Forty-one new nurses graduated this year from The Chesapeake College MGW (Macqueen Gibbs Willis) Nursing Program. This was the first class to begin and end their program in the Health Professions and Athletics Center.

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.

In addition to their studies and clinical rotations, the nursing students also volunteered their time for philanthropic projects. The Nursing Class of 2017 raised funds for St. Jude’s Children’s Medical Center and the HPAC simulation labs.

Nursing Class of 2017 speaker Tasha Johnson of Worton described the long hours and academic demands that are part of Chesapeake’s nursing program. The classmates, she supporter, supported one another through academic demands and life’s challenges.

The pinning ceremony also featured the presentation of the nursing program’s most prestigious student awards. Lisa Thomas of Goldsboro received the Anne Ryan Excellence in Psychosocial Aspects in Nursing for this year. Stephanie Thompson- Leitzer of Goldsboro received the Joan Coccaro Memorial Award. Katelyn Greenwood of Queenstown won the J. Tyler Baker Award.

The Nick Rajacich Award for Excellence went to Amanda King of Centreville.  Denton resident Tim Dignen earned the Outstanding Service Award. Casey Everett of Trappe received the Hope Award. Justine Noel Spies of Preston was named recipient of the Higgs-Hubbert Excellence in Med.-Surg. Nursing Award.