday, May 6. Attending the ceremony were Hannah Absher (Mulkeytown), Julie Baumgarte (Zeigler), Jennifer Best (Bluford), Macie Blythe (Carterville), Maranda Doiron (Mt. Vernon), Kaylee Dycus (Mt. Vernon), Amber Eaton (Mt. Vernon), Darianne George (Dowell), Leila Hall (Mt. Vernon), Rachel Jennings (Fairfield), Paxton Kerans (McLeansboro), Erica Marlow (Opdyke), Cadence Martin (Benton), Brittni Mottsinger (Christopher), Taigan McLaren (Benton), Mallory Price (Benton), Catherine Raney (Mt. Vernon), Garrett Rightnowar (Bluford), Kathryn Schoenbaechler (Sesser), Chelsea Smith (Herrin), Cassie Vaughn (Marion), Anna Weaver (Benton), Whitney Webb (Benton), Jane Weber (Zeigler) and Carrie Williams (Sesser).
INA, Ill. (May 7, 2021) -- Rend Lake College honored the newest soon-to-be graduates of its nursing program on National Nurses Day with a pinning ceremony held in the RLC Theater Thursday afternoon.
A total of 30 students completed the Associate Degree Nursing program this spring. RLC Nursing Director Dr. Susan Wiley invited the students to continue to ask themselves what the nursing profession means to them.
“Remember you can never have too much compassion or commitment to your patient and families,†Wiley said. “Hold yourself accountable in the most rewarding profession in caring for others. Remember this day the day you are pinned and ask yourself what does the nursing profession mean to me.
Class speaker Hannah Absher said the camaraderie among her fellow classmates was vital to completing the program. She also encouraged her class to continue to work hard and believe in themselves as they move forward on their professional journey.
Hannah Absher of Mulkeytown delivered the class speech during the 2021 Associate Degree in Nursing Pinning ceremony.
"We fought through more than most to get to where we are standing today," Absher said. "We became like a family, so close, yet so far across those computer screens that were put there between us as a pandemic ruled the world."
The RLC Class of 2021 students who completed their Associates in Applied Science in Associate Degree Nursing are:
- Hannah Absher (Mulkeytown)
- Julie Baumgarte (Zeigler)
- Jennifer Best (Bluford)
- Macie Blythe (Carterville)
- Aireal Collins (Pinckneyville)
- Kelsey Conley (Macedonia)
- Maranda Doiron (Mt. Vernon)
- Kaylee Dycus (Mt. Vernon)
- Amber Eaton (Mt. Vernon)
- Bernadina Garcia (Collinsville)
- Annie Gates (Whittington)
- Darianne George (Dowell)
- Leila Hall (Mt. Vernon)
- Sarah Holder (Zeigler)
- Rachel Jennings (Fairfield)
- Paxton Kerans (McLeansboro)
- Erica Marlow (Opdyke)
- Cadence Martin (Benton)
- Brittni Motsinger (Christopher)
- Taigan McLaren (Benton)
- Mallory Price (Benton)
- Catherine Raney (Mt. Vernon)
- Garrett Rightnowar (Bluford)
- Kathryn Schoenbaechler (Sesser)
- Chelsea Smith (Herrin)
- Cassie Vaughn (Marion)
- Anna Belle Weaver (Benton)
- Whitney Webb (Benton)
- Jane Weber (Zeigler)
- Carrie Williams (Sesser)
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, family and friends were not allowed to attend the ceremony. All of the graduates were invited to show their appreciation and write a few sentences that were read while they walked across the stage.
The Class of 2021 recites the Florence Nightingale pledge at the conclusion of the RLC Associate Degree in Nursing Pinning Ceremony.
The Associate Degree Nursing Program at RLC is designed to prepare nurses who, as beginning practitioners, are able to give quality nursing care to clients and function as members of nursing and health care teams. Registered nurses are employed in hospitals, nursing homes, home health agencies, physicians’ offices, clinics and community agencies.
To learn more information about the RLC Nursing Program, including how to apply, visit rlc.edu/nursing. A livestream of the pinning ceremony can also be viewed there. You can view more photos from the ceremony here.
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