Carroll Community College student Haley Taylor is excited to be a Practical Nursing graduate. Now, she is ready to become a compassionate caregiver for the patients she will one day serve. Her past personal health issues motivated her to enroll in Carroll’s program and she is confident that she has the skills to excel in the profession.

On July 19, Taylor spoke before the 2017 graduating class of Practical Nurses who were recognized at a pinning ceremony in the Theater in the Scott Center.

“You are an inspiration,” she told her classmates. “This program has been like a second home and you are all like a second family to me. Each of us is destined for greatness and we will go far,” she said, as her 16 fellow graduates dressed in white uniforms and white shoes looked on proudly. The graduates received congratulatory remarks by College President Dr. James Ball and by Nursing Program Director Nancy Perry, DNP, RN, CNE.

Ball said: “We are so proud of our Practical Nursing students, who have successfully completed a rigorous program that prepares them well for their careers. With the guidance of fine faculty members and the unwavering support of family and friends, they will go out into the world as caregivers because the world truly needs them. Their passion is commendable.”

“As our students become employed, each of them will play a pivotal role in the health care environment, from feeding patients to assisting with medication management. Today’s ceremony signifies a truly great accomplishment,” said Perry.

The Practical Nursing program is a selective admissions, three- semester credit certificate program. Upon graduation, students complete a licensure exam to become LPNs. They work with doctors and registered nurses to perform health care tasks, such as taking vital signs and observing patients, among other forms of basic care. The majority of this year’s graduating class has been accepted into Carroll’s Associate Degree of Nursing program, which prepares graduates for the Registered Nursing (RN) licensure exam and entry into the RN profession.

Graduate Bryan Campbell said he was impressed by the recommendations of other students who have completed the program. He decided to apply, was accepted and said it was the best decision he has ever made. Now he is well on his way along the path to obtain associate and bachelor’s degrees before deciding upon a nursing career specialty.

Several students received special recognition during the ceremony. These included the William J. Yerkes Nursing Award — Bryan Campbell; the Carroll Community College Practical Nursing Program Achievement Award — Jennifer DeiSvaldi; the Carroll Hospital Center Clinical Excellence Award — Rachel Holl; and the Springfield Hospital Center Highest Scholastic Average Award — Ashley Small.



Top Row L to R: Jaime Johnson, Geena DeGroat, Bryan Campbell

Next Row: Haley Taylor, Prisca A Kibong, Jessica Waxter

Next Row: Samantha Hood, Jennifer DeiSvaldi, Rachel Holl, Maria Minichiello

Next Row: Dana Mayes, Ashley Small, Kelsey Moreland, Morgan Bowman, Carmela Goetz

Bottom Row: Keri Magee, Michele Bartylla

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