Special to IFN

Mitchell Community College proudly celebrated the accomplishments of 60 graduates from its Associate Degree Nursing Program during a pinning ceremony held on May 14.

The pinning ceremony, a time-honored rite of passage in the nursing profession, marks the official transition from student to nurse. Following the pinning, graduates recited the Nursing Pledge, reaffirming their commitment to serve humanity with empathy and excellence.

“We gather to celebrate a group of individuals who have chosen a path that is both noble and essential – nursing,” said Tim Brewer, president of Mitchell Community College, as he addressed the graduates. “This pinning ceremony is unique. It’s not just a celebration of academic achievement but also a rite of passage. It marks your transition from nursing student to nursing professional. This tradition, which is rich with symbolism, reflects the commitment, compassion, and skill you now carry forward into the healthcare field.”

Graduate speaker Lea DeBord reflected on the transformative journey of nursing school in her address to classmates.

“Nursing school was more than lectures and clinicals—it was a transformation,” DeBord shared. “It changed how we think, how we act, and how we see the world. The nursing pin may be small, but its meaning is vast. It represents tradition, commitment, and honor. It’s a badge of courage and a symbol of the promise we make—to serve with compassion, to uphold integrity, and to always see the human behind the diagnosis.”

Each nursing school’s pin carries its own legacy, and Mitchell’s is no exception—steeped in tradition and passed down through generations of nurses who have walked this path before.

“These graduates are the future of nursing, and they have the power to continue to make a difference as a registered nurse,” concluded Linda Wiersch, Dean of Health Sciences and Wellness. “Graduates, we are proud of you and your success.”

2025 Associate Degree Nursing Program Graduates

Jose Aguilar-Renteria Jr.
Kendal Alexander
Emma Allen
Kelly Baron
Conlin Beehler
Lilly Booker
Christyn Elaine Boston *
Maria Kay Bowie
Anna Brannock
Kristina Lee Britt
Kaci Brotherton
Daniela Carranco
Amanda Cartwright
Nicholas Chase*
Lindsey Carolann Coley
Maria Cotter
Natalie Crandon
Amanda Davis*
Noah Day *
Lea Shumaker DeBord
Gabriel Ferron
Lisa Fleming
Jamie Kachelle Forney
Courtney Reavis Fox
Amanda Crago Frye*
Olivia Garland
Robert D. Geisinger*
Shelby Lejune Goff
Keri Lynn Golsch
Emily Crownson Hager
Mya Hager
Kyaira Cheyenne Harrison
Elisha C. Hunt*
Emma Johnson
Allison Kerley*
Eric Koelbl*
Hollee Rain Krider
Alfie Limback
Iyana Shaniece Linney
Megan Morrison Lira*
Haden Mitchell
Brianne Grace Ostermiller
Heather Poindexter*
Hannah Preslar
Lance S. Rhyne*
Autumn K. Rikard
Rebecca Robinson*
Jennifer Sanders
Landon Shuford
Heather Michelle Skeens
Marlen Santibanez Solis
Brooklyn Stevens
Ashley Tobon
Samantha Vogel
Gracie Walker
Valerie Walker
Jessica Welborn*
Jeffrey Scott Willis Jr.*
Caleb Withers*
Gracie Womack

*Students who completed the Paramedic to Associate Degree Nursing entry option, designed to allow currently certified paramedics who have completed the A. A. S. Degree in Emergency Medical Science to earn an Associate of Applied Science degree in Nursing.

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