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).
38 newly pinned nurses smile in celebration at Three Rivers Community College.
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
READ MORENursing Pinning
[mk_page_section bg_image=”https://threerivers.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/nursing-students.jpg” bg_position=”center center” bg_repeat=”no-repeat” bg_stretch=”true” full_width=”true” padding_top=”0″ padding_bottom=”0″ sidebar=”sidebar-1″][vc_column css=”.vc_custom_1469639571895{padding-bottom: 0px !important;}”][vc_empty_space height=”450px”][mk_fancy_title strip_tags=”true” tag_name=”h1″ color=”#ffffff” size=”80″ font_weight=”bold” txt_transform=”uppercase” margin_bottom=”0″ font_family=”Oswald” font_type=”google” el_class=”page-title”]NURSING PINNING[/mk_fancy_title][vc_empty_space height=”100px” el_class=”page-titlebg” css=”.vc_custom_1469639726224{background-color: rgba(253,181,21,0.8) !important;*background-color: rgb(77,49,142) !important;}”][/vc_column][/mk_page_section][vc_row fullwidth=”true” css=”.vc_custom_1469635777230{padding-left: 20px !important;}”][vc_column][ultimate_spacer height=”10″][ultimate_spacer height=”20″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row fullwidth=”true”][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1629126537492{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]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
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.
TRCC Nursing Pinning Fall 2019
TRCC Nursing Pinning Spring 2019
TRCC Nursing Pinning Fall 2018
TRCC Nursing Pinning Spring 2018
TRCC Nursing Pinning Fall 2017
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.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][mk_custom_sidebar sidebar=”sidebar-19″][mk_custom_sidebar el_class=”programpage-sidebar” sidebar=”sidebar-25″][/vc_column][/vc_row] READ MORE54th 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
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.
Member of the 54th class in the Associate Degree Nursing Program at Three Rivers Community College cheer at the conclusion of their pinning ceremony Friday, December 13, 2019 in the colleges multipurpose room. (Sean D. Elliot/The Day)
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’
READ MOREThree 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
READ MOREThree Rivers Community College Pinning Ceremony Celebrates 27 Nursing Students
On Friday, December 14, Three Rivers Community College held the fifty-second Nursing Pinning Ceremony. During the ceremony, 27 nursing students of the Class of Fall 2018 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 Carol Emmerthal, congratulated them saying, “I wish you joy in providing care and comfort with compassion. Remain that active voice to the changes in healthcare and our nursing profession. I wish you a long and fulfilling career in our nursing profession, a life of growth and lifelong learning.”
Lindsay Thompson, Class Speaker, urged her classmates to “be the best that you can be, just for today, and you will be amazed at the future that you will create for yourself.” A candlelight recitation of the Nurse’s 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 91%. Graduates also report a 99% job placement on the last three graduate surveys.
Jillian Bellman, Chaplin
Melissa Bogue, Norwich
Erika Bourgoin, Colchester
Jaime Cleary, Quaker Hill
Marjory Coeur, New Britain
Yira Colon, Groton
Patricia Couture, Sterling
Zackery Cowan, Voluntown
Samantha David, Clinton
Deirdre Dillon, Lebanon
Sydney Dubreuil, Niantic
Alyson Dziavit, Chaplin
Vickie Han, Oakdale
Caleb Holbrook, Hebron
Melissa Keegan, Niantic
Sarah-Ann Kotecki, Griswold
Lauren Limauge, East Lyme
Valentina Matikaynen, Waterford
Claire Nortz, Salem
Kimberly Platt, Canterbury
Julia Rubin, Griswold
Sydney Schukei, North Franklin
Stephanie Stearns, Mystic
Lindsay Thompson, Brooklyn
Kerry Thornton, Gales Ferry
Michael Welch, Norwich
Kathryn Wyland, Voluntown
READ MORE