Finger Lakes Health College of Nursing & Health Sciences 2025 Commencement and Pinning Ceremonies

Geneva- Finger Lakes Health College of Nursing and Health Sciences graduated its fifteenth class. Thirty students were pinned and graduated this year.

The commencement and pinning ceremonies, held at The Smith Opera House, took place on May 18. The ceremonies were also lived streamed on fingerlakes1.com so that family members, friends and others could share the special moment with the graduates. 

Photos from both events can be viewed on Flickr.

Finger Lakes Health College of Nursing and Health Sciences graduates for 2025 are Priti Bhatia (Ithaca); Rachel Briffa (Brockport); Rebecka Brown (Marion); Christian Bryant (Rochester); Camile Burns (Canandaigua); Danesha E Collins (Buffalo); Lauren A Crane (Palmyra); Brittny N Cure (Phelps); Madison Dennie (Palmyra); Shatora Y Duncan (Rochester); Quiana D Jackson (Rochester); Rachel Jenkins (Auburn); Karisma Johnson-Hart (W. Henrietta) Anna G Kubasiewicz (Palmyra); Temika S Levert (Rochester); Li Liu (Rochester); Chelsea E Manahan (Penn Yan); Kelli M O'Connor (Savannah); Paige E Podgorski (Shortsville); Sharese Reed (Rochester); Monet L Rivera (Rochester); Lucy Rono (Rochester); Lyrian B Rook (Seneca Falls); Madelynn R Same (Geneva); Marisa N Smith (Geneva); Kayleigh Stanwix (Rochester); Kaneesha L Underwood (Rochester); Lilliana West (Macedon); Nikkisha Whitty (Rochester); Altrishawna S Wilson (Rochester)

Kathleen Mills, EdD, MS, RN, Dean, Finger Lakes Health College of Nursing & Health Sciences served as the Master of Ceremonies for the commencement ceremony at 1 p.m.; she also presented the Dean’s Address. 

Gregory Hoffman-Fragale, DNP, MHA, RN, NEA-BC, CCRN, GERO-BC, CENP, LNHA, Chief Nursing Officer, UR Medicine Finger Lakes Health, delivered the Chief Nursing Officer Address. 

Maura Delehanty, MSOL, RN, Director of Critical Care, UR Medicine Finger Lakes Health was the keynote speaker. 

Class President, Kaneesha Underwood, gave the class address and Gregory Hoffman-Fragale and Kathleen Mills presented the degrees to the graduates.

Earlier in the day, Mills welcomed students and guests to the pinning ceremony and recognized the faculty for their commitment to preparing the next generation of nurses to care for the community.

Faculty Advisors, Shauna Larsen, MS, RN and Amy Tones, MS, RN, presented pins to the graduates and Mills presented the special awards. 

The Academic Achievement Award for highest academic achievement in the nursing program was presented to Paige Podgorski.

Finger Lakes Health College of Nursing & Health Sciences Class Choice Award is by class vote, given to the graduate nurse who has demonstrated principles of relationship-based care through creating healthy relationships.  This year’s class chose Altrishawna Wilson to receive the award.

The Emily Carson Memorial Award, is given in memory of Emily, a 2010 graduate who was an extraordinary nurse, a loving mother, daughter and sister and an unwavering patient advocate. Emily had such a powerful connection to people in our organization and within the community because of her great spirit, warm sense of humor, dedication to the nursing profession and the compassion she displayed for her patients.  Kayleigh Stanwix was honored with this award. 

The Aubrey DeMillo Memorial Award is given in honor of Aubrey, a member of the Class of 2013. This award is given to a graduate who shares the same philosophy of nursing that 

Aubrey evidenced with every interaction she had with patients, peers and faculty, patience, compassion, determination to learn, confidence and passion.  Camille Burns and Karisma Johnson-Hart were presented with this award.

In honor and recognition of James J. Dooley, past long-tenured President & CEO of Finger Lakes Health, who served as the first President of the Finger Lakes Health College of Nursing, the James J. Dooley Memorial Award was presented to Kaneesha Underwood for serving as a role model and mentor to others and demonstrating a love for family, community and the healthcare profession.

DAISY Awards were presented to a student and faculty member who demonstrated their outstanding dedication to the mission, vision and values of the college as well as compassionate patient care. The student DAISY Award went to Marissa Smith, and the faculty DAISY award went to Amy Tones, MS, RN.

Finger Lakes Health College of Nursing and Health Sciences is dedicated to providing a hands-on education with a flexible schedule and offers a Tuition Buy-Back program that provides eligible Finger Lakes Health employees in job categories including Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs), Registered Nurses (RNs to BSNs) and Medical Technologists with assistance in repaying student loan debt. Finger Lakes Health also offers many sign-on bonuses, tuition assistance programs and options to fund education for a career in healthcare. 

To learn more Finger Lakes Health College of Nursing & Health Sciences, please visit flhcon.edu/or call (315) 787-4005.  Application deadline is June 1 for the 2024-2025 academic calendar.

Finger Lakes Health College of Nursing & Health Sciences Class of 2024 Pinning

 

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