Finger Lakes Health College of Nursing & Health Sciences 2026 Commencement and Pinning Ceremonies

Geneva- Finger Lakes Health College of Nursing and Health Sciences graduated its sixteenth class this year, with 39 students receiving their pins and diplomas. Nearly half of the graduates — 17 in total — are beginning their careers with University of Rochester Medicine Finger Lakes Health.

The commencement and pinning ceremonies, held at The Smith Opera House, took place on May 17. 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 2026 are Danairi Alfonso (Rochester); Ashley Barr (Lyons); Abigail Blair (Geneva); Kelsey Callipare (Savannah); Elizabeth Cohrs (Geneva); Randi Dillon (Geneva); Alison Dockstader (Bath); Laurie Gates (Victor); Nicholas Greco (Ovid); Shalane Hall (Oceanside); Nikki Halladay (Auburn); Kay Ronda Hannah (Rochester); Marcus Harris (Alexander); Leslie Holmes (Rochester); Megan House (Seneca Falls); Angela Howell (Penn Yan); Stephanie Johnson (Canandaigua); Kristy Johnson-Brower (Taberg); Allison Kenyon (Ovid); Leah Kier (Palmyra); Leigh Koflanovich (Wolcott); Leah Laws (Waterloo); Trinity Maestre (Branchport) Marcy Mann (Savannah); Whitney Mateo (Newark); Caitlyn McDonald (Lyons); Haleigh Mills (Ovid); Sarah Moran (Waterloo); Velivong Nhalay (Henrietta); Kristen Panus (Auburn); Lakeyia Roberson (Rochester); Logan Shaulis (Ovid); Stephanie Sheffield (Rochester); Morgan Smith (Clyde); Alexus Spann (Geneva); Caitlin Sutton (Rochester); Harmony Wassom (Molalla); Sarah Wech (Ovid), and Stephanie Westfall (Interlaken).

 Kathleen Mills, EdD, MS, RN, Dean, Finger Lakes Health College of Nursing & Health Sciences served as the Master of Ceremonies for the commencement ceremony and presented the Dean’s Address. 

Jose Acevedo, MD, MBA, President and CEO University of Rochester Medicine Finger Lakes Health, delivered the President’s Address. 

Eileen M. Gage, MS, RN, Finger Lakes College of Nursing Board Chair was the keynote speaker. 

Class President, Alexus Spann, gave the class address and Jose Acevedo 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, Amy Tones, MS, RN, and Jolie White, 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 Marcus Harris.

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 Abigail Blair 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 is remembered for her powerful connection to people in college 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. Caitlin Sutton 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.  Trinity Maestre was 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 Marcus Harris for serving as a role model and mentor to others and demonstrating a love for family, community and the healthcare profession.

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 about Finger Lakes Health College of Nursing & Health Sciences, please visit flhcon.edu/or call (315) 787-4005.  Application deadline is June 1 for the 2026-2027 academic calendar.