17 Nursing Students Pinned
The PN Class of 2024. Photo/Courtesy of Blackstone Valley Tech: Back (L-R): Megan Brosnahan, Tiffany Huth, Jadahlis Rosario, Diana Fiaklou, Elizabeth Siaw, and Olamide Sophia Alabi; Middle (L-R): Rachel Minney, Meaghan George, Meredith Mogren, Meghan Bolotin, and Cayleigh Harris; Front (L-R): Ikechukwu (Wilson) Asinobi, Cristiane Padilha, Elizabeth Lobo, Rachel Vachon, Wendy Harper, and Amanda Wright.
The Moonlight Program in Practical Nursing at Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical High School (BVT) is challenging and rewarding. Its graduates will tell you that pursuing life-changing training to become a nurse requires a commitment to the coursework and clinicals.
The adult evening program recently recognized the achievements of the Class of 2024 during a pinning ceremony held at the school. Seventeen proud graduates were pinned and received their nursing certificates, marking the culmination of one and a half years and over 1,090 hours of instruction balanced with work and family obligations. Faculty, staff, and guests joined the students, as well as a guest speaker from the healthcare industry, to share words of inspiration.
The ceremony began with a welcome from Practical Nursing Coordinator Joann L. Monks, MBA, MSc, RN-BC, RMA, who spoke highly of the successful program, its faculty, and graduates. Monks said, “This class is ready to test for the National Council Licensure Examination-Practical Nurses exam. We’re proud of all you have accomplished in our time together.”
“Well-trained, you are a valuable resource for the Blackstone Valley residents, hospitals, health care providers, and others,” said Superintendent-Director Dr. Michael F. Fitzpatrick, who spoke about the increasing need for professionally trained nurses. He also recognized one student who chose to attend BVT not once but twice, Rachel Vachon, a graduate of BVT’s Health Services program (Class of 2019).
Class President Wilson Asinobi gave a Class Address. The guest speaker, Melissa Ferguson, BSN, RN, director of nursing at Knollwood Nursing Center, congratulated the graduates on becoming nurses and utilizing their education and training to employ the fundamentals of nursing to make a difference. In addition to the certificates and pins presented, faculty and legislative awards (the Commonwealth of Massachusetts State Senators Ryan Fattman and Rebecca Rausch) provided certificates and Meredith Mogren received the Faculty Recognition Award. Wendy Harper, Cayleigh Harris, Rachel Minney, Meredith Mogren, and Rachel Vachon received an Outstanding Academic Achievement award.
