Associate Degree Nursing Graduates Honored at Pinning Ceremony

Emilie Jenson, Public Information Office
5/16/2024

Iowa Central Community College honored its associate degree nursing students with a pinning ceremony on Thursday afternoon, May 9, at Decker Auditorium on the Iowa Central Fort Dodge Campus.

Dr. Jesse Ulrich, Iowa Central president, gave the welcome.

“The amount of lives you save will be inspirational,” said Ulrich. “Congratulations on choosing one of the most noble professions our society has. Aways remember why you chose to become a nurse.”

Ian Wellik, representing the Fort Dodge Campus, Karen Pantoja, representing Storm Lake Campus, and Macy Filbrandt, representing the Webster City Campus, presented the student address. 

“When I started, I had no idea what I was getting myself into,” said Wellik. “It has been a wild ride, and I can’t wait to start my journey. These past two years have been a trial testing and perfecting us into the nurses we have become.”

“Today marks the end of a bittersweet journey and the beginning of another,” said Pantoja. “We never gave up, even if we felt defeated or scared. Life is not easy, but each of us chose to thrive off our challenges and failures and used them as a motivation to go harder. We are here today because we chose to keep going.”

“The journey was anything but easy,” said Filbrandt. “During our time as students we may have found ourselves asking ‘why did I choose nursing?’  We have learned that being a nurse isn’t all about the grades but rather who we are. May we never lose sight of why we became nurses.”

Nursing instructors Christel Becker, Betty Daniel, Christina Foth, Amanda Johnson, Jessica Johnson, Carrie Kephart, Jennifer Leffler, Stacey Poldervaart, Kaylee Schmitt and Joleen Sernett conducted the conferring of pins to the graduates.

At the conclusion of the ceremony, the 82 graduates recited the Nightingale Pledge, led by Wellik, Pantoja, and Filbrandt.

Associate Degree (Registered Nurse) graduates are: Teresa Bernal, Albert City; Madeline Darst, Alta; Maddysen Wheatley, Ames; Taylor Andrews, Boone; Tami Cross, Boone; Carinne Hayworth, Boone; Trinity Tassell, Carroll; Hayden Thooft, Carroll; Angela McLaughlin, Cherokee; Kaitlyn Youngdale, Clare; Cynthia Fregoso-Reyes, Clarion; Cassandra Mendoza, Clarion; Courtney Studer, Clarion; Blaney Miller, Des Moines; Nelius Mwangi, Des Moines; Dorothy Wheeler, Duncombe; Claire Kienzle, Eagle Grove; Morgan Bruns, Earlham; Morgan Abbott, Ellsworth; Kristen Schoeberlein, Farnhamville; Morgan Border, Fort Dodge; Oscar Calles, Fort Dodge; Brianna Campbell, Fort Dodge; Sydney Crimmins, Fort Dodge; Hannah Grass, Fort Dodge; Brooke Hansen, Fort Dodge; Julia Hanson, Fort Dodge; Joan Jelimo, Fort Dodge; Angela Mobley, Fort Dodge; Erin Rogers, Fort Dodge; Theophilus Sengera, Fort Dodge; Brandi Smith, Fort Dodge; Rianna Vivens, Fort Dodge;  Stephanie Stumbo, Gilbert;  Jenny Ackerson, Gowrie; Abby Gaudian, Hudson; Sophia Capesius, Humboldt; Morgan Lange, Humboldt; Amanda Myers, Humboldt; Laycha Orona-Lopez, Humboldt; Lily Reuter, Huxley; Maryssa Pierson, Jefferson; Avery Walker, Jefferson; Chelsea Odem, Kanawha; Nicholle Winter,  Lake City; Sue Linn, Lehigh;  Alissa Holtz, Manchester; Tate Bianchi, Manson; Kelsi Eaton, Manson; Briana Haroldson, Manson; Cheyenne Kuhlmann, Manson; Natalie Pearson, Manson; Tiffany Harmison, Mitchellville; Macy Filbrandt, Nevada; Klaire Gobell, Nevada; Aubrie Spevack, Nevada; Ashley Othoudt, Newell; Laura Abbott, Odeboldt; Kelsey Knobbe, Rockwell City; Ian Wellik, Rolfe; McKenzie Diamond, Sac City; Emily Hansen, Sac City; Hanna Jastorff, Sac City; Sandra Garcia, Storm Lake; Kathy Gutierrez, Storm Lake; Hannah Johnson, Storm Lake; Kimberly Mountysayalath, Storm Lake; Ka Paw, Storm Lake; Morgan Sievert, Storm Lake; Rita Hinson, Tiffin; Michaela Douglas, Thor; Jonbenet Johnson, Waterloo; Doninika Ross, Waterloo; Antonio Calles, Webster City; Lakesa Danie, West Des Moines; Kaitlyn Weston, West Des Moines;  Sierra Harrison, Zearing; Andrew Thexton, Arvada, CO.