Photo: Thirty-two nursing graduates from New Hampshire Community College-Berlin received their pins during a ceremony held in their honor on May 13th. Over two hundred family and friends gathered to celebrate the occasion with the nursing students.
On May 16, the New Hampshire Community College - Berlin, along with 250 family members and friends, recognized the Nursing Class of 2007 in a pinning ceremony at the Town and Country Motor Inn.
In opening remarks, NHCTC President, Katharine Eneguess, commended the 250 family members and friends in attendance. "We are not just proud of our nursing students, we are proud of our community. Without all of you, your support of them, they would not be here today."
Keeping the evening light-hearted with a few jokes, Professor of Nursing and the evening's MC , John Colbath, RN, MBA, MSN, recognized his team of nursing instructors: Beth Dowse, RN, BSN, MSN; Donna Gagne, RN, BSN, MSN; Grace Hixon, RN, MS; Norine Van Leuven, MSN, ARNP; Emily McDonald, RN, MS; Nancy Smith, RN, BSN, MEd; Sandra Yunghans, RN, BSN, MHSA; and Nicole Houston, RN, BSN. He spoke about what life was like 100 years ago. He mentioned that 90 percent of doctors had not attended college back in 1907 and the average life expectancy was around 49 years old ... perhaps one had to do with the other!
NHCTC's nursing faculty were not the only ones to get a few jokes in. Nursing students Maria Cassidy, Sabrina Delorge, and Beth Rancloes gave appreciation to their instructors for the past two years "roast" style. They joked about their professors' quirks and strictness, but also commended them for their knowledge and kindness. The women said that Professor Colbath is a "walking encyclopedia" and that the nursing faculty "took the students under their wing to help ease them into the role of student nurse."
The evening's guest speaker, Mary Beth Kennison, ARNP, is a 1991 graduate of CCSNH - Berlin's Nursing Program. From CCSNH - Berlin, she went on to receive both a Bachelor and then a Masters Degree from the University of New Hampshire. Kennison made reference to how things were when she started in the nursing profession 37 years ago as a nurse's aid in a nursing home. "Everyone wore white, nurses and patients could smoke, and technology just didn't exist." She went on to recognize what hasn't changed in her estimated 70,000 hours of nursing, "The passion and commitment for nursing is still there." Kennison has been a Nurse Practitioner in the Groveton area for the past 10 years.
The nursing students chose to be pinned by a member of CCSNH - Berlin's nursing faculty or another nurse that they knew personally. Flowers were also given to the nursing students by a family member or friend.
In closing remarks, Professor Colbath thanked the nursing students for "having the qualities that lead you to become nurses." He went on to say that they will all "strive to be good nurses as they have been good nursing students." The nurse pinning ceremony was followed by dinner and dancing in the T&C's Shelburne Room.
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