Finger Lakes Health College of Nursing and Health Sciences graduated its fourteenth class. 35 students were pinned and graduated this year.
The commencement and pinning ceremonies, held at The Smith, took place on May 19. The ceremonies were also lived streamed on fingerlakes1.com so that family members, friends and others could share the special moment with the graduates.
Commencement Ceremony Streaming
Photos from both events can be viewed on Flickr.
Finger Lakes Health College of Nursing and Health Sciences graduates for 2024 are Chelsie Anjo (Wolcott), Jessica Aponte (Rochester), Rose Barksdale (Rochester), Danielle Britt (Rochester), Julie Carey (Lima), Krysta Carrier (Newark), LaToya Crosby (Rochester), Taryn Duval (Rochester), Amou Giir (Honeoye Falls), Kaitlyn Grant (Auburn), Hannah Greco (Geneva), Shannon Grice (Rochester), Nyoka Hodge (Elmira), Karissa Howard (Auburn), Sherifia Irwin (Webster), Casandra James (Rochester), Nicole Kabera (Webster), Ashley King (Newark), Chelsea Lead (Dundee), Bridget LeGree-Hawkins (Webster), Latoya Massey (Rochester), Iona Miles (Rochester), Kali O'Sullivan (Lyons), Lilli Lynn Panneitz (Macedon), Lauren Peers (Rochester), Jacqueline Perry-Stewart (Rochester), Bailey Slocum (Lyons), Calie Snow (Clifton Springs), Kashara Taylor (Rochester), Micaela Thompson (Dundee), Joslyn Williams (Rochester), Kiara Williams (Rochester), Jada Winfield (Waterloo), Mackenzie Wise (Auburn) and Yolanda Witherspoon (Rochester).
Kathleen Mills, MS, RN, Dean, Finger Lakes Health College of Nursing & Health Sciences served as the Master of Ceremonies for the commencement ceremony at 11 a.m. and she presented the Dean’s Address.
Dr. Jose Acevedo, President & CEO, UR Medicine Finger Lakes Health and President, Finger Lakes Health College of Nursing & Health Sciences, delivered the President’s Address.
Amanda Brown, BSN, RN, Interventional Radiology, UR Medicine Finger Lakes Health and 2018 graduate of Finger Lakes Health College of Nursing & Health Science was the keynote speaker.
LaToya Crosby gave the class address and Dr. Acevedo and Kathleen Mills presented the degrees to the graduates.
At 2 p.m., Mills welcomed students and guests to the pinning ceremony and recognized the faculty for a job well done.
Faculty member, Stephanie Weigand, MS, RN Faculty Advisor, presented pins to the graduates and Mills presented the special awards.
The Academic Achievement Award for highest academic achievement in the nursing program was presented to Chelsea Anjo.
Finger Lakes Health College of Nursing & Health Sciences Class Choice Award is by class vote, given to the graduate nurse who has demonstrated principles of relationship-based care through creating healthy relationships. This year’s class chose Taryn Duval to receive the award.
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. Karissa Howard 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. Hannah Greco and Chelsea Lead were 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 Chelsie Anjo for serving as a role model and mentor to others and demonstrating a love for family, community and the healthcare profession.
The Barbara Alger Memorial Award was presented to Jada Winfield. 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.
Finger Lakes Health offers a Tuition Buy-Back program that provides eligible Finger Lakes Health employees in job categories including Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs), Registered Nurses (RNs to BSNs) and Medical Technologists with assistance in repaying student loan debt. Finger Lakes Health also offers many sign-on bonuses, tuition assistance programs and options to fund your education for a career in healthcare.
To learn more Finger Lakes Health College of Nursing & Health Sciences, please visit https://flhcon.edu/ or call (315) 787-4005. Application deadline is June 1 for the 2024-2025 academic calendar.
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Finger Lakes Health College of Nursing & Health Sciences Class of 2024 Graduation
Finger Lakes Health College of Nursing & Health Sciences Class of 2024 Pinning