Three Rivers Community College 58th Pinning Ceremony Celebrates 38 Nursing Student Graduates (List of graduates and their towns included at end of release)

Norwich, Conn. — On Friday, December 17, Three Rivers Community College held its fifty-eighth Nursing Pinning Ceremony. Hundreds of friends and family gathered to watch their loved ones take the final step in becoming nurses, a select few in the same room and others in nearby classrooms where the ceremony was broadcast live. During the ceremony, 38 nursing students of the Class of Fall 2021 received their nursing pin, marking the completion of their nursing degree and serving as a symbol of their readiness to be compassionate professional caregivers.

The students have earned an Associate of Science in Nursing. Upon completion of a licensing examination, the graduates will have earned the credential of Registered Nurse (RN).

Three Rivers graduates’ scores on the National Council Licensing Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) are consistently above the national average, with a three-year average of over 95%. Graduates also report a 98% job placement on the last three graduate surveys.

List of Nursing Graduates with their towns

Dakota Anderson, Moosup

Samantha Armstrong, Plainfield

Matthew Blackburn, Uncasville

Christina Bottomley, Norwich

Allyson Briggs, North Franklin

Kristen Burdzy, Norwich

Justin Butler, Pawcatuck

Jennifer Carver, Groton

Christa Conville, Taftville

Krystal Csuka, Colchester

Tanya Durand, Pomfret Center

Rachel Gaines, East Lyme

Jamie Gonzalez, Stonington

Jacquelyn Hatlee, Norwich

Allison Hill, Mystic

YuFang Hua, Stonington

Jennifer Kudlach, Norwich

Rebecca Lee, Windsor Locks

Nancy Linn, Gales Ferry

Nicole Los, New London

Miranda Marriott, Griswold

Melissa Martinez, Columbia

Jamey Martyn, Windham

Samantha Morrison, Hebron

Kathryn Murphy, Gales Ferry

Stacy Myles, Norwich

Nathalie Onema, Middletown

Roxanne Palladino, Brooklyn

Aayushi Patel, Jewett City

Mariah Qualley, Waterford

Elizabeth Robbins, Norwich

Jordin Sanborn, North Windham

Lisandra Santana, New London

Bronwen Seaman, Plainfield

Jennifer Shiling, Preston

Angelica Sonnema, Quaker Hill

Kelly Thayer, Chester

Kala Warren, Norwich

Alison Zerull, Canterbury

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In The News | TRCC educating future RNs during pandemic

Norwich, CT (The Day, May 28, 2021) —Prior to March 2020 there was already a national nursing shortage, but when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, the situation became worse due to retirements and the decision of some nurses to stay home with their families, among various other reasons.

Nurses bravely and stoically administered care and compassion during the pandemic while working tirelessly for those in their care.

And now there is hope for reducing the RN shortage here due to the creative strategies implemented by the nursing faculty at Three Rivers Community College in Norwich. On May 14 at Three Rivers Community College’s 57th Pinning Ceremony (first in-person pinning ceremony since the pandemic began), 33 students graduated at at Dodd Stadium; in total, the program has graduated 81 students since the pandemic began.

Corinne Eichelberg, a former TRCC nursing student and current nurse at Backus Hospital, explains, “TRCC has a very challenging nursing program. When I was enrolled, it involved two full eight-hour class days and two full eight- to 10-hour clinical shifts in a local medical facility each week.”

She continued, “TRCC had a very high rate of success for passing the NCLEX (National Council Licensure Examination) and was known in the region, by word of mouth, to be a very good program.”

In March 2020, when the world experienced quarantine restrictions, so did the nursing students across Connecticut. Three Rivers Community College nursing faculty and students quickly transitioned to remote learning.

Dr. Edith Ouellet, director of nursing and allied health at Three Rivers, states, “The real challenge included clinical education. While the COVID cases were climbing and clinical facilities needed to conserve PPE, restricting nursing students was necessary.”

