The Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES Adult Practical Nursing Program’s 58th Commencement and Pledge Ceremony was a special one because it marked a return to a traditional graduation following two years disrupted by COVID-19.
The Class of 2020 graduated in a Herkimer BOCES parking lot, and the Class of 2021 was split into three separate ceremonies in the community center at the German Flatts Town Park.
“This year, we are able to bring everybody back together and graduate them – both the full-time and part-time groups – together,” Herkimer BOCES Adult Practical Nursing Program Coordinator Sara Nicolette said, during the ceremony.
The 58th Commencement and Pledge Ceremony took place on Wednesday, June 22, at Herkimer High School. Thirty local adults were recognized for completing the licensed practical nursing program and are now in position to work as LPNs and/or continue their education in healthcare.
Herkimer BOCES offers three LPN programs: a full-time program, a part-time day program and a part-time evening program. The next full-time class starts in July, and recruitment is still taking place for the next part-time programs that start in September. For information, call 315-867-2206 or visit www.herkimer-boces.org.
At the beginning of the ceremony, Nicolette asked past graduates of the program who were in the crowd to stand up and be recognized.
“It’s always good to see our graduates and our past graduates as well,” she said. “Our school is a tradition.”
Next, Herkimer BOCES District Superintendent Sandra Sherwood gave welcoming comments and pointed out the significance of this being the program’s 58th Commencement and Pledge Ceremony.
“We’re very proud of that, and we’re very proud of you,” Sherwood said.
Sherwood told the graduates that they are furthering their futures for themselves and their families and also filling a community need by becoming nurses during a pandemic.
“Your tenacity, hard work and dedication to the care of others is inspirational to all of us,” she said.
Danielle Spencer, who joined the full-time program in 2019 and graduated in 2020, gave the guest speech. Spencer is now an LPN on the acute care floor at Little Falls Hospital.
Spencer recalled being in class in 2020 and hearing that the students might be not be in class the next day because of COVID-19, and sure enough, schools closed to in-person learning at the time.
“We weren’t sure if we were going to graduate,” she said. “It was pretty intense.”
Spencer finished her nursing education virtually, graduated in a parking lot and went on to become a nurse in a hospital setting during a pandemic.
“This program gave me those building blocks to do that,” she said.
Later in her speech, Spencer offered advice to the 2022 graduates.
“I want you to remember that what you do is beyond important and to appreciate yourself every day that you’re doing this,” she said.
Nursing program instructor Marcia Thomas-Bruce gave the faculty address, called up students from each program to provide comments and gave the graduates various tidbits of advice such as to see no limits, work hard and lead by example.
“Your true dedication to the profession shows how valuable you really are,” she said.
Another highlight of the ceremony was the chance to recognize nursing program instructor Janet Vickers, who is retiring after more than 30 years with the program. Nursing students Alma Sljivo, Dwane Wynn Jr. and Patricia Carney presented Vickers with flowers and a plaque and spoke about her influence.
Graduate Dawn Sangster spoke about Vickers during her speech on behalf of the full-time program. She said Vickers has been an inspiration to the students.
“She is just the epitome of what you want to be as a nurse,” Sangster said.
Sangster also talked about how demanding the full-time class is and discussed her own challenges and successes.
“I want to encourage others to follow their dreams,” she said.
Graduate Suzanna Price gave the speech for the part-time day program. She thanked family and supporters and said the nursing program faculty had a huge impact on the students’ lives.
“You have made our dream of becoming a nurse a reality, and I am forever grateful,” Price said.
Graduate Sherry Hewitt gave the speech for the part-time evening class. She talked about what it was like to join the program with people she didn’t know in September 2020 during a pandemic and how students were split into three different classrooms initially.
“After a little time, those strangers became classmates,” Hewitt said, before later adding that her classmates would become more like friends and family on their journey to become nurses. “We helped each other through everything: the good, the bad and the COVID.”
The final parts of the ceremony included Nicolette announcing the winners of special recognition awards, Herkimer BOCES Board of Education President Thomas Shypski presenting diplomas to the graduates, nursing faculty awarding graduation pins to the students, the graduates participating in a candle-lighting ceremony, Vickers leading the graduates in reciting a nursing pledge and Herkimer BOCES Director of Adult, Early Childhood and Outreach Education Mary Kline officially announcing the Class of 2022.
2022 Graduates
Full-time program:
- Adela Bilalic
- Mara Bongiorno
- Patricia Carney
- Allie Catanzaro
- Tamara Cosilmon
- Kelley Cugliandro
- Morgan Entwistle
- Rhonda Greig
- Samantha Jodway
- Taylor Lee
- Dawn Sangster
- Julie Tilt
- Jennifer Wick
Part-time day program:
- Courtney Bottorff
- Beverly Hall
- Samantha Hall
- Hillary Mancini
- Suzanna Price
- Tiffany Pugliese
- Alma Sljivo
Part-time evening program:
- Bailee Baker
- Taylor Beach
- Melissa Birdsall
- Patricia Cook
- Amanda Farquhar
- Sherry Hewitt
- Ashley Krasko
- Kristine Neuschel
- Karen Wellenstein
- Duane Wynn Jr.
LPN graduation awards
Highest Average in Fundamentals of Nursing:
- Full-time: Julie Tilt
- Part-time day: Suzanna Price and Tiffany Pugliese (tied)
- Part-time evening: Karen Wellenstein
Highest Average in Medical Surgical Nursing:
- Full-time: Kelley Cugliandro
- Part-time day: Hillary Mancini
- Part-time evening: Karen Wellenstein
Professional and Academic Improvement:
- Full-time: Allie Catanzaro
- Part-time day: Samantha Hall
- Part-time evening: Melissa Birdsall
Best Clinical Nurse:
- Full-time: Taylor Lee
- Part-time day: Suzanna Price
- Part-time evening: Sherry Hewitt
Florence Nightingale Award:
- Full-time: Patricia Carney
- Part-time day: Alma Sljivo
- Part-time evening: Duane Wynn Jr.
The Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES Adult Practical Nursing Program Class of 2022 participates in a candle-lighting ceremony during the program’s 58th Commencement and Pledge Ceremony on Wednesday, June 22, at Herkimer High School.
The Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES Adult Practical Nursing Program Class of 2022 stands on stage during the program’s 58th Commencement and Pledge Ceremony on Wednesday, June 22, at Herkimer High School.
Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES Adult Practical Nursing Program Coordinator Sara Nicolette speaks during the program’s 58th Commencement and Pledge Ceremony on Wednesday, June 22, at Herkimer High School.
The Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES Adult Practical Nursing Program instructor Janet Vickers (on the right at the podium), who is retiring after more than 30 years with the program, leads the Class of 2022 in a nursing pledge during a candle-lighting ceremony at the program’s 58th Commencement and Pledge Ceremony on Wednesday, June 22, at Herkimer High School.
Members of the Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES Adult Practical Nursing Program Class of 2022 participate in a candle-lighting ceremony during the program’s 58th Commencement and Pledge Ceremony on Wednesday, June 22, at Herkimer High School.
Danielle Spencer, a 2020 graduate of the Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES Adult Practical Nursing Program who is now working as a licensed practical nurse at Little Falls Hospital, gives the guest speech during the program’s 58th Commencement and Pledge Ceremony on Wednesday, June 22, at Herkimer High School.
Danielle Spencer, a 2020 graduate of the Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego
BOCES Adult Practical Nursing Program who is now working as a licensed
practical nurse at Little Falls Hospital, gives the guest speech during
the program’s 58th Commencement and Pledge Ceremony on Wednesday, June 22, at Herkimer High School.