Student Achievement
Nursing students shine in Garnet Health externship
Nursing students Djenaba Balde (left) and Aniyah Lewis (right) display their certificates of completion following the 2025 Nurse Extern Program at Garnet Health Medical Center.
Photo provided
Some students step back during the summer months to recharge for the next semester, but Mount nursing majors Aniyah Lewis of Highland Falls, N.Y., and Djenaba Balde of Wallkill, N.Y., instead stepped directly into the heart of regional healthcare.
Lewis and Balde – along with a third Mount nursing student, Emily Schneider of Rock Tavern, N.Y. – completed the rigorous 12-week nurse externship at Garnet Health Medical Center in Middletown, N.Y., before the start of their senior years. The program required them to work three 12-hour shifts each week, totaling 36 clinical hours. The students followed seasoned preceptors across multiple departments, including the Emergency Room (ER), intensive care unit (ICU), and Med-Surg units.
The externship served as a critical bridge between what they learned in the classroom and a full-time position in the field. Balde says the experience also helped her to discover her professional path moving forward.
“Nurse school teaches us the background of what you need to be to become a nurse, but it doesn't necessarily show us what type of nurse we want to be,” Balde explained. “So this externship, it allowed us to explore different specialties and just hone in on what we really want.”
While Lewis entered the program with an interest in emergency room nursing, the externship shifted her focus toward critical care.
“I came into nursing school thinking I want to be an ER nurse. But after this experience, I realized I’m really into ICU,” Lewis explained. “I’m seriously enjoying it because I know this is what I truly love now, and this is what I want to do.”
The hands-on nature of the externship allowed both of the students to perform assessments, assist with wound care, and witness the full scope of a registered nurse’s responsibilities. That kind of immersion was vital for building confidence for their upcoming transition into the workforce, Lewis explained.
“It may seem difficult, which it is,” she admitted. “However, I would rather learn this now than… figuring it out on my own without a trial run.”
Mount honors achievements of nearly 40 scholars
Photos by Lee Ferris
Nearly 40 students were celebrated for their academic achievements at the induction ceremony for Aquinas, Ralph, and Boyle Scholars in the Spring semester.
Held in the Fluet Family Auditorium on campus, the ceremony recognized the Mount’s best and brightest. The event was hosted by the college’s Catholic and Dominican Institute (CDI).
The students were congratulated on a job well done by Dr. Robert Gervasi, President of the Mount; Evan Merkhofer, Vice President for Academic Affairs; and Charles Zola, Assistant Vice President for Mission, Director of the Catholic and Dominican Institute, and associate professor for Philosophy.
Sr. Lucy Povilonis, OP, ’72, a Dominican Sister of Hope and former Mount Trustee, gave the keynote address. She currently serves as Religious Coordinator at Bishop Dunn Memorial School, located on the Mount campus. She congratulated the students on their dedication to academics and service.
The honor cords were blessed by Fr. Gregoire Fluet, Vice President for Mission and Ministry. They were given to the scholars by Sr. Povilonis and Sr. Catherine Walsh, OP, ’70, a Dominican Sister of Hope and professor emerita of Communication Arts at the Mount. The scholars are invited to wear their new honor cords when they graduate.
Aquinas, Ralph, and Boyle Scholar awards are presented to students who attain a high degree of proficiency in their studies and have demonstrated a sincere commitment to learning at the college. Candidates must be full-time students, and only 5 percent of each class may be nominated.
A Ralph Scholar is a sophomore who has attained a grade point average of 3.40 and has received the recommendation of at least two faculty members.
An Aquinas Scholar is a junior or senior with a minimum grade point average of 3.60 who has received a recommendation from their major’s school or division.
A Boyle Scholar is a senior in the Mount’s Degree Completion Program who has attained a minimum grade point average of 3.60, and has been recommended by their division and their academic advisor.
View the Aquinas, Ralph, and Boyle Scholars Induction Ceremony photo gallery.
Making History in Healthcare: Kalinowski named first UWDOR scholar
Danielle Kalinowski (left) accepts the inaugural Women’s Empowerment Scholarship from United Way of the Dutchess-Orange Region President and CEO Jeannie Montano (right) during a luncheon at The Grandview.
Photo by Nicole Puckette Photography
Mount Nursing student Danielle Kalinowski is paving the way for the next generation of female leaders.
The Hopewell Junction, N.Y. native was recently selected as the historic, first-ever recipient of the United Way of the Dutchess-Orange Region (UWDOR) Women’s Empowerment Scholarship.
The scholarship was established to support female college students who have demonstrated exceptional resilience in overcoming significant personal, social, or economic obstacles while pursuing higher education. To be eligible, recipients must maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher and live within Dutchess or Orange County.
Kalinowski, who graduated with her degree in May 2026, was formally presented with the award and scholarship check at the United Way’s Women’s Luncheon on February 25 at The Grandview in Poughkeepsie.
The award recognizes perseverance, character, and a steadfast commitment to personal and academic growth. At the event, Kalinowski was honored by UWDOR President and CEO Jeannie Montano for her achievement in the face of significant challenges.
“I was beyond surprised and grateful for being chosen for this scholarship,” said Kalinowski. “To have won this Woman’s Empowerment Scholarship is a great honor, since their mission aligns with my values.”
Upon graduation, Kalinowski looks forward to becoming a hospice nurse.
The partnership between the Mount and the United Way continues to provide vital opportunities for regional students to reach their professional goals. By highlighting stories of resilience like Kalinowski’s, the Mount reinforces its mission as an engine for social and educational mobility in the Hudson Valley.
Students unveil research at iROC Symposium
Photos by Lee Ferris
The culmination of the Spring semester brought a wave of new knowledge to the Mount recently, as dozens of student scholars presented their findings at the Investigating Research on Campus (iROC) symposium.
Students from a wide spectrum of majors, ranging from the sciences to the humanities, explained their hypotheses, methods, and conclusions to peers and faculty alike.
Whether showcasing an Honors thesis, an independent study, or a deep-dive course project, iROC offers students a professional platform to highlight their work and engage with the broader academic community beyond the classroom walls.