Nursing faculty at TRCC surveyed and assessed several virtual programs that offered clinical and critical thinking teaching scenarios. The faculty selected the most robust programs, and the TRC Foundation funded the cost to purchase these programs for all students.

Nursing student Kelsey Wilson states, “From Day 1 we were told to be flexible and prepare for the ever-changing circumstances as we navigated pursuing a nursing degree in a pandemic.”

By fall 2020, the TRCC nursing program staff hoped to return to the clinical settings, which includes Hartford HealthCare’s Backus, Windham, and Natchaug hospitals, Yale New Haven’s L+M and Westerly hospitals, Day Kimball Hospital, and other clinical facilities.

With the inclusion of many safety guidelines, screening processes, COVID testing, and an increase in availability of masks and gloves, the TRCC nursing program was invited back to resume clinical education in person.

Classroom learning remained remote while the nursing simulation laboratory was open and available to the nursing faculty and students.

Ouellet states, “We paid close attention to COVID screening, exposures and positive cases, and quarantined as per the CDC guidelines.”

Wilson added, “I think I can speak for my class when I say, we have all learned to be flexible. Adapting and overcoming has been instilled in us.

“I am confident that the trials we have faced amid the pandemic, in both an academic and clinical setting, will allow us to be strong and resilient nurses in the field.”

By October, the COVID case rate began to climb again as did hospitalizations.

“Nursing students were asked to return to simulation and virtual clinical learning,” Ouellet said. “This day-by-day schedule required an incredible amount of flexibility by the student and the faculty. Policies changed and we adapted.”

The spring 2021 semester has offered hope and many opportunities for the TRCC nursing program to participate in in-person clinical education. They have been able to bring students to the clinical setting and also participate in COVID vaccination efforts with the Uncas Health District and Day Kimball Hospital.

Nursing student Brittany Turner remarked, “These last couple semesters have been hectic for me. I lost my father due to COVID-19 one month before beginning the program and this was extremely hard for me. I have a 7-year-old son who I also had to home school while also trying to focus on nursing school so many days were very overwhelming….”

Online learning, she added, had its pros and cons.

“There is nothing like being hands-on and learning the practical way,” she said. “My first semester did not allow for as many in-person clinical days with actual patients, but the school did what they could to accommodate our learning.”

For Cassandra Reyes, a May TRCC nursing graduate who was in her second semester when the pandemic hit, the health crisis was a terrifying experience at first.

“At first, I even questioned if I was brave enough to be the next front-line worker, an ‘essential superhero,’ trying to save lives amid a modern-day plague,” she said. “I thought ‘superheroes are supposed to be fearless,’ and I said to myself ‘I’m so scared, how could I ever do this?’ In spite of the fear, stress, and ‘new normal’, all of us nursing students kept pushing.”

Reyes continued, “I finally realized that true bravery is not being fearless, it is taking action in the face of fear, deciding to overcome never before seen obstacles to be successful nurses.”

May 2021 marks three semesters of teaching nursing students through a global pandemic.

Nursing student Wilson states, “Edith Ouelett and faculty, in collaboration with the college, have gone above and beyond to keep the program running safely and successfully during the pandemic. On behalf of myself and my class, I want to say thank you for making it all possible for us to earn our nursing education.” 

 

— By Aidan Schuler, member of the Times’ Young Journalists Initiative

The original article can be found here: “TRCC educating future RNs during pandemic”

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In The News | Students from all walks of life graduate from Three Rivers Community College in virtual ceremony

Norwich, CT (The Day, May 29, 2021) — More than 400 graduates from Three Rivers Community College were celebrated on Saturday in a virtual commencement ceremony.

The prerecorded ceremony combined video montages of students learning, online profiles of graduates, speeches and video footage of in-person events held earlier this month where each graduate — from this year and last year — was able to walk across a stage dressed in their cap and gown.

