Twelve graduates of the South Georgia Technical College (SGTC) Licensed Practical Nursing (LPN) program received their nursing pins in a recent ceremony in the John M. Pope Industrial Technology Center on the Americus campus. A crowd of family, friends, administrators, and instructors attended the event to show their support as the students participated in the traditional pinning ritual.
Receiving their pins were Jasmine Brown of Albany, pinned by SGTC grad Mary Jones LPN; Yolanda Forrester of Cuthbert; Heather Hale of Americus, pinned by her cousin Micah Rayburn RN; Curtecia Jackson of Americus, pinned by her sister and SGTC grad Racaya Jackson LPN; Kristian McRae of Abbeville, pinned by Michelle Kelly LPN; Cassandra Milledge of Americus, pinned by Adrian Harris LPN; Reginia Nash of Americus, pinned by her sister Remonda Nash LPN; Minisha Pinkard of Butler; Desiny Smith of Dublin; Shenika Stevens of Buena Vista, pinned by SGTC grad Sherica Stevens; Brenda Thomas of Albany, pinned by SGTC grad Bernice Harris LPN; and Kierra Washington of Cuthbert, pinned by her mother Tamika Rainey RN.
SGTC President Dr. John Watford welcomed those in attendance and graduate Brenda Thomas gave the invocation. LPN instructor Jennifer Childs provided a class overview and presented a slideshow featuring the students over the course of their studies in the LPN program.
Cassandra Milledge was chosen as the class speaker for the event. She thanked her instructors on behalf of the class, then turned her attention to her fellow graduates. “On the day each one of us decided that we wanted to make a difference in people’s live,” she said, “we understood the assignment, and that there was a step to be made toward a goal that would open up possibilities beyond our wildest dreams. This is just the beginning of the journey that’s ahead of us.”
After the pinning ritual, LPN graduate Shenika Stevens led the class in the Nurse’s Pledge and the lighting of the lamp. Instructor Christine Rundle gave closing remarks followed by a benediction from graduate Kierra Washington.
The LPN program at South Georgia Technical College is one of over 200 programs SGTC offers leading to a degree, diploma, or technical certificate of credit. Learn more about all of the programs and apply for enrollment at www.southgatech.edu. Spring semester registration is January 9th. Classes begin January 11th.