NFC Nurses Graduate Ready to Serve Rural Florida

Submitted

MADISON, FL – In a celebration rooted in compassion, tradition and rural resilience, North Florida College recognized the accomplishments of its nursing graduates during two heartfelt Pinning and Lamp Lighting Ceremonies held August 5 at the Van H. Priest Auditorium.

     The ceremonies honored graduates from three distinct programs— Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), Licensed Practical Nursing (LPN), and the LPN to RN Bridge program marking their transition from nursing students to professional caregivers.

The Heart of Rural Care

The first ceremony, held at 2 p.m., brought together graduates from the BSN and LPN programs alongside their families, instructors, and mentors. At 4 p.m., the LPN to RN Bridge ceremony followed, recognizing those who returned to school to elevate their credentials and deepen their impact on local healthcare.

     Dr. Anna Kelley, Director of NFC’s Nursing and Allied Health programs, opened both ceremonies with words of pride and encouragement. “Our graduates are stepping into roles that rural North Florida desperately needs,” said Dr. Kelley. “They represent not just academic excellence, but a calling to care.”

     Both ceremonies included the recitation of the Nightingale Pledge, the symbolic lighting of lamps and the emotional presentation of pins by family members, mentors, and clinical partners.

A Tradition of Support and Strength

At the 2 p.m. ceremony, LPN graduate Erica Hampton led the invocation, while LPN graduate Mariela Garcia-Rendon introduced guest speaker Ashley Bell, MSN, RN, a member of NFC’s nursing faculty. Award presentations followed, highlighting leadership, academic achievement, and service.

Standout honorees

included:

LPN Program Awards

·  Academic Achievement: Tarra Seifert, Suwannee County

·  Keeper of the Light: Markeasha Robinson, Taylor County

·  Nightingale Award of Excellence: Erica Hampton, Madison County

·  Leaps and Bounds Award: Tarra Seifert, Suwannee County

·  South Georgia Medical Center Award: Jessika Johnson, Lowndes County

BSN Program Awards

·  Leadership in Management: Athena Duran, Madison County

·  OutstandingBSN: 

Mackenzi Bochnia, Madison County

The 4 p.m. LPN to RN Bridge ceremony featured guest speaker Ashley Haynes, MSN, RN, and recognized the graduates’ drive to continue their education while often balancing work, family, and community commitments.

LPN to RN Bridge Program Awards

·  Academic Achievement: Amanda Thomas, Taylor County

·  Keeper of the Light: Jade Owens, Taylor County

·  Nightingale Award of Excellence: Marica Stevens, Madison County

·  Nursing Leadership: Jade Owens, Taylor County

·  South Georgia Medical Center Award: Lindsay Mills, Taylor County

     Student speakers Lindsay Mills and Zae Miller gave heartfelt remarks that captured the spirit of the class, and the deep bonds formed through their journey.

Lighting the Way for North Florida

More than a ceremony, the events symbolized the light each graduate carries into the world, especially into the hospitals, clinics and care centers that serve North Florida’s rural communities.

For more information about North Florida College’s Nursing and Allied Health programs, visit  www.nfc.edu/academics/career-and-workforce/allied-health.