Although the college gave students the opportunity to walk in a traditional commencement-like ceremony on May 7, the soon-to-be graduates couldn’t bring along their family members or friends because of the COVID-19 pandemic and didn’t receive their diplomas that day. Students were invited to pick up their diplomas this past week in a drive-thru processional.

The roughly 450 students officially graduated on Saturday during the online ceremony where faculty and staff members read every graduate’s name, and families and friends were welcome to log on and watch. Graduates included several high school students who earned their associate degrees while still in high school, a 74-year-old, a single mother, a father-and-son duo and nine valedictorians — the highest number of honorees the school has ever had.

Though the ceremony — the 56th annual commencement for Three Rivers — wasn’t what most students likely expected of their college graduation, faculty and staff said they were committed to honoring every student who persevered through the pandemic to earn their degree or certificate.

“Graduates of the Class of 2021, I recognize this is not the graduation you dreamed about with family and friends cheering you on as you walked across the stage,” said Mary Ellen Jukoski, president of Three Rivers Community College, who recognized that many members of the class were first-generation college graduates. 

Jukoski said the school was honored to celebrate students who come “from all walks of life, each with your own unique story,” and highlighted the stories of a few students who overcame obstacles to earn their diplomas this month, including a single mother of three who worked full-time while attending school and a student who was pursuing a career in human services after suffering from substance use disorder and being incarcerated.

Jukoski applauded the resilience of every graduate who achieved their academic goals while surviving a global pandemic that drastically changed their learning experience.

“As a class you have shown resilience and strength to complete your courses when the year was disrupted by the pandemic,” she said. “You faced the challenge of remote learning with perseverance and an unwavering resolve so that you could make your graduation today a reality.”

Allen Lyon, vice president of student government, graduated with an associate degree in environmental engineering technology and delivered the student address for the virtual ceremony. He shared the struggles he endured as he and his classmates pivoted to online learning during the pandemic.

“The pandemic has challenged me in ways I could have never imagined, it has challenged all of us,” Lyon said. “I went from seeing my Three Rivers friends and studying with them to being locked in my house and going it alone; I went from seeing my Three Rivers professors face to face to watching them glitch on (video calls).”

Despite its challenges, he said the pandemic forced him to value things he took for granted and give himself more credit for what he was capable of.

“We have our cap and gown and I realize now that if COVID can’t stop us from achieving our goals, nothing can,” the graduate said.

Three Rivers has students from a wide variety of backgrounds and ages, providing many an education they might not be able to get otherwise.

David Medina, 53, graduated with his general studies associate degree, after getting his construction management certificate from Three Rivers in 2012 and then taking classes on and off and part time. He graduated with his son.

Medina said that growing up in a rough neighborhood in New Jersey, he was told he’d never amount to anything, and he accepted that as a part of life. But he saw joining the U.S. Marine Corps as a way out, and his experience in the Marines from 1986 to 1990 showed him he could go to college.

“That’s why I pushed my kids to go, and that’s why I wanted to finish, to show them you could go and you can go,” he said.

Medina, who has mostly been working in carpentry since, said he went to college in his 20s but didn’t finish, as he needed to put his kids and his job first. Unfortunately, he then lost a lot of credits moving from New Jersey to Connecticut; he now lives in Norwich.

“It’s a long journey,” he said, and he credits his wife with pushing him to finish.

Grace Carlos, 21, said she is grateful she went to Three Rivers because it allowed her to figure out what she wanted to do: She entered as an engineering science major but realized she wasn’t passionate about it, and she was easily able to change her major to liberal arts and sciences.

“I probably would not have been able to do that at a four-year school, because that’s a lot of money to just change your major around,” she said with a laugh. Carlos is sticking around to take four more classes to get a CSCU Pathway degree in political science, meaning she’ll have two associate degrees.

She then wants to transfer to a four-year school to get her bachelor’s degree in political science. She said her interest in political science arose from working in the president’s office at Three Rivers, which involved interacting with elected officials.

