‘Whenever a nurse gets their pin, an angel gets their wings’
Photos by Lee Ferris
Mount Saint Mary College pinned nearly 80 nurses on Friday, May 19.
The day before Commencement, the Mount honored nearly 80 graduates of its prestigious Nursing program at a pinning ceremony.
Fr. Gregoire Fluet, chaplain and director of Campus Ministry, blessed the pins, which were presented to the graduates by chosen family members and friends.
Dr. Jason Adsit, president of the college, discussed the impact that nurses have had on him and his family. His youngest son, Ronin, experienced a medical emergency only three days after his birth. The nurses taking care of the young boy helped to save his life, all while keeping the Adsit family calm and informed. Ronin is now 11 years old and in great health.
“Whenever a nurse gets their pin, an angel gets their wings,” Dr. Adsit said to the new Nursing grads. “I am so unbelievably proud of you. Go out and be angels.”
Lynette DeBellis, Nursing instructor, chair of the School of Nursing, and Mount alumna, congratulated the students on a job well done.
“I know that I speak for my Nursing faculty colleagues when I say that we are so very proud of your accomplishments. You met the challenges of a rigorous program,” said DeBellis. “I personally would like to congratulate and honor you not only as a member of the School of Nursing faculty, but I would like to welcome you into the family of Mount Saint Mary College Nursing alumni.”
The ceremony’s keynote speaker was Kimberly Sullivan, assistant professor of Nursing at the Mount. Sullivan discussed how COVID-19 changed the landscape of education and healthcare for the Class of 2023, giving them unexpected challenges to overcome.
“I could not be any prouder of this cohort,” she said. “Despite the challenges of a global pandemic, our incredible graduates demonstrated grace and resilience despite the challenges, to be here today.”
Graduate Andria Camporese of Hopewell Junction, N.Y., president of the Student Nurses Association, discussed the Class of 2023’s trials and triumphs at the nurse pinning ceremony.
Andria Camporese of Hopewell Junction, N.Y., president of the Mount’s Student Nurses Association, offered her reflections on the group’s journey to becoming nurses.
“Nobody saw the late nights and early mornings we spent studying,” she said. “You weren’t lucky. It didn’t just fall into your lap. You chose nursing. You sacrificed for it. You succeeded on purpose.”
To close out the ceremony, the proud graduates recited “A Nurse’s Prayer,” which speaks of dedicating one’s life to helping others.
Nurse practitioners honored
Three dozen students were honored at the white coat ceremony.
The previous week, three dozen students from the Nurse Practitioner program were honored at the annual white coat ceremony.
The group included the first cohort of Mount Nurse Practitioner grads to receive a post-master’s certificate for Psychiatric Mental Health, which focuses on care for clients of all ages and backgrounds.
The graduates’ white coats and certificates were presented to them by their chosen family members, from spouses and children to parents and grandparents.
Graduate Maxine Lindsay-Shillingford was selected to discuss the group’s progression through the rigorous program.
“We have come this far by faith,” she said. “It is faith that has propelled us to navigate the world of technology during the pandemic…Through it all, we persevered. We are blessed with outstanding nursing faculty and staff.”
