Class is largest to graduate
WYE MILLS – The Chesapeake College MGW (Macqueen Gibbs Willis) Nursing Program recently graduated 59 new nurses, the largest number in the college’s history.
The Chesapeake nursing program includes local clinical rotations in a variety of health care settings giving the students hands-on experiences to prepare them for employment. Some of the graduates will go directly into the workforce, while others will enroll in four-year colleges to work on bachelor’s degrees.
Chesapeake President Barbara A. Viniar thanked the class for helping to build support for the Health Professions and Athletics Center (HPAC) project at Chesapeake College. She also praised the students for completing a rigorous program and said they will provide vital services to the citizens of the Eastern Shore.
"These students helped so much in getting funding for our Health Professions and Athletics Center. You will not recognize the new teaching facility when it is open," Dr. Viniar said. "I hope you will be here for the ribbon cutting on August 19th."
In addition to their studies and clinical rotations, the nursing students also worked on philanthropic projects. The Nursing Class of 2015 raised money for the HPAC, Bosom Buddies Carepacks of Talbot County, the Caroline Center and the Joseph House.
Nursing Class of 2015 speaker Shane` Keene of Preston described the long hours and challenges of the demanding nursing program. She also spoke about the close bond forged among the class members through long hours of study and clinical rotations.
"Each of us should be extremely proud. This did not come easy, but nothing worth having ever does" Keene said to her classmates. "Class of 2015, we did it! I love you guys!"
The pinning ceremony also featured the presentation of the nursing program’s most prestigious student awards. MaryJo Short of East New Market received the Anne Ryan Excellence in Psychosocial Aspects in Nursing for this year. The prize was re-named this year in honor of retiring Associate Professor of Nursing Anne Ryan. The nursing class presented Ryan with a framed portrait, which Ryan accepted to a standing ovation from the audience.
Amy Loder-Crouch of Chestertown received the Joan Coccaro Memorial Award. Jessica Pretzler of Chestertown won the J. Tyler Baker Award.
The Nick Rajacich Award for Excellence went to Emma Coleman of Galena. Centreville resident Laura Jackson earned the Outstanding Service Award. Melissa Jones of Cordova received the Hope Award. Ashley Hurley of Vienna was named recipient of the Higgs-Hubbert Excellence in Med.-Surg. Nursing Award.
The 2015 Nursing Class members are: Alexandra Abel of Queenstown, Amberly Alley of Church Hill, Christina Anderson of Chester, Anna Ashley of Rock Hall, Laura Bambary of Centreville, Pamela Batchelor of Denton, Jacquelyn Bateman of Centreville, Stephanie Bitter of Chestertown, Michelle Bixler of Greensboro, Laura Booz of Easton, Katelynn Bradley of Easton, Christopher Burke of Chestertown, Ying Cho of Stevensville, Emma Coleman of Galena, Diana Cox of Queenstown, Shelby Davis of Greensboro, Heather Downes of Ridgely, Amanda Dulin of Cordova, Gretchen English of Henderson, Brooke Foley of Federalsburg, Christina Gardner of Centreville, Julia Heidler of Rock Hall, Ashley Higgs of Henderson, Morgan Himmighoefer of Ridgely, Theresa Hooper of Greensboro, Ashley Hurley of Vienna, Auriele Hutley of Easton, Ramona Hutchinson of Cordova, Laura Jackson of Centreville, Melissa Jones of Cordova, Chelsea Kayhoe of Denton, Shane Keene of Preston, Karen Kohlhaus of Henderson, Chelsea Lewis of Easton, Amy Loder-Crouch of Chestertown, Brittany Mitchell of Queenstown, Lori Moore of Denton, Anna Morris of Cordova, Niesha Munson of Chestertown, Ashley Nicholson of Barclay, Brandi Oliver of Madison, Taylor Perkins of Oxford, Joyce Plummer of Stevensville, Justin Prahl of Cambridge, Jessica Pretzler of Chestertown, Susan Price of Chestertown, Jennifer Quade of Church Hill, Alison Russ of Centreville, Christina Seningen of Chestertown, Kimberly Seward of Chestertown, Melissa Shiflet of Queenstown, Mary Jo Short of East New Market, Aylin Sosa-Garrido of Hurlock, Samantha Stevenson of Betterton, Deborah Thompson of Betterton, Melanie Walls of Worton, Rachel Wayman of Ridgely, Shelby Wheatley of St. Michaels, Kristen Wilcenzenski of Greensboro and Jennifer Zinter of Henderson.