The Montville student helped with the campaigns of Democratic state legislature candidates Baird Welch-Collins and Matt Geren last year, organized a gathering in Montville in July to encourage civic engagement among young people, and interned in the office of Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz in the fall.

Nine students were named as valedictorian on Saturday for their exemplary academic performance this year, which included completing all of their program requirements while maintaining a 4.0 GPA: Raleigh N. Aboy, Yamila N. Garcia, Valerie Glover, Anastasia Larionova, Katja A. Sieling, Sarah M. Walsh, Amanda E. Williams, Ara Wilnas and Paul Urbanowicz Jr.

Faculty and staff read the names of every graduate on Saturday, starting with 2020 graduates who weren’t able to walk because of the pandemic.

Jukoski and other members of the staff and faculty, including Kem Barfield, interim dean of academic and student affairs and Diba Khan-Bureau ’96, chair of the faculty senate, congratulated students on their commencement and their new roles as proud alumni of the college.

Jukoski told graduates that their graduation marked a step toward changing the world.

“Your graduation is an invitation to use your education to begin to heal the afflictions of society by applying the best of what you have learned in your head and felt in your heart,” Jukoski said. “As a class you have the power to stand for healthier conditions that will create a healthier society.”

She said she hopes graduates will go on to “create more equity, more justice and more joy in the world.” 

 

— By Erica Moser & Taylor Hartz, Day staff writers

The original article can be found here: “Students from all walks of life graduate from Three Rivers Community College in virtual ceremony”

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Nursing Pinning

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2. Student Life
3. Campus Events
4. Commencement 2023
5. Commencement 2022
6. Nursing Pinning

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Three Rivers Community College Nursing Pinning

Three Rivers Community College holds a Nursing Pinning Ceremony for each class of nursing graduates. At the end of each fall and spring semester, friends and family gather to watch their loved ones take the final step in becoming nurses. During the ceremony, the nursing graduates receive their nursing pin, which marks the completion of their degree and serves as a symbol of their readiness to become compassionate professional caregivers.

Nursing Pinning Ceremonies

TRCC Nursing Pinning Spring 2021

• Program – TRCC Nursing Pinning Spring 2021

TRCC Nursing Pinning Fall 2020

• Program – TRCC Nursing Pinning Fall 2020

TRCC Personal Nursing Pinning – Spring 2020

The Spring 2020 pinning ceremony was different than all that came before it because Covid-19 prevented a traditional ceremony. In place of a gathering at the campus, dedicated faculty drove to the homes of the graduates to personally present them with their pins, all while maintaining social distancing.

• Photo Album – TRCC Personal Nursing Pinning Album Spring 2020

TRCC Nursing Pinning Fall 2019

• Program – TRCC Nursing Pinning Fall 2019

TRCC Nursing Pinning Spring 2019

• Photo Album – TRCC Nursing Pinning Spring 2019
• Program – TRCC Nursing Pinning Spring 2019

TRCC Nursing Pinning Fall 2018

• Photo Album – TRCC Nursing Pinning Fall 2018 
• Program – TRCC Nursing Pinning Fall 2018 

TRCC Nursing Pinning Spring 2018

• Program – TRCC Nursing Pinning Spring 2018

TRCC Nursing Pinning Fall 2017

• Program – TRCC Nursing Pinning Fall 2017

TRCC Nursing Pinning Spring 2017

• Photo Album – TRCC Nursing Pinning Spring 2017 
• Program – TRCC Nursing Pinning Spring 2017

The History of Three Rivers Nursing Pinning

Nursing Pinning ceremonies are steeped in tradition and symbolism. They date back to the early 1800s when Nursing education took place in specialized training programs outside of the college setting. Since nurses then did not earn an academic degree, the pinning symbolized the completion of their education.

In 1975, Mohegan Community College graduated its first Nursing class. The graduates of this class were the designers of the nursing pin. (Note: In 1992, Mohegan Community College and Thames Valley State Technical College were combined to form Three Rivers Community College.) 

