Finger Lakes Health College of Nursing and Health Sciences graduated its eleventh class on May 17 during a WebEx virtual ceremony. 38 students graduated this year.
Dr. Jose Acevedo, President & CEO of Finger Lakes Health and President, Finger Lakes Health College of Nursing & Health Sciences, gave the President’s Address. Kathleen Mills, MS, RN Dean of the College, gave the Dean’s Address and Ardelle Bigos, C-MSRN, NE-BC, Vice President, Nursing gave the keynote address. Mills commented “this year’s class had to endure a great deal of on the spot changes. They did that with incredible grace and determination. We, at FLHCON are incredibly proud. Well done, Class of 2020.”
A special “Drive-Thru” Graduation Celebration will be held on Wednesday, June 10 at 2:00 p.m. Graduates will receive their degrees, nursing pins & caps. The public is invited to attend, applaud, and make signs for the class for their hard work and thank them for choosing to become a nurse. Graduates will line up along Roosevelt Ave and proceed around Bell. The community, staff and families are encourage to hold signs and cheer as they drive by.
The Patricia Schillaci Memorial Award is given to honor Patty Schillaci a nurse at Geneva General Hospital who committed to using technology to enhance patient care delivery. This award, recognizing a student who demonstrated the ability to couple technology with caring compassionate nurse’s care, was presented to Michael Chapman.
The Florence Nightingale Award is given to the graduate nurse who demonstrates a sprit it improve the healthcare environment. This year’s recipients was Heidi Valero.
The Emily Carson Memorial Award, is given in memory of Emily, a 2010 graduate who was an extraordinary nurse, a loving mother, daughter and sister and an unwavering patient advocate. Emily had such a powerful connection to people in our organization and within the community because of her great spirit, warm sense of humor, dedication to the nursing profession and the compassion she displayed for her patients. Tiffany Shores was honored with this award.
The Aubrey DeMillo Memorial Award is given in honor of Aubrey, a member of the Class of 2013. This award is given to a graduate who shares the same philosophy of nursing that Aubrey evidenced with every interaction she had with patients, peers and faculty, patience, compassion, determination to learn, confidence and passion. Katherine Smith was presented with this award.
In honor and recognition of James J. Dooley, past long-tenured President & CEO of Finger Lakes Health, who served as the first President of the Finger Lakes Health College of Nursing, the James J. Dooley Memorial Award was presented to Emily Howard, for serving as a role model and mentor to others and demonstrating a love for family, community and the healthcare profession.
The William J. DiCicco Memorial Award is given to the graduate nurse who exhibits the attributes that Bill demonstrated through his life, devotion to family, a strong work ethic, the value of education and love of country. This year’s recipient was Crystal Rosser.
The Barbara Alger Memorial Award was presented to Carolyn Voytush. Barb always advocated for those that she loved and cared for in her nursing career. Barb loved psychiatric nursing and was determined to get her RN. Barb received her RN later in her career.
The Nursing Student Determination Award was established by Carl Belawske, a Finger Lakes Health employee who knows firsthand the perseverance needed to complete an educational program. The recipient is a graduate who, despite challenges both in and out of the classroom, has overcome them with the determination and grit to excel. We are proud to recognize the drive, passion and tenacity to succeed of Martin Yehonri Coulibaly.
Finger Lakes Health College of Nursing and Health Sciences graduates for 2020 are Brianne Alston (Rochester), Diana Arroyo (Rochester), Christina Barbieri (Rochester), Erin Bartran (Waterloo), Ron Berrouet (Rochester), Jolen Boughton (Newark), Jessica Buisch (Lyons), Dan Butakov (Rochester), Kelsey Butler (Rochester), Michael Chapman (Hinsdale), Elizabeth Conklin (Newark), Yehonri Martin Coulibaly (Rochester), Jamie Darnell (Penn Yan), Megan Falkey (Phelps), Theresa Fletcher (Geneva), Camryn Guldenschuh (Caledonia), Charlotte Holmes (Rochester), Omar Hossain (Rochester), Emily Howard (Geneva), Robin Kimanski (Hamlin), La'Qudia Lawrence (Rochester), Courtney Merkley (Penn Yan), Ashley Miles (Ovid), Michelle Minutolo (Newark), Paige Mitchell (Mineville), Angela Ortiz (Rochester), Joelyn Osipovitch (Lyons), Poet Rohring (Naples), Crystal Rosser (Geneva), Tiffany Shores (Waterloo), Katherine Smith (Watertown), Chelsea Tobin (Rochester), Heidi Valerio (Seneca Castle), Nan Vasile (Geneva), Carolyn Vojtush (Clifton Springs), Altonesha Walden (Rochester), Dylan Winkler (Rochester) and Calley Woodmancy (Rochester).
Finger Lakes Health College of Nursing and Health Sciences offers flexibility to students seeking an associate’s degree in Applied Science with a major in nursing. As a privileged part of Geneva General Hospital, its unique hospital-based program allows for students to gain clinical experience on its campus in Geneva, NY. Finger Lakes Health College of Nursing also has a dual degree Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree in partnership with Keuka College.