BMCC Celebrates 74 Graduates of Nursing Program at 2024 Pinning Ceremony

Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC/CUNY) celebrated 74 graduates from the Nursing program’s Class of 2024 during a pinning ceremony on January 3 in Theatre One at 199 Chambers Street.

As Pomp and Circumstance played over the theatre’s speakers, family, friends and significant others cheered on the graduates, all dressed in their crisp white uniforms, while they stepped in elegant unison to their seats in the middle of the auditorium.

In the weeks to come, they will sit for the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN). Upon passing the rigorous test, the graduates will be in high-demand on the local job market. New York is projected to face a shortage of nearly 40,000 registered nurses by 2030 according to a report from the New York State Department of Health.

BMCC President Anthony E. Munroe commended the compassion and hard work of the graduates who learned both practice and theory in areas such as pediatrics, psychiatric nursing and medical surgical nursing care.

“We are deeply proud of our nursing graduates and the good and important work that you’ve done thus far and the work you will do in your careers,” said President Munroe who shared that he is the son of a nurse, as is BMCC Provost and Senior Vice President Erwin Wong.

“Our nursing graduates are the light that give patients hope in their darkest moments,” said the President. “The field of nursing continually evolves and is reflected not only in the cutting-edge labs at BMCC where our students practice life-saving skills on highly sophisticated human patient simulators, but in the hands of caring and professional faculty who teach and guide them in their development as nurses.”

The ceremony’s keynote speaker, Dr. Linda Washington-Brown, who has also been named the interim Chair of the nursing program, thanked the graduates for keeping the nursing profession pipeline open and flowing.  She told the graduates they are about to embark on what will be an amazing journey in a field that provides the opportunity to touch lives and make a difference.

“You must understand and adhere to the policies and procedures that govern your practice, whether from the New York Department of Education, New York Board of Regents or the healthcare institution where you are going to be employed, “ said Dr. Washington-Brown. “Let each day you are in the clinical arena be a classroom of learning opportunities.”

She also instructed the graduates to advocate for their patients.

“They need you; many of them don’t have a voice, many of them don’t know the jargon, many of them don’t understand the procedures, they don’t understand why you’re giving them IVs and medications,” Dr. Washington-Brown said.  “Advocate for them, be their voice.”

As part of a series of class-section reflections, graduate John Lentini cautioned his fellow classmates that at times, it may seem as if their efforts will go unnoticed or under appreciated.

“But it’s often in the darkest places where we find the light,” said Lentini. “Amidst the suffering, we’ll often see the beautiful parts of humanity that are sometimes only seen when we are placed in extraordinary circumstances. Resilience, hope, love, sacrifice, gratitude, all of these things myself and my fellow classmates have witnessed in the hospital taking care of patients and their families. It is an immense privilege to help people get through their most difficult times.”

The pinning ceremony was also the last for Nursing Department chairperson Judy Eng who after 20 years at BMCC, is retiring at the end of January and starting a new chapter in North Carolina. Nursing program faculty presented Eng with a commemorative plaque honoring her years of service as chair.

In an emotional farewell speech, Chair Eng said goodbye.

“I am honored and humbled to be asked to give tonight’s farewell speech because this is my last Nursing Pinning Ceremony,” said Chair Eng. “What I say to you all as you move into your next chapter as a nurse, it is true for myself in my next chapter of early retirement. Using Robert Fulghum’s All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten essays, there are 10 things you learned in kindergarten that’ll help you with your life as a nurse. The last lesson, Be aware of wonder, speaks true to all of us of the endless possibilities of our life and don’t be afraid.”

Chair Eng also presented special awards to several graduates (below).

Established in 1967, the BMCC Nursing Program offers, day, evening and weekend classes. The diverse faculty and student body come across the five boroughs, surrounding communities and numerous countries around the world. Find out more here.

 

Award Winners

Nursing Award for Academic Excellence

Elle Haniff

Ever D. Salguero

Samantha Liu

 

Professional Development Award

Narae Choi

Paolo Ramos Briones

Giuseppe R. Fabian

 

Nursing Humanitarian Award

Mervin L. Fevrier

Suda Sukhaphirom

Kalina D. Elezye

 

Best All-Around Student

Katell Pleven

Aliu A. Makanjuola

Makiella D. Williams

 

Aubrey T. Robinson Award

Jalin C. Gordon

 

Sylvia Corliss Award

Koree Richardson

 

BMCC Nursing Graduates

Kayla Acevedo

Diana Alfonso

Jessica Ayala

Alexander Ayala Davis

Elena Berkovich

Paolo Ramos Briones

Erika Cabrera

Casimiro Crysthian

Tenzin Choenyi

Narae Choi

Nawang Chukey

Marisol Cruz

Nichole Cruz

Shanique DaSilva

Alyssa Della-Calce

Migena Disani

Amante SaraAmaral Macedo Do

Kelechi Echebiri

Shemar Bradley Edwards

Fatima Elcamel

Grace Entice

Kalina Elezye

Dicta Esione

Mariya Evans

Giuseppe Fabian

Mervin L Fevrier

Deidra Gibson

Jalin C Gordon

Adi Goresh

Abigale Guo

Elle Haniff

Thomas Hu

Nguyen Nhat Huynh

Kamica Ann-Maria Irving

Liya G Kalatozishvili

Deirdre Kavanah

Gulson Khadka-Geekie

Samto Tsering Lama

Cindy Landaverde

Alcantara Felix A Lee

Jasmine Y Leguillou

John G Lentini

Ida Li

Nick Lidakis

Samantha Liu

Megan Lucchese

Christopher Lund

Aliu Adeoye Makanjuola

Aliu Adeoye Mceachron-Howell

Erica Mei

Jacqueline Nicole Mendez

Walter N Morris,

Princess Omolola Ojedele

Andres F Paladines

Shaunoel Perez

Aline Pickler

Katell Pleven

Jennifer Portillo

Melisa M Redden

Koree Richardson

Domenique Abigail Saines Pizarro

Ever D Salguer

Ruby Saw

James N Shanley

Nancy Sims

Suda Sukhaphirom

Bei-Lei Tan

Aurele Tcheutcheu

Annika Tietze

Wallace Franklin Trask

Juan Wang-Aramboles

Christine Williams

Makiella Williams

Ayesha Williams

Sun young Yun