The design incorporated the college’s motto at that time, “peace through understanding, understanding through learning.” The dove with the olive branch in its mouth was taken from the college seal and is located at the bottom center of the pin. The dove represents peace and the olive branch represents learning.

In the center of the pin there is a caduceus (pronounced ka-doo-cee-us), an image of a wing-topped staff with two snakes intertwined. The two intertwined snakes represent symbols of fertility, wisdom and healing. The staff was carried by the ancient Greek heralds and ambassadors and represents truce, neutrality, and a noncombatant status. The caduceus has also long been the symbol of medical field.

Along the top edge, the pin bears the name of the College. Through the years, the names have changed to represent the name changes of the College.

The size of the pin has grown smaller over the years. This is due to the price in gold. Gold was chosen as the design material and color to represent achievement. Finally, the scalloped edge design is not completely understood but is thought to represent the challenges and successes of the nursing education experience.

Three Rivers is proud of all of our nursing graduates and wishes them successful and exciting careers as professional Registered Nurses. 

Nursing A.S.

Our Nursing program is highly competitive. Its outstanding results are credited to the great relationships developed between students and faculty. Graduates’ scores on the National Council Licensing Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) are consistently above the national average, with a three year average of over 93%. And, our graduates report a 100% job placement on the last three graduate surveys.

Learn more about the Three Rivers Nursing program here.

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Assistant Professor Cheryl Gilot Named a 2019-2020 Nightingale Award Recipient

Three Rivers Community College is excited to share that Assistant Professor of Nursing Cheryl Gilot has been selected as a 2019-2020 Nightingale Award recipient in recognition for her work that has gone above and beyond the call of duty.

The prestigious Nightingale Awards for Excellence in Nursing was developed by the Visiting Nurse Association to celebrate outstanding nurses and elevate the nursing profession. The goals of the program are to encourage retention, focus public attention, recognize the breadth and scope of nursing practice at the local level, and inspire future nurses. There are Nightingale Awards based in New Haven, New London and Hartford. Gilot is being recognized by the New London branch.

Of her accomplishment, Gilot says, “Receiving this Nightingale Award is an honor, one that I could not have accomplished without the support of the nursing profession. Becoming a nursing educator was a natural next step in my career. It is rewarding to watch nursing students progress from apprehensively completing assessments to becoming competent graduate nurses. Sharing the knowledge and experiences of my fellow nurses has also helped me better nurture and educate future nurses of tomorrow.”

Three Rivers President Mary Ellen Jukoski said, “I am pleased for Cheryl to receive a Nightingale Award and delighted to have her experience and expertise as a member of the nursing faculty to assist in preparing the next generation of students for careers in nursing.”

Edie Ouellet, Director of Nursing and Allied Health at Three Rivers, congratulated her stating, “As an educator at TRCC, Cheryl puts students and the integrity of nursing and healthcare education first. Cheryl leads and effectively collaborates with a team of nurse educators in a new concept-based curriculum.”

Cheryl Gilot has taught at Three Rivers Community College for three years and will be promoted to Associate Professor of Nursing on July 1. Her nursing career began at Lawrence + Memorial Hospital where she worked for 26 years, primarily in the Emergency Department, moving from a staff nurse to the Emergency Department Clinical Educator. While working on her Master’s in Nursing Education, she went to work as a LPN Clinical Instructor for the CT State Licensed Practical Nursing Program at Norwich Technical High School. She has also taught Medication Administration for Childcare Providers for 20 years throughout Eastern Connecticut and is a CPR and First Aid Instructor. She has maintained her Emergency Medical Technician certification and is a member of Mystic River Ambulance.

Nightingale Awards Ceremonies are usually celebrated with galas in New London, Hartford and New Haven in late April and May. Due to coronavirus, the New London event is currently postponed with the date to be determined in the future.

