CTC students receive nursing pins

Special to Leader-Press

The Central Texas College (CTC) Nursing Department recognized 19 graduates of the Associate Degree Nursing program during a pinning ceremony on Thursday in the Anderson Campus Center. The pinning signifies the passage of the student nurse role to the role of a practicing nurse. Guest speaker for the event was Amanda Cooper 
Several students were recognized as honor graduates for achieving a grade point average between 3.5 and 3.79 in their nursing courses. They were Valerie Mohyde, Kristina Powell and Chelsea Reeves. 
Student awards were also presented during the ceremony. Winner of the Mack and Leora Duce Award for nursing excellence was Anna McMurtry. She received a commemorative pin and a $1,000 prize. Based on nominations from his student peers, Ismael Hernandez received the Caring Heart Award for exemplifying the three C’s (caring, compassion and concern) of nursing. Lola Ogunnake and a gift card from Monarch Uniforms and Reeves received a gift card from Scrubtopia Medical Outfitters.
Upon receiving their nursing pins, the students then held the traditional candle lighting ceremony. Each nursing graduate, along with their semester faculty team leader, is presented a candle which is lit prior to citing the Nurse’s Pledge. 
The spring 2017 CTC associate degree in nursing graduates are Keren Aguinaga, Brittani Bread, Kathryn Bryant, Amber Casarez, Kendra Field, Ismael Hernandez, Jennifer Joyce, Anna McMurtry, Valerie Mohyde, Ololade Ogunnake, Oliva Ortiz, Gena Parker, Dawn Pessa, Hiep Pham, Jana Podumis, Kristina Powell, Chelsea Reeves, Kristin Rosario and Erica Sacket.