MSMC Awards Nursing Pins to 90 Students

NEWBURGH – Mount Saint Mary College held a pinning ceremony for 90 graduates of the college’s nursing program on Friday, May 19.

The nurse pinning has long been a prelude to the Mount’s annual commencement ceremony. The next day, on May 20, the college awarded degrees to nearly 620 graduates, including the newly-minted nurses.

Fr. Francis Amodio, O.Carm., campus chaplain and director of Campus Ministry, blessed the pins, which were presented to the graduates by chosen family members and friends.

The Mount Saint Mary College nursing pin displays the college seal and the motto, “doce me veritatem,” which translates as “teach me the truth.”

Dr. David Kennett, president of the Mount, congratulated the students on a job well done.

“Take your pin and wear it with pride,” said Kennett. “You’ve worked very hard to join a wonderful profession.”

Mount nursing professors Ann Corcoran, Teresa Hurley, Jill Sussman, and Dianne Murphy, School of Nursing co-chair, offered the graduates words of encouragement and advice for their upcoming nursing careers.

“The new face of nursing now includes terrorism on many fronts, Ebola, the Zika virus, super bugs, and epidemics,” said Sussman, the event’s keynote speaker. “Nurses are often on the forefront and we see the best and worst humankind has to offer. You will need to think outside the box, be flexible, advocate on the part of families and patients, and be above reproach. But not to worry: nurses thrive in difficult environments.”

She added, “Stay true to you’re calling and never forget why you chose nursing in the first place.”

Christopher Kelly of Massapequa, N.Y., president of the Mount’s Nursing Student Union, credited the group’s professors with molding them into the confident nurses they are today.

“We have developed all the key skills we need to grow and become the best possible nurses,” he said. “But it is up to us to harness the ability to control our care and guide situations. Even though we’ve graduated from school and we wear this pin around our necks, our education is far from done.”

Award recipients were Jaclyn Tremblay of Monroe, N.Y., who was given the General Excellence in Nursing Award; Danielle Nunziato of Warwick, N.Y., who received the School of Nursing Clinical Excellence Award and the School of Nursing Leadership Award; Amy Fredette of Glenmont, N.Y., who earned the Spirit of Nursing Award; Edward Flowers of Warwick, N.Y., who got the Perseverance Award; and Diana Pernicano of Yorktown Heights, N.Y., who was given the Sigma Theta Tau Leadership Award.

The graduates were thankful for the ongoing mentoring and dedication of the Mount’s nursing professors. Amanda Green of Poughkeepsie, N.Y. credited her instructors with “instilling me with their knowledge and experiences that inspired me to keep growing and striving.”

The students were also full of praise for their families. In addition to her professors at the Mount, Isamar Hernandez of Newburgh, N.Y. thanked her parents and brother for their “unconditional love and support throughout this journey.”

Marissa Howlett of Milton, N.Y. echoed the sentiment: “I would like to thank both of my amazing parents for their continuous love and support,” she said. “Your dedication to each other and me is what inspires me every day.”

To close out the ceremony, the proud graduates recited “A Nurse’s Prayer,” which speaks of dedicating one’s life to helping others.

Additional Mount graduates who received their nursing pin on May 19 are: Mandy Aftel of Highland Mills, N.Y.; Ineh Ajang of Middletown, N.Y.; Ashley Alfano of Highland, N.Y.; Najwa Alhejazien of Poughkeepsie, N.Y.; Jostalyn Babcok of Marlboro, N.Y.; Adriana Batista of Ronkonkoma, N.Y.; Danielle Bonser of Cuddebackville, N.Y.; Sherida Bryce of Newburgh, N.Y.; Jessica Bump of Stratford, Conn.; Shannon Burke of Poughkeepsie, N.Y.; Caitlin Chambers of Harriman, N.Y.; Alexandra Coletti of Mohegan Lake, N.Y.; Casey Collins of Belle Harbor, N.Y.; Mary Cosgrove of West Hempstead, N.Y.; Julie Curtis of Slate Hill, N.Y.; Kely DaSilva of Kent, N.Y.; Andrew Deserto of Middletown, N.Y.; Caroline DeStefano of Modena, N.Y.; Stephanie DeStefano of Modena, N.Y.; Kristen Dupuis of Suffield, Conn.; Clarissa Espinosa of Middletown, N.Y.; Amanda Feeley of Kings Park, N.Y.; Alexandra Galan of Islip, N.Y.; Nicole Gemma of Newburgh, N.Y.; Michelle Giola of Manchester, Conn.; Kayla Goman of Belle Harbor, N.Y.; Meaghan Hamel of Bethlehem, Conn.; Jamie Hancock of Middletown, N.Y.; Nadria Hollis of Walden, N.Y.; Kiona Hoyen of Warwick, N.Y.; Stephanie Jacks of Westtown, N.Y.; Kristen Kelly of Miller Place, N.Y.; Kelsie Krieger of Pine Bush, N.Y.; Camilla Kravtsov of Yorktown Heights, N.Y.; Melissa Liik of Easton, Conn.; Katelynn Logie of Easton, Conn.; Kaitlyn Loonie of Lynbrook, N.Y.; Aileen Lynch of Salisbury Mills, N.Y.; Chelsea MacKinnon of New Windsor, N.Y.; Kelsey Magee of Milford, Conn.; Marissa Martino of Miller Place, N.Y.; Catherine Martyn of Millbrook, N.Y.; Suhayla Masoud of Hopewell Junction, N.Y.; Marissa Matthews of New Branford, Conn.; Courtney McCarthy of Lindenhurst, N.Y.; Megan McCarthy of Wantagh, N.Y.; Alyssa McLaughlin of Florida, N.Y.; Samantha Mele of Mohegan Lake, N.Y.; Tamryn Mistretta of Paramus, N.J.; Kristen Moore of Middletown, N.Y.;  Elmer Moran of Brentwood, N.J.; Shelby Myska of Vacaville, Calif.; Alaina Neddermann of Prospect, Conn.; Julianna Olsen of Carmel, N.Y.; Annachristina Palumbo of Newburgh, N.Y.; Shannon Perry of Wappingers Falls, N.Y.; Marisa Petagno of Allendale, N.J.; Gia Pillitteri of Wallkill, N.Y.; Brianna Pinkerous of Napanoch, N.Y.; Jesicca Pittelko of Glenwood, N.J.; Lukas Pond of West Hurley, N.Y.; Katherine Rancourt of Poughquag, N.Y.; Gabrielle Rella of Seaford, N.Y.; Leena Remmak of Brooklyn, N.Y.; Janine Roe of Milford, Pa.; Lauren Russo of Levittown, N.Y.; Lyndsey Rysinger of Goshen, N.Y.; Meribeth Sanjuan of Beacon, N.Y.; Julie Schauer of Wurtsboro, N.Y.; Mohamed Sleem of Brooklyn, N.Y.; Elizabeth Stern of Nanuet, N.Y.; Austin Stewart of New Paltz, N.Y.; Michelle Strack of Poughquag, N.Y.; Michelle Surdan of Acton, Mass.; Diana Survilla of West Islip, N.Y.; Delilah Tejada of Bronx, N.Y.; Casey Veneziano of North Bellmore, N.Y.; Alicia Walker of Monroe, Conn.; Erica Weaver of Deer Park, N.Y.; Zara Zaeem of New Windsor, N.Y.; Regina Zeoli of Washingtonville, N.Y.; and Yating Zhao of Cortlandt Manor, N.Y.