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Three Rivers Donates PPE Supplies To Local Hospitals

Three Rivers Community College has donated all of its personal protective equipment supplies to Backus Hospital (Hartford Health Care) and L+M Hospital (Yale New Haven Health) to help with the critical shortage of supplies during the Coronavirus outbreak.

Upon receiving the full support of Three Rivers President Mary Ellen Jukoski, supplies were gathered from both the Nursing program and the Science labs.

Nursing Laboratory Coordinator Denise Cortegiano and Assistant Professor of Nursing Cindy Arpin gathered the supplies from both the Nursing and Allied Health Laboratories. Supplies included 189 PPE gowns, over 2,000 masks, 5,700 gloves and assorted equipment sanitizer and protective eye gear and caps. The supplies were divided evenly and delivered to each facility by Arpin on Tuesday, March 24. The decision as to where the donations would go was coordinated in a state-wide effort by the CT League for Nursing Deans and Directors. Each School of Nursing partnered with their local clinical affiliates.

Three Rivers also brought 4,000 additional gloves to Backus Hospital that had been supplies for in the science labs.

President Mary Ellen Jukoski said “In these unprecedented times with local hospitals facing shortages, it’s important for Three Rivers to share PPE supplies that would otherwise be sitting in closets while the college is closed. We must all work together during this time to support one another.”

Three Rivers, and all other Connecticut State Colleges and Universities, transitioned to virtual learning as of March 20 for the remainder of the spring semester. College staff is telecommunicating and is available daily to assist registration by current and future students for the summer and fall semesters.

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Three Rivers Professor Teri Ashton Receives Nurse’s Touch Award

Three Rivers Community College is excited to share that Teri Ashton, Professor of Nursing, has received the Nurse’s Touch Award, presented by ATI Nursing Education. This prestigious, nationally recognized honor is presented to nurse educators who excel at teaching technical knowledge and skills to their students.

Nurse’s Touch Award honorees are nominated by peers and managers each fall. A rigorous review and scoring process whittles the nominees to one representative from each of the four regions of the United States. This elite echelon of nurse educators were chosen because they possessed four qualities in particular: professional communication, wellness/self-care, knowledge of nursing informatics/technology, and leadership/management.

On receiving the award, Ashton says, “I am both honored and humbled. I know that I am in good company as a nurse educator. We all strive to help every student become successful. I feel that, as an educator, I am also a learner, continuously stretching in new ways to improve in my various roles in the classroom, clinical, and lab settings. I appreciate both the recognition and the opportunity for continued growth that this award offers.”

Three Rivers President Mary Ellen Jukoski said, “We at Three Rivers are proud to have Teri as a part of our community, and warmly congratulate her on receiving the Nurse’s Touch Award. She is a deserving recipient, and the award celebrates the knowledge, empathy, and skill that she shares with the nursing students of Three Rivers every day.”

Ashton’s colleague, Assistant Professor of Nursing Carol Emmerthal, described her as having, “a direct yet empathetic approach when dealing with students in the classroom, small groups, and individually. This direct style extends to her communication style with colleagues. As a new educator, I grew to depend on Teri for direction.”

Edie Ouellet, Director of Nursing and Allied Health at Three Rivers, congratulated Ashton stating, “Teri recognizes that the knowledge and skills to be an effective nurse educator are constantly evolving. She embraces new techniques in the classroom and laboratory settings and remains a consistent professional role model and mentor for her students. We are very lucky to have Teri on our team and proud of the award she has been given. Congratulations, Teri!”

Ashton is a Professor of Nursing, who has taught at Three Rivers for 18 years. At Three Rivers, she is an active member of the Center for Teaching Committee, NLN Ambassador, and the Curriculum Development – Concept-Based Curriculum Work Committee. In the past, she has participated on the General Education Assessment Team, the Connecticut Community College Nursing Program Committee, College Congress, and the State Nursing Education Taskforce. She previously held positions at Shoreline Medical Center, Middlesex YMCA as a Cardiac Rehabilitation Nurse, and Hartford Hospital.

