Finger Lakes Health College of Nursing and Health Sciences graduated its fourteenth class. 56 students were pinned and graduated this year.
The pinning and commencement ceremonies, held at The Smith, took place on May 21. 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 and accessed from Finger Lakes Health’s website at www.flhealth.org.
Kathleen Mills, MS, RN, Dean, Finger Lakes Health College of Nursing & Health Sciences, welcomed students and guests to the pinning ceremony and recognized the faculty for a job well done.
Faculty member, Debra Crane, MS, RN, PCCN 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 Melatid Haimanot.
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 Chantel Garrett, to receive the award.
The William J. DiCicco Memorial Award is given to the graduate nurse who exhibits the attributes that Bill demonstrated throughout his life: devotion to family, a strong work ethic, the value of education and love of country. This year the award was presented to Madisyn Nurse.
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. Falan Young 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. Melatid Haimanot and Kristen Fish 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 Bethany Schiltz 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 Madisyn Nurse. 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.
Kathleen Mills served as the Master of Ceremonies for the commencement ceremony and she also gave the Dean’s Address. Dr. Jose Acevedo, President & CEO of Finger Lakes Health and President, Finger Lakes Health College of Nursing & Health Sciences, gave the President’s Address. Donn Taylor gave the class address and Dr. Acevedo and Kathy Mills presented the degrees to the graduates.
Finger Lakes Health College of Nursing and Health Sciences graduates for 2023 are Kateland Alfieri (Auburn), Michele Anthony (Rochester), Danielle Bailey (Walworth), Som Bhandari (West Henrietta), Madison Bird (Fulton), Mary Bishop (Rochester), Sheri Blair (Palmyra), Andrenna Blue (Rochester), Tara Borst (Waterloo), Vallana Brazil (Rochester), Meghan Camp (Waterloo), Jessica Carrier (Walworth), Shawna Cordon (Rochester), Rachael Countryman (Rochester), Angelica Davoli (Canandaigua), Joshua Delgado (Phelps), Arielle Dyck (Rochester), Kristen Fish (Rochester), Chantel Garrett (Rochester), Mackenzie Garver (Shortsville), Diamoniqua Grant (East Rochester), Melatid Haimanot (Rochester), Julia Koester (Millport), Jenelle Lapiana (Perry), Aneesah Lattimore (Geneva), Abbigail Lowe (Auburn), Shayona Lewis (Rochester), Ashley Mack (Sodus), Samantha Mayo (Williamson), Megan McCann (Farmington), Kerry McNamara (Rochester), Bailey Minges (Ovid), LeQuentin Moore (Geneva), Sonya Morrison (Rochester), Karen Munnings (Scottsville), Madisyn Nurse (Phelps), Rachel Preston (Clyde), Sanota Quinones (Rochester), Amanda Rigby (Port Byron), Savannah Rose (Walworth), Hannah Sallis (Pennellville), Bethany Schiltz (East Aurora), Kathryn Scutt (Palmyra), Torrance Shipman (Morrisonville), Audra Smith (Spencerport), Donn Taylor (Rochester), Renee Taylor (Rochester), Ryland Turner (Canandaigua), Sarah VanDeMortel (Geneva), Hope Van Duyne (Sodus), Madeline VanGorden (Macedon), Rahni Vazquez (Rochester), Kaitlin Weichenthal (Candor), Kraig Woodard (Rochester), Falan Young (Rochester) and Kelly Zonin (Geneva).
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 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. To learn more about Finger Lakes Health College of Nursing and Health Sciences please visit flhcon.edu or call (315) 787-4005.