News Release

IWV Campus

Cerro Coso Holds Nursing Graduation Ceremony

Ridgecrest, CA – May 17, 2006

Eleven Cerro Coso Community College vocational nursing students were honored at their graduation ceremony at Desert Christian Center, Thursday evening, May 11, 2006. The formal gathering was begun by introductions from master of ceremonies, Mary Kowalski, Director of Vocational Nursing and Health Careers. The graduates were Josephina Banting, Mi Wha Chicoine, Ella Damron, Lucy Fulton, Margaret Hanley, Megan Josey, Mirjana Krainovic, Leslie O'Neill, Veronica Perkins, Dawn Petrovich, and Wilhelmina Walters.

Kowalski announced that the timing of this year's graduation was especially significant since it occurred during both National Nurses' Week (5/6 – 5/12) and National Teacher's Week (5/7 – 5/13). The graduates chose to make the ceremony special and to honor Nurse's Week by wearing a traditional white dress uniform, white hose, and white shoes. As the guests arrived, they were greeted with a DVD photo-musical presentation of special moments of the nursing program, developed by Cori Ratliff, Cerro Coso's Webmaster. The DVD featured family, people and animal friends, and supporters - all of whom helped the graduates through the comprehensive and intense nursing program.

Two clinical mentors and supporters were chosen by the graduates as the guest speakers. Kimber Landeck, RN, Life Support Coordinator at Ridgecrest Regional Hospital, and a Cerro Coso adjunct faculty member, and Pam Glantz, RN, Wound Care Specialist of Ridgecrest Regional Hospital spoke. Four of the graduates spoke each giving very different perspectives of their experiences of nursing education. The graduates praised their peers as they related experiences of nursing school which often competed with the challenges of their personal lives. Leslie O'Neill, Wilhelmina Walters, Margaret Hanley, and Lucy Fulton were the student speakers.

Cheryl Gates, clinical instructor and Online Health Career Coordinator, and Kowalski presented Awards and Recognitions for outstanding achievements during the Vocational Nursing Program. Outstanding clinical honors went to JoJo Banting, Mima Krainovic, and Willi Walters. Special recognition for exceptional clinical performance was given to Lucy Fulton. Recognition of Excellence for continuous grade point averages of "A" were given to Megan Josey, Mima Krainovic, and Leslie O'Neill. The Honor Roll recognition of accomplishment was given to Lucy Fulton. Outstanding Attendance Awards were given to JoJo Banting, Mi Wha Chicoine, Lucy Fulton, Leslie O'Neill, and Dawn Petrovich. Perfect Attendance, the rarified and distinguished award, was given to Ella Damron, Micki Hanley, Megan Josey, and Mima Krainovic, and Willi Walters. Mi Wha Chicoine, Veronica Perkins, and Dawn Petrovich were presented with awards for Recognition of Potential for Leadership and Success.

The Teresa Allen Scholarship (Micki Hanley, Ella Damron, Veronica Perkins, Mima Krainovic, Willi Walters, MiWha Chicoine, Dawn Petrovic, and Megan Josey), the Jewell Thornberry Scholarship (Lucy Fulton, Leslie O'Neill, Josephina Banting), and the Alice Ream Scholarship (Josephina Banting) were given out. The Pink Ladies Auxiliary of Ridgecrest Regional Hospital presented their scholarship which recognizes merit and accomplishment to JoJo Banting and Leslie O'Neill. The Pink Ladies also hosted the post commencement reception.

Recognition and honors were given to other individuals from other affiliated nursing programs. Graduates of the 2005-2006 Bakersfield/Cerro Coso/Porterville College Distance Education interactive televised (ITV) LVN to RN ADN Program included five former CCCC VN graduates: Margaret Blevins, Randi Campbell, Abe Giacomelli, Stacy Hinzo and Cameron Sloan. Aaron Andrus and Sally Caruso are also graduates of the Career Ladder Program. Several of this year's VN graduates plan to continue their nursing education via the Bakersfield ITV LVN to RN Career Ladder program. Paula Smith, a former CCCC VN graduate, received recognition for recent completion of her RN. Smith is well-known to the graduates as someone who is a mentor as well as a tireless supporter of nursing students.

The culmination of the evening was the Nightingale Candle Lighting Ceremony. To add to the dramatic effect, all electrical power at this time went out in the city. Without hesitation, Kowalski, Gates, Landeck, and Glantz proceeded with the capping and pinning via flashlight and background candles. The ceremony completed with a processional of lighting the graduate's candles and citing the nursing pledge.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Joann Handeland, Director of Facilities Development and Public Information (760) 384-6230