Ashton was scheduled to receive her award at the 2020 ATI National Nurse Educator Summit in Seattle, Washington, in April. The event has been cancelled due to the Coronavirus.

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54th Pinning Ceremony Celebrates 36 Nursing Student Graduates

On Friday, December 13, Three Rivers Community College held its fifty-fourth Nursing Pinning Ceremony, and hundreds of friends and family gathered to watch their loved ones take the final step in becoming nurses. During the ceremony, 36 nursing students of the Class of Fall 2019 received their nursing pin, marking the completion of their nursing degree and serving as a symbol of their readiness to be compassionate professional caregivers.

Faculty and administration spoke to the students, admiring the hard work and determination that brought them to this point. Their class advisor, Associate Professor Jillian Zupan, acknowledged that nursing is a challenging career, saying, “You are about to enter a profession that is not for the weak hearted or thin skinned, but it is for the people that can embrace the challenge, lift up the weak and give their heart, and that is you.”

Krista Prendergast, a former Three Rivers nursing professor, was the keynote speaker. Now an Assistant Professor of Nursing at Southern Connecticut State University, Prendergast was this class’ Nursing 101 course leader while at Three Rivers. She was honored to address them at the pinning and urged them to “Keep your mind open as you enter the nursing profession. You are smart and strong, and your ideas matter.”

Katelyn Chenail, Class Vice-President and Class Speaker, told her classmates, “Keep pushing forward – find your niche and be the best nurses you ever could imagine. I am so proud of our hard work, dedication and willingness to go on.” A candlelight recitation of the Nightingale Pledge came after the presentation of the students’ nursing pins.

The students have earned an Associate of Science in Nursing. Upon completion of a licensing examination, the graduates will have earned the credential of Registered Nurse (RN).

Three Rivers graduates’ scores on the National Council Licensing Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) are consistently above the national average, with a three-year average of over 93%. Graduates also report a 99% job placement on the last three graduate surveys.

List of Nursing Graduates with their towns

• Sarah Behne, Norwich, CT
• Ma Agnes Booc, Old Mystic, CT
• Kathrine Bustamante, Portland, CT
• Michelle Callosingh-Nembhard, Waterbury, CT
• Amanda Caouette, Baltic, CT
• Katelyn Chenail, Moosup, CT
• Lindsay Danner, Groton, CT
• Christine David, Waterford, CT
• Anah Deangelis, Sterling, CT
• Alyssa DeCrosta, Killingworth, CT
• Courtney Duff, Oakdale, CT
• Kelsey Durand, Plainfield, CT
• Katherine Gagnier, Colchester, CT
• Laci Gardner, Norwich, CT
• Maria Grabill, Lisbon, CT
• Karen Greb, Dayville, CT
• Heather Gruwell, Chaplin, CT
• Meghan Ivey, Ledyard, CT
• Evelyn Johnson, New London, CT
• Kiari Johnson-Claudio, Salem, CT
• Tea Kutrolli, New London, CT
• Amanda Marchand, Baltic, CT
• Fallon McIvor, Bozrah, CT
• Donna Miller, Niantic, CT
• Alexander Nelson, Brookly, CT
• Kristina Oddo, Oakdale, CT
• Stefanie Owens, New London, CT
• Tabitha Parciak, Jewett City, CT
• Beth Rogers, Oakdale, CT
• Keleigh Santarcangelo, Plainfield, CT
• Jessica Scrivano, Willimantic, CT
• Sonia Stavens, Waterfod, CT
• Magdalena Tkaczuk, Colchester, CT
• Jiraporn Walton, Old Mystic, CT
• Cindy-Jo Youssef, North Grosvenordale, CT
• Ashley Zupan, East Haddam, CT

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In the News | New nurses on the floor

Norwich, CT (The Day, December 14, 2019) — The 54th class in the Associate Degree Nursing Program at Three Rivers Community College receive their nursing pins in a ceremony Friday, December 13, 2019 in the college’s multi-purpose room.

