PRESQUE ISLE — The health care profession welcomed 37 prospective new registered nurses May 18 as Northern Maine Community College held its annual pinning ceremony, which signifies the official entrance into the nursing field for members of the graduating class. The graduates are now eligible and prepared to sit for the NCLEX-RN examination to obtain licensure as registered nurses.
STUDENTS SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETING NMCC’s nursing program from the central Aroostook area were, from left, front row: Emily Cyr of Presque Isle, Melissa Cray of Ashland, Emily Greaves of Presque Isle, Vonda McNally of Caribou, Laurie Shackett of Perham, and Alix Curtain of Presque Isle. Middle row: Jamie Walsh and Julie Rugg, both of Presque Isle; Amy Durland of Easton, Amy St. Peter of Caribou, Reid Hankins of Presque Isle, and Lindsey Rockwell of Castle Hill. Back row: Aaron Olmstead of Caribou, Jennifer Smith of Mapleton, Leslie Cote of Presque Isle, Rose-Mary Williams of Fort Fairfield, and Jonathan Post of Presque Isle. Absent when the photo was taken were Sonya Donnelly of Caribou, Wendy Adams of Connor Township, Heather Maillett of Mars Hill, and Steffanie Novak of Presque Isle.
Approximately 400 family members, friends and college personnel gathered for the ceremony held at Presque Isle Middle School. The highlight of the event was the presentation of a pin to each graduate by relatives or close friends who were selected for their important role as members of the student nurse’s support network.
Dr. Kimberly Esquibel, chair of the college’s nursing and allied health department, shared words of wisdom from the faculty as she addressed the class.
“You have learned the art and science of nursing through the curriculum, and the faculty hope they have instilled in you sense and heart. Bring it with you as you become a practicing nurse,” she said.
This sentiment was reinforced by the guest speaker for the pinning ceremony, Daryl Boucher, a faculty member from the nursing and allied health department and coordinator of the college’s EMS program.
“Starting today, you are obligated to have caring as your daily priority,” he told the nursing graduates. “You are obligated to care for yourself, to care for your peers, to care for your family, to care for your colleagues and to care for your patients, and this is your priority above all other things. It is what defines the profession of nursing. Regardless of what you choose for a specialty or career path, you must work every day to make the profession proud of having you as a member.”
As they prepare to enter their new career, Boucher told them, “You are the nursing leaders of the future, and it is your job to surround yourself with caring people and to exude caring for others every single day. This is how I live each day, and I guarantee you that if you make caring a priority in your life, you will have a long and successful career.”
Taking part in the pinning ceremony from the central Aroostook area were Melissa Cray of Ashland, Vonda McNally, Sonya Donnelly, Aaron Olmstead and Amy St. Peter, all of Caribou; Lindsey Rockwell of Castle Hill, Wendy Adams of Connor Township, Amy Durland of Easton, Rose-Mary Williams of Fort Fairfield, Jennifer Smith of Mapleton, Heather Maillett of Mars Hill, Laurie Shackett of Perham, Leslie Cote, Alix Curtain, Emily Cyr, Emily Greaves, Reid Hankins, Steffanie Novak, Jonathan Post, Julie Rugg and Jamie Walsh, all of Presque Isle.
Nursing graduates from the southern Aroostook region were Michele King and Tory Rouse, both of Haynesville; Jennifer Cloney, Angela Davis, Yolanda Duy, Karen Hardy, Gwenyth Jones, Wanda Ouellette and Jamieson Romanelli, all of Houlton; Kevin Schmidt of Island Falls, Theresa Duff of Linneus, Amber Bennick of New Limerick, and Nichole Brownlee of Patten.
The nursing students who received their pin from the northern Aroostook area were Stephanie Sirois of Eagle Lake, Cindy Beaulieu of Grand Isle, and Renee Dumais of Madawaska.
