Questar III Licensed Practical Nursing (LPN) students graduated in a ceremony at Rensselaer High School on July 8. Friends and family members were present to cheer their success and share their achievement.
Having completed the program through the Rensselaer Educational Center, the graduates are ready to work in the health field as licensed practical nurses following their state board exams, while some are planning to continue their studies at local community colleges to become registered nurses.
Lora Yanulavich, a Registered Nurse and Questar III’s Health Occupations Education Coordinator, welcomed everyone and expressed thanks for the support of Questar III’s Assistant Superintendents, Diana Conroy and Dr. Andrew Defeo, and Co-Principals of the Rensselaer Educational Center, Anthony DeFazio and Tracy Racicot.
Continuing, Yanulavich said that most students tell her the reason they want to be a nurse is to make a difference in people’s lives. ”You already have,” she told the graduates. “You made a difference when you helped a fellow student…when you took the time to listen to the fears and concerns of a patient…when you maintained the privacy and dignity of a patient who needed your help…when you administered pain medication to patients and checked back to see if they had relief, and …when you talked with the lonely woman in the wheel chair who could not respond in words.”
“Yes,” Yanulavich said. “You make a difference when you treat your patients as people with the respect and compassion deserved by all.”
Barbara Kinnicutt, a faculty member, also congratulated the students as they begin this new chapter in their lives. Noting that some may continue to study to become registered nurses while others are committed to remaining LPNs, she said, “Whichever path you choose, each and every one of you will become an important link in the chain that has made the commitment to deliver the highest level of health care to our population.”
The class valedictorian is Jamie Woodcock and Chandai Rampersaud is the salutatorian who also received the award of Exceptional Attendance.
Lindsey Sullivan from Averill Park High School said she first wanted to be a nurse because her grandmother and aunt were nurses. “I wanted to see if the health field was really the career for me and my experience in this program convinced me it is.”
Continuing, she explained, “The content was very detailed, the clinical practice was great and the teachers knew the answers to all our questions. I now see this experience as a stepping stone to becoming a doctor.” Sullivan is planning to go to college in Greenville, North Carolina where she will major in biology before entering medical school.
The LPN Faculty Awards were presented as follows:
The Clinical Practice Award
- Tara M. Johnson
The Initiative Award
-
Karrie M. Washock
The Leadership Award
- Kristin Rondon
- Theresa D. Whitney
The 2011 Nightingale Award for “best exemplifying the Florence Nightingale principles including professionalism, integrity, leadership, team player, health teacher, self-direction, self-discipline, knowledge and technical skills”
- Beata Skladinski
- Kayla M Downer
The LPN class of 2011 includes the following (note those with an asterisk are honor graduates):
- Kenya Samaria Blue
- Chanel Nicole Bovian
- Jennifer C. Bowen
- LaToya T. Cancer
- Adrian N. Coleman
- Laura Currie
- Mary DiNardo
- Kayla Jaclyn Downer
- Megan Christine Ellsworth
- Crystal Dawn Ellsworth Mange*
- Nichole Joy Gause*
- Tara M. Johnson*
- Rhodalyn MacQuaye*
- Codie Kristen Madsen*
- Amanda Marchese
- Chelsea Marshall
- Crystal Mills
- Nina Powers*
- Chandai Rampersaud*
- Katie M. Reilly*
- Kerena Rider
- Kristin A. Rondon*
- Orianna Christine Rubin*
- Nelson Rubio
- Kimberly Schwartz
- Kimberly J. Selçuk*
- Gregory L. Sheares
- Beata Skladzinska*
- Lindsey Sara Sullivan*
- Erika Lynn Taylor*
- Patrice Nellie Walker
- Karrie L. Washock*
- Theresa M. Whitney*
- Renee T. Williams
- Jamie Marie Woodcock*
