Forty-one local adults joining the healthcare field were recognized during the Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES Adult Practical Nursing Program’s 62nd Commencement and Pledge Ceremony on Wednesday, June 24, at Herkimer College.
Herkimer BOCES Adult Practical Nursing Program Coordinator Marcia Thomas-Bruce gave opening remarks and gave messages of thanks to everyone involved with the nursing program and the graduation ceremony.
“To everyone here tonight to celebrate our graduates – thank you all spouses, parents, children and mentors for being here and supporting these students throughout their journey as they celebrate their achievements and follow their dream of becoming licensed practical nurses,” Thomas-Bruce said. “Your outstanding and unwavering support cannot be measured or described in words.”
The Herkimer BOCES Adult Practical Nursing Program offers three options: a full-time day class, a part-time day class and a part-time evening class. Students from all three classes who completed the program and have the opportunity to pass exams to become licensed practical nurses were celebrated during the ceremony.
The following are the 2026 graduates of the Herkimer BOCES Adult Practical Nursing Program:
Full-time program: Tasha Chesebro, Autumn Dodson, Katelyn Lowell, Starlene Palmeter, Mariana Parra, Sanela Ruznic, Kristia Souza, Richard Spicci and Andrea Vasco.
Part-time day program: Jade Arzu, Danielle Billins, Samantha Burchell, Lydia Greif, Samantha Horning, Olena Ivanitska, Cearrah Jones-Messina, Jolene King, McKenna Knapp, Stephanie Lafountain, Allan Loos, Renee Miller, Theresa Moran, Selena Nalaskowski, Hunter Preston, Colleen Shrewsberry and Cassandra Tesiero.
Part-time evening program: Umulkar Abdi, Alina Arher, Eva Bailey, Samantha Barnes, Kaidren Claus, Sierra Deats, Kashiana Fresco, Renee Hart, Nicole Horning, Lesley Lawrence, Jeremiah Rios, Schrell Saunders, Liz Santana, Sarah Stalter and Cameron Wilkes.
During the ceremony, Herkimer BOCES District Superintendent D.J. Shepardson gave welcoming comments. Janet Vickers, a Class of 1981 graduate of the Adult Practical Nursing Program who went on to become a registered nurse and a nursing instructor until retiring in 2022, gave the guest speech. Burchell gave the part-time day student speech, and Saunders gave the part-time evening student speech. Thomas-Bruce announced the special recognition award winners, Herkimer BOCES Board of Education President Holly Pullis presented the diplomas to graduates, LPN faculty awarded the graduation pins, instructor Erin Brien led students in a candle-lighting ceremony and Herkimer BOCES Director of Instructional Support Services & Adult Education Ruth Leavitt officially announced the Class of 2026.
The following were the winners of the academic and clinical awards:
Highest Average in Fundamentals of Nursing: Dodson for full-time, Burchell for part-time day and Stalter for part-time evening.
Highest Average in Medical-Surgical Nursing: Burchell for part-time day and Claus for part-time evening.
Most Improved Clinical Student: Greif for part-time day and Fresco for part-time evening.
Best Clinical Nurse: Loos for part-time day and Barnes for part-time evening.
Florence Nightingale Nurse Award: Lafountain for part-time day and Hart for part-time evening.
View some photos below or check our Herkimer BOCES Adult Practical Nursing Program and Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES Facebook pages for many more photos.
The Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES Adult Practical Nursing Program Class of 2026 on stage during the program’s 62nd Commencement and Pledge Ceremony on Wednesday June 24, at Herkimer College:
The Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES Adult Practical Nursing Program Class of 2026 participates in a candle-lighting ceremony during the program’s 62nd Commencement and Pledge Ceremony on Wednesday June 24, at Herkimer College:
