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Holmes Ridgeland Campus Practical Nursing students honored The Holmes Community College Ridgeland Campus held a Pinning Ceremony for the graduating Practical Nursing Class of 2019 on June 20 at Broadmoor Baptist Church of Madison. They are (front row, left to right) Alice Luretha Thornton, Anna Williams, Melissa Oñate, Tiffany Monique Carr, Reneka Roshae Granderson, Roshanda Dixon, Lauren Elizabeth Berl, Emma Marie Anderson, instructor Dr. Lakesia Sutton, instructor Heather Roberts, (middle row, left to right) De’Lauren Dejanee’ Marshall, Bianca Hazzard, Emily Grace Moore, Amber Fae McNair, Seneca Renee Hearn, Arilyn Heather Gilbert, Taylor Skye Bridges, Ty’Reika Roc-Kyel Townsend, Veronica Lachelle Smith, (back row, left to right) Robert Wells, Jr. and Brandon Andrew Ehrhardt.
The Ridgeland Campus of Holmes Community College held a Pinning Ceremony for the graduating Practical Nursing Class of 2019 on June 20 at Broadmoor Baptist Church of Madison. Nineteen students were honored during the ceremony.
Graduates included: Emma Marie Anderson, Lauren Elizabeth Berl, Taylor Skye Bridges, Tiffany Monique Carr, Roshanda Dixon, Brandon Andrew Ehrhardt, Arilyn Heather Gilbert, Reneka Roshae Granderson, Seneca Renee Hearn, De'Lauren Dejanee' Marshall, Amber Fae McNair, Emily Grace Moore, Melissa Oñate, Veronica Lachelle Smith, Alice Luretha Thornton, Ty'Reika Roc-Kyel Townsend, Bianca Hazzard, Robert Wells, Jr. and Anna Williams.
The ceremony began with a processional of the Practical Nursing Class of 2019. Ehrhardt, the class treasurer, gave the invocation, followed by a welcome and from Ridgeland Campus Vice President Dr. Don Burnham.
"You've been together for a year…I'm sure you've cried together, laughed together, you've persevered together," Dr. Burnham said. "Remember that Holmes will always be a part of you, and you are a part of our legacy. We are very proud of you and our door is always open. If we can help you in any way when you leave here, let us know. Your work is important. Remember to always keep your integrity. My wish for you is that God will bless each of you and that your lives will reflect His glory as you move on to the next chapter. Congratulations!"
Following Dr. Burnham's welcome, Vice President of Career-Technical Education Dr. Amy Whittington addressed the graduates.
"Practical Nursing is not an easy program to get into," Dr. Whittington said. "To complete this program is quite an accomplishment and you should be proud of yourself. There were approximately 400 people who applied to be part of the Ridgeland Campus Practical Nursing program last year. We only accept 30, so we take the top 7 percent of those applicants. Today we have 19 of you who completed the program, so you are the top 4 percent of all people who wanted to be a part of this program.
Please don't forget Holmes when you go out and become successful; we won't forget you. We want you to come back and share your successes. We want you to come back when you have challenges so we can help you figure that out as well. We are proud to be a part of your family now."
Hazzard, the class president, took the podium next and she shared heartfelt remarks about her experience in nursing school at Holmes.
"Before I deliver my prepared remarks, I want to first thank my class for electing me as class president; it has been a privilege. I want to thank our teachers, as they have been so great. I'm also so thankful for my family and everything they have done to help me.
"At the 2019 nursing convention, the speaker asked the crowd a question: 'What is your goal in life?' My hand quickly shot up before I could even really think about the question. Many of you know that I've been a pharmacy technician, I've been a school teacher and now a nurse. Despite my ever-changing careers, my goal has remained the same. My goal is to change the world. It may sound real Miss America-ish, but the Bible reminds me that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
"The graduating class of 2019 believes in my goal because each of theirs is similar. We want to me the first smile you see at the birth of your new baby. We want to be the comforting touch when you experience hardship. We want to help your mother regain strength after surgery. We want to provide dignified end-of-life care when that time comes. If we happen to be blessed with financial riches, we will humbly accept. But our hearts desire riches the world can't provide. When you see us in clinics, in classrooms, hospitals or long-term care facilities, know that we are changing the world one patient and one family at a time."
Succeeding Hazzard, Practical Nursing instructor Dr. Lakesia Sutton introduced the guest speaker, Mary Alexander, MHSA, RN. Over the years, Alexander has worked in several establishments, including the University of Mississippi Medical Center. At UMMC, she served as a surgical nurse, a nurse recruiter and a diabetic nurse educator. Her strong leadership skills afforded her the opportunity to serve as the director of nursing at both Belhaven Nursing Home and the Magnolia Nursing Home, both located in Jackson. Alexander is now employed at one of the Ridgeland Campus' clinical sites, Madison County Nursing Home in Canton. There she has served as a nurse supervisor and currently serves as the director of quality assurance.
"Congratulations to you, you should be very proud of yourselves," Alexander said. "To the families of those who are graduating, thank you for your support because this dream was not easy for these students. I've been a nurse for a long time and it's still not easy because it is ever-changing. Today's the beginning of a new career. You're blazing down a new path. It is so important to take your directions and teachings with you. I'm sure you had a good directions as a student and nurse-in-training; please take it with you. To be a nurse, you've got to care about people; nursing is a mission. You have to love and care about people. You will be promoting healing. You will be promoting hope. Give them hope.
"Take integrity with you. Responding to the law of dignity of everyone without conditions or limitations. I think that you should take diversity with you. Affirm the uniqueness of every person, respecting their values and differences. You should take excellence with you. You should want to be the very best nurse you can be. When you take excellence with you, you will eventually step into greatness."
Following Alexander's speech, Practical Nursing instructor Heather Roberts presented awards to the salutatorian, valedictorian and Practical Nursing Student of the Year. Moore was recognized as salutatorian for having the second highest GPA in her class and Hazzard was recognized as valedictorian for having the highest GPA. Moore was named the 2019 Practical Nursing Student of the Year, as well.
After the awards were given, Dr. Sutton called the students to the stage one-by-one to receive their pins, lamps and certificates from Roberts, Dr. Burnham and Dr. Whittington. The graduates then took part in the candle lighting before Smith, the class vice president, led her classmates in reciting the Practical Nurse's Pledge. The ceremony concluded with Amber McNair, class secretary, giving the benediction.
For more information about the Practical Nursing program on the Ridgeland Campus, contact Dr. Sutton at (601) 605.3321 or lsutton@holmescc.edu or Roberts at (601) 605.3334 or hroberts@holmescc.edu.
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