Salem, Ohio – Kent State at Salem held its annual nursing convocation and pinning ceremony at Avian on the Water in Canfield, during which 44 students received their nursing pins and recited the nursing pledge. All are receiving degrees this year through the bachelor’s of science in nursing (BSN) program on the Salem campus.
Dr. Mary Lou Ferranto, coordinator of the BSN program at Salem, presented the 2015 class of graduates, while nursing faculty members presented various awards and the students’ pins. Special guests included Dr. Steve Nameth, dean of the Kent State Salem Campus, and Dr. Barbara Broome, dean of the Kent State University College of Nursing.
Six students were recognized for their academic and leadership achievements. Brindusa Aldea received the Award for Scholarly Activity; Tommi Haidet received the Award for Clinical Excellence; Stacia Winland and Marisa McNicol received the Spirit of Nursing Awards; and Rachel Smith and Sheila Daniels received the Nursing Leadership Awards.
Mathew Duck and Daniels were also recognized for representing Kent State University on a medical mission trip to Haiti in April, along with Ferranto. They were selected to join a group of nursing faculty and students from the Kent Campus on the trip, during which they helped treat more than 1,000 patients in just three days.
The Kent State Salem BSN class of 2015 includes students who graduate in May, August and December.
May graduates include Brindusa Aldea, Amelia Bellino, Destiny Burris, Raquel Costlow, Mathew Duck, Ashley Floor, Brandon Floor, Jordan Floor, Nicole Gallimore, Melissa Hartley, Courtney McIlvain, Mallorie McManus, Marisa McNicol, Staci Medved, Kara Noble, Anne Pears, Brittney Ridgeway, Stephanie Slattery, Rachel Smith, Jordan Stoddard, Alisha Syx and Casey Yourex.
August graduates include Gregory Cress, Sheila Daniels, Tommi Haidet, Caleb Huffman, Kiera Malick, Alexus McCoy, Daniel Montgomery, Lexi Shivers, Leah Wilson and Stacia Winland.
December graduates include: Margaret Bidwell, Cameron Brinker, Susan Carli, Hannah Duncan, Shannon Householder, Danielle Karabin, Kayla Kemats, Christina Myers, Pete Ostipiak, Rosa Pritchard, Jaclyn Sheldon and Julia VanArdsdale.