On Wednesday, December 14, Hostos Community College saluted
its Fall 2022 Registered Nursing (RN) graduates in a special pinning ceremony, marking their completion of the program and welcoming them into the nursing profession.
Mistress of Ceremony Dr. Kathleen Ronca led the ceremony celebrating 18 RN graduates: Kevin Bennett, Thaishkya Cortes-Bermudez, Herminio Francisco, Kristy Heredia, Michell Jones, Shiloh Kearns, Julio Marine, Anna Mikheyeva, Benjamin Okunbor, Yailyne Quezada, Jacquelyn Ramos, Maria Rivas, Genesis Sozoranga, Muhitur Sumit, Graciela Vivar, Karla Vivar, Oumy Wade-King, and Latoya Welch.
Dr. Daisy Cocco De Filippis, Hostos President; Dr. Shiang-Kwei Wang, Provost; and Dr. Charles Drago, Allied Health Chair; and Dr. Pedro Maria, physician and keynote speaker, offered words of wisdom, praised graduates’ hard work, and lauded the crucial role nurses play in the world.
“You are my heroes,” President Cocco De Filippis said. "Today you join the ranks of many other heroes that are called nurses."
Dr. Maria, a Hostos alumnus, urged graduates to remain tenacious in the pursuit of their goals, no matter what. “Never give up, the sky is the limit,” he said. “Never lose your focus. If you have a passion for something, go for it.”
Senior Class President for the program, Jacquelyn Ramos echoed Dr. Maria’s sentiments. In her heartfelt and emotional speech, Ramos’ shared her journey with Hostos began 21 years ago when she graduated from the College’s LPN certificate program, but then life happened and she experienced a tragedy that took her off her path. However, she eventually found renewed inspiration and she was proud to have fulfilled the promise she made to herself to become an RN. She urged her fellow graduates to continue believing in themselves and not give up on their aspirations. “You all have what you need within you,” she said.
Allied Health faculty conferred awards—Gold, Silver, Bronze, Florence Nightingale, and DAISY—to students for their notable work and commitment to their profession. Then the moment everyone had been waiting for arrived: Graduates were presented with their hard-earned pins, participated in a traditional candle lighting ceremony, and recited the Practical Nurse’s and Florence Nightingale pledges.
Congratulations to our Fall 2022 RN graduates! We are so proud of you and wish you the best of luck in your future endeavors!