The 35 graduates have completed an associates of science degree in nursing and upon completion of their licensing examination will earn the credential as registered nurses.

 

The graduates heard from Three Rivers President Mary Ellen Jukoski, class speaker Katelyn Chenail, and a keynote address from former faculty member Krista Prendergast, now an assistant professor of nursing at Southern Connecticut State University.

The new nurses received the Three Rivers nursing pin, which was designed by the first class to graduate from what was then Mohegan Community College in 1975.

 

— By Sean D. Elliot, Day staff writer

The original article and larger gallery of photos can be found here: ‘New nurses on the floor’

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Three Rivers Pinning Ceremony Celebrates 34 Nursing Students

On Thursday, May 23, Three Rivers Community College held the fifty-third Nursing Pinning Ceremony. During the ceremony, 34 nursing students of the Class of Spring 2019 received their nursing pin, marking the completion of their nursing degree and serving as a symbol of their readiness to be compassionate professional caregivers.

Faculty and administration spoke to the students, admiring the hard work and determination that brought them to this point. Their class advisor, Assistant Professor Cheryl Gilot, acknowledged their efforts saying, “Their journey into nursing has entailed huge amounts of hard work, countless sacrifices for them. They will see and experience more than they can ever imagine. They will have the privilege of caring for others at a difficult time in their lives. They will at times be the leading source of hope, compassion and care.” She went on to urge the nursing graduates to “always remember the power of truly being present with those in your care and instill hope to those in need.”

The keynote speaker was John Brady, a 1999 Three Rivers nursing graduate. After working for years as a Certified Emergency Nurse, he is now the Vice President of AFT Connecticut. Brady encouraged the students and urged them to “take care of each other while advocating for your patients.” Rachael Houle, Class President and Class Speaker, told her classmates “we are nurses now and no matter the area of practice or education, we are connected by an inherent ability to help people. This program has given you the knowledge and skills, but you brought the drive.” A candlelight recitation of the Nurse’s Nightingale Pledge came after the presentation of the students’ nursing pins.

The students have earned an Associate of Science in Nursing. Upon completion of a licensing examination, the graduates will have earned the credential of Registered Nurse (RN).

Three Rivers graduates’ scores on the National Council Licensing Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) are consistently above the national average, with a three-year average of over 93%. Graduates also report a 99% job placement on the last three graduate surveys.

List of Nursing Graduates with their towns

Jamie Arroyo, Jewett City, CT

Sherieffa Bailey, Hartford, CT

Andrea Bergeson, Baltic, CT

Rachel Bissonette, Coventry, CT

Ma Clarice Boardman, Groton, CT

Zaha Bush, Salem, CT

Carley Cann, Groton, CT

Katie Caruso, Lebanon, CT

Ashley Cote, East Killingly, CT

Yosha Dhungana, New London, CT

Beth Falcone, Mystic, CT

Kylie Flanagan, Amston, CT

Rachel Greiner, Griswold, CT

Jonathan Hall, Woodstock, CT

Jessie Hatfield, Uncasville, CT

Rachael Houle, Danielson, CT

Melissa Hubert, Brooklyn, CT

Maricar Knowles, Oakdale, CT

Jennifer Lemieux, North Grosvenordale, CT

Angela Narducci, Higganum, CT

Julia O’Connor, Amston, CT

Ikenna Okechukwu, Manchester, CT

Emily O’Rourke, Pawcatuck, CT

Hannah Phelps, Brooklyn, CT

Michelle Quiles, East Hartford, CT

Christine Reed, Groton, CT

Gregory Rezendes, Ledyard, CT

Elizabeth Rose, Pawcatuck, CT

Clara Smith, Middletown, CT

Nicole Stevens, Niantic, CT

Morgan Turner, Griswold, CT

Melissa Tuthill, Norwich, CT

Alexis Williams, Plainfield, CT

Macy Zadora, Griswold, CT

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