Blue Ridge Community College holds pinning ceremony for 40 in the nursing program

Benjamin Rickert
·2 min read

On May 8, graduates of Blue Ridge Community College’s M.E. Oliphant School of Nursing gathered on the Henderson County Campus to celebrate their accomplishments at the 36th annual School of Nursing Nurse Pinning Ceremony in memory of Renee Young.

On May 8, Blue Ridge Community College held a pinning ceremony for 40 graduates of its nursing program.
On May 8, Blue Ridge Community College held a pinning ceremony for 40 graduates of its nursing program.

Director of Nursing Dr. Amy Szoka said the ceremony is a time-honored tradition which represents the completion of instruction and induction into the profession. This year, 40 Blue Ridge students were pinned.

Dr. Laura B. Leatherwood, president of Blue Ridge Community College, talked about the importance of nurses in her speech to the graduates.

“If you ever want to be inspired, ask a nurse why they chose their profession, because choosing this work is, at its core, choosing something larger than one’s self,” she said. “Throughout our lifetimes, every person here today will receive care from the nurses in our communities. They are truly with us until the end.”

Graduate Miranda Hill gave a speech and shared what receiving the iconic pin meant for her and the nursing class of 2024.

"Our pins we will receive today represent more than just a badge; they symbolize our entry into a profession that demands integrity, resilience, and a deep sense of humanity," she said. "They signify our commitment to making a difference in the lives of others, whether it's holding a patient's hand, offering a comforting word, or providing life-saving interventions."

The ceremony honored the life and memory of Renee Young, whose family established a scholarship in her honor through Blue Ridge’s Educational Foundation. In late 2023, Paul Young donated $1M to support Blue Ridge’s work to educate nurses, which most recently covered the fees for a registered nurse exam review course for each graduate.

“May your gift result in hundreds, even thousands, of caring, gentle, and compassionate nurses over the years serving our families here in Western North Carolina,” Leatherwood said to Young from the podium.

This spring, Blue Ridge Community College is accepting applications through May 19 for the Fall 2024 nursing class. More information about the program is available online at www.blueridge.edu/nursing.

The following students received pins at the pinning ceremony:

Shannon Allison

Heather Anderson*

Jennifer Appollo

Caylee Ball

Allie Berglund

Cassidee Cali*

Stephanie Dunbar

Jessica Fisher

Megan Garren

Merry Chandlar Goins

Timothy Green

Alexander Greene*

Julia Greer

Lee Guidry

Rachel Heidbreder

Jennifer Helton

Ingrid Hernandez-Perez*

Miranda Hill*

Joseph Kanupp*

Oksana Kolodich

Hussein Mane*

Kerensa Mintz

Alyssa Moore

Brianna Mottershead

Mary “Ginny” Parham

Allison Parker*

Kaya Post

Jennifer Preston*

Rebecca Richards

David Rowe

Elizabeth Salitre Huapilla

Brittany Sellars

Lauren Sherrod*

Michael Spicer

Macii Stephenson-Pickett

Timothy Thew*

Casey Wayman

Preston Winters*

Karli Wood

Sara Woodward*

* Indicates enrollment in the WNC Regionally Increasing Baccalaureate Nurses Program (RIBN) with dual enrollment in the Western Carolina University School of Nursing.

This article originally appeared on Hendersonville Times-News: BRCC holds pinning ceremony for 40 in the nursing program