17 New Nurses Graduate at Angelina College Pinning Ceremony

Angelina College’s Vocational Nursing program recently launched a new group of 17 new graduates into the nursing profession with a traditional pinning ceremony held inside Hudgins Hall on the AC campus.

Nursing graduate Keshawna Taylor offered the invocation, AC Nursing instructor Mary Hastings conducted the presentation of the graduates, Dr. Charlet Blades led the Nightingale Pledge, and graduate Amia Williams closed with the benediction.

Dr. Winifred Ferguson-Adams, Dean of Angelina College’s School of Health Careers, shared the range of emotions and experiences the new nurses can expect – experiences fluctuating between both the beginning and the end of life. In her comments, Ferguson-Adams quoted a popular social media post geared toward new nurses.

“’You might have the book smart’” Adams quoted. “’You might have some critical thinking skills. However, if you don’t have the heart, the compassion, the will to fight each and every one of your patient's battles as your own, please choose something else [for a career].’

“What we tell you tonight is that we’re very proud of the fact you’ve reached this point, and we expect you to be that nurse with the compassion and the fight, because above all, you are an Angelina College Nursing graduate. Live up to those expectations. God bless you.”

The list of new nurses and their listed hometowns are as follows:

• Erika Alvarez (Corrigan)
• Yesica Angeles Bailon (Nacogdoches)
• Jazmin Balderas (Nacogdoches)
• Christian Bosquez (Hudson)
• Yessica Damian (Livingston)
• Lexis Evans (Wells)
• Janet Landeros (Lufkin)
• Jessica Moreno (San Augustine)
• Jayme Pittman (Huntington)
• Margarita Ramos (Lufkin)
• Lynette Salto (Nacogdoches)
• Keshawna Taylor (Woodville)
• JoAnna Thigpen (Burke)
• Jennifer Whitaker (Nacogdoches)
• Callie Whitworth (Lufkin)
• Amia Williams (Huntsville)

Angelina College Nursing Program faculty include Dr. Winifred Ferguson-Adams, Dean of School of Health Careers; Dr. Sandra Brannan, Director, Nursing Programs; Dr. Charlet Blades, Faculty VN Instructor; Mary Hastings, Faculty VN Instructor; Dr. Susan Adams, Faculty VN Instructor; Patricia Hooks, Faculty VN Instructor; and Anna McReynolds, Faculty SIMS Coordinator.