Harford Community College Holds Pinning Ceremony for Fall Nursing Graduates

The Fall 2024 Nursing Class Pinning Ceremony for Harford Community College’s associate degree nursing graduates was held on December 17 at the Amoss Center in Bel Air.

The event was hosted by the College’s Division of Nursing and Allied Health Professions with Dr. Rebecca Diaz, Director for Nursing Education and Dr. Ashley Meisel, Dean for Nursing and Allied Health Professions.

Congratulatory remarks were offered by Harford Community College President Dr. Theresa B. Felder and Dean Meisel. Mary Kate Wiegand, MSN, RN, CCRN, read the names of the graduates. Alicia Gainey, MSN, RN, and Deanna Garza, MSN, RN, CNS, presented the pins and Amanda Girardi, PhD, RN, CNE, and Faith Andrews, DNP, RN, CNE, handed the lamps to the graduates. Sonia Galvan, DNP, RN, CNE, led the graduates and all nurses in the audience as they recited the International Council of Nurses’ Pledge. Brittany Daniels, BSN, RN, and Brandi Robinson, MSN, RN, presented roses to the graduates. Aubrey Townsend was the graduating class speaker.

In addition to nursing uniforms worn by all graduates, members of the Phi Theta Kappa National Honor Society and the Alpha Delta Nu Nursing Honor Society wore special cords to designate their membership. Two students received recognition awards: Sophia Finck received the Spalding Leadership Award – Art of Nursing and Allison Kahl received the Spalding Leadership Award – Science of Nursing.

The nursing students who were pinned during the ceremony included Olubunmi Adebayo Angel, Kimberly Martin Adler, Kelechi Agwu, Eirini Anastasiou, Joel Aydlett, Lydia Barber, Ryan Beaver, Ellie Bower, Summer Burns, Erin Claridge, Michelle Cresser, Kerrin Dame, Gracyn Devaughn, Karl Franz Discher, Tabitha Louise Discher, Brittany Donnor, Junior Egbufoama, Sophia Finck, Katherine Flagg, Laurie Hargis, Amber Marie Hilditch, Lauryn Hill, Jennifer Lynn Jaski, Sara Joshi Chataut, Allison Kahl, Emily J. Kraczek, Megan Massa, Micah Divine Maye, Andrea Metz, Agy Mugo, Myriam Ngangoua-Fotso, Eric Njenga, Kersten O’Brien, Stephanie Oliver, Makenna Panza, Jessica Perrot, Shae Pitts, Genevieve Danielle Riehl, Joely Rodriguez, Rebecca Michelle Russell, Brendon Scalchunes, Austin Staab, Abriana Stinnett, Aubrey Elizabeth Townsend, and Munah Tukpei.

Longtime Harford Community College nursing scholarship donors Dr. David & Alena Schwaber established an endowment that will fund nursing scholarships at Harford in perpetuity. The endowed scholarships are awarded to nursing students beginning their third semester in the Nursing AS Program of Study who are enrolled at least half-time and have a cumulative GPA of 3.0+. A total of 20 students, 10 in the fall semester and 10 in the spring semester, will be awarded and known as Schwaber Scholars and are recognized by wearing a royal blue chord at their pinning ceremony. Fall 2024 Schwaber Scholars include Erin Claridge, Kerrin Dame, Kari Discher, Laurie Hargis, Allison Kahl, Micah Maye, and Munah Tukpei.