SCCC Holds Nurse Pinning Ceremony

The demand for Registered Nurses continues to grow, and Sussex County Community College (SCCC) is addressing the nursing shortage through its partnership with Passaic County Community College (PCCC). This collaboration allows students to receive a high-quality nursing education in Sussex County.

On Tuesday, January 13, at 7 p.m., SCCC held a nurse pinning ceremony to honor 17 graduating students. The evening included an awards ceremony, a candlelight ceremony, and the International Council of Nurses Pledge recitation. Congratulatory speeches were made by Dr. Jon Connolly, SCCC President; Dr. Steven Rose, PCCC President; and administrators from both Sussex County Community College and Passaic County Community College.

After the graduation ceremony, the students must complete one more comprehensive exam, the National Council Licensing Exam (NCLEX), before becoming licensed as Registered Nurses.

The Nursing graduates were:

• Marlena Alston
• Phillip Angolemmo
• Nathalie Cintron
• Erin Galley
• Kierstin Ingerman
• Taylor Knies
• Nicole Lance
• Katherine Lauterhahn
• Bintou Kanteh Manneh
• Deven Martinez
• Francesca McCarter
• Rachael Miller
• Chioma Oti
• Logan Slate
• Heather Stoebling
• Molly Thropp
• Lauren Vilade

The following awards were presented:

• ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT AWARD: Bintou Kanteh Manneh
  This award is presented to the student with the highest GPA throughout the nursing program.
• PROFESSIONAL NURSING AWARD: Kierstin Ingerman
  This award is presented to the student who demonstrates clinical excellence throughout the Nurse Education Program as Provider of Care, Manager of Care, and Member of the Nursing Profession.

• NEW JERSEY LEAGUE OF NURSING AWARD - Lauren Vilade

• NURSE EDUCATION SERVICE AWARD: Erin Galley
  This award is presented to the student who demonstrates both the quality and quantity of contributions to the program, College, community, and peers.
• SPIRIT OF NURSING AWARD: Logan Slate 
  This award is presented to the student who demonstrates professional involvement, leadership, and academic achievement, demonstrating commitment and passion in the student nurse role.

In this innovative program, qualified students admitted to the Passaic County Community College Nurse Education Program offered in conjunction with SCCC take clinical courses with PCCC on the SCCC campus. These clinical courses comprise a four-semester sequence, which begins each January and is designed to include both general education and nursing courses for students who have selected careers as registered nurses. General education courses from the sciences and liberal arts enhance the student's understanding of clients with acute and chronic health problems. The curriculum prepares students to practice in hospitals and health agencies within the American Nurses Association’s Standards of Practice framework and the New Jersey Nurse Practice Act.

For more information about SCCC’s Nurse Education Program, please contact Sareena Scaiabica, Advisor, at ssciabia@sussex.edu or visit sussex.edu/nursing.

Graduates in the photo: Sitting right to left: