FLH College of Nursing & Health Sciences 2021 Graduation Celebrations

Finger Lakes Health College of Nursing and Health Sciences graduated its twelfth class. The pinning and commencement ceremony took place on Friday, May 14, at Kings Catering & Party House. The ceremonies were also lived streamed on fingerlakes1.com so that family members, friends and others could share the special moment with the graduates. 47 students graduated this year.

Photos from both events can be viewed and accessed from Finger Lakes Health’s website through Flickr and the streaming video can be viewed on YouTube.

Kathleen Mills, MS, RN, Dean, Finger Lakes Health College of Nursing & Health Sciences, welcomed students to the commencement ceremony and recognized the faculty for a job well done. Dr. Jose Acevedo, President & CEO of Finger Lakes Health and President, Finger Lakes Health College of Nursing & Health Sciences, gave the President’s Address. Mills gave the Dean’s Address. Kathy Hochul, New York State Lieutenant Governor gave the keynote address through zoom.

Dr. Acevedo and Ardelle Bigos, MS, RN, CMSRN, NE-BC, Finger Lakes Health’s Chief Nursing Officer presented the degrees.

College faculty members Debra Crane, BS, RN, PCCN and Stephanie Weigand, MS, RN handed out special awards.

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

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 Stacey Boose, 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. Allana Manley 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. Jordan Smith and Ashley Peek 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 Caleb Delgado for serving as a role model and mentor to others and demonstrating a love for family, community and the healthcare profession.

The Barbara Alger Memorial Award was presented to Kymberli Wilson. Barb always advocated for those that she loved and cared for in her nursing career. Barb loved psychiatric nursing and was determined to get her RN. Barb received her RN later in her career.

The Nursing Student Determination Award was established by Carl Belawske, a Finger Lakes Health employee who knows firsthand the perseverance needed to complete an educational program. The recipient is a graduate who, despite challenges both in and out of the classroom, has overcome them with the determination and grit to excel. We are proud to recognize the drive, passion and tenacity to succeed of Brittany LePore & Alyssa Lundolph.

Finger Lakes Health College of Nursing and Health Sciences graduates for 2021 are Sheri Andrews (Aurora), Cherisa Barnes (Rochester), Sarah Bedore (Auburn), Kathryn Bibbens (Canandaigua), Shannon Blaisdell (Auburn), Sydney Blakemore (Horseheads), Stacey Boose (Rochester), Stephen Broadus (Webster), Maureen Brown (Rochester), Marisa Cimino (Rochester), Rebecca Coates (Canastota), Brian Craig (Schenevus), Caleb Delgado (Phelps), Laura Dilts (Waterloo), Amberly Eder (Macedon), Jenell Fox (Palmyra), Kimberly Gray (Seneca Falls), Phoebe Guadagnolo (Syracuse), Judith Haxton (Silver Springs), Beth Hulme (LeRoy), Malinda Jones (Savannah), Stephanie Jones (Rochester), Brittany LePore (Spencerport), Alyssa Ludolph (Newark), Gabrielle Major (Camillus), Allana Manley (Geneva), Michaela Milhoff (Weedsport), Jennifer Molisani (Rochester), Ashley Peek (Moravia), Stephanie Preston (Rochester), Ellen Reed (Shortsville), Dylan Richards (Johnson City), Trevorlyn Ridley (West Henrietta), Mariah Rodriguez (Geneva), Shavonne Sanchez (Rochester), Alissa Shanley (Waterloo), Ryan Shields (Ovid), Jordan Smith (Newark), Mikayla Stanley (Red Creek), Alana Stillman (Auburn), Tessa Tellier (Newark), O’Donna Thompes (Rochester), Chinju Valentina (Rochester), Shavonte Wheeler (North Chili), Kymberli Wilson (Newark), Kenisha Worthy (Rochester) and Renata Yurgevich (Rochester).

Finger Lakes Health College of Nursing and Health Sciences offers flexibility to students seeking an associate’s degree in Applied Science with a major in nursing. As a privileged part of Geneva General Hospital, its unique hospital-based program allows for students to gain clinical experience on its campus in Geneva, NY. Finger Lakes Health College of Nursing also has a dual degree Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree in partnership with Keuka College.