Twenty-six Central Arizona College students were recognized as graduates of the 62nd Nursing Division for completing the college’s nursing program this spring.

The pinning ceremony, a time-honored tradition of nursing schools across the country, signifies a student’s completion of one of the most challenging curricula offered in higher education.

Pam ChonWebb received the Academician award in recognition of her academic excellence. The Outstanding Clinical Student award was presented to Maverick Oviedo for his outstanding clinical performance during the program.

Rebecca Montoya and Rikki Pine were selected class speakers by their peers. They each reflected upon their journey throughout the program and encouraged their colleagues to make a difference.

The evening concluded with a candle-lighting ceremony and the graduates taking the Florence Nightingale Pledge. The pledge, an adaption of the physician’s Hippocratic Oath, was written in 1893 by Mrs. Lystra E. Gretter and the Farrand Training School for Nurses in Detroit.

The following students received their pins and will receive an associate of applied science degree; those with an “*” have concurrent enrollment with ASU or NAU for a BA degree in nursing:

• Emily Briggs
• Jennifer Campbell*
• Gabriela Canter*
• Boumma ChonWebb
• Jassy Darras*
• Patience Fenteng
• Taylor Fowler*
• Joseph Gagliano
• Shannon Greathouse
• Vashti Harer
• Ann Hatch
• Patricia Hughes*
• Judith Kirkbride
• Alyssa McHenry*
• Adriana Moncada*
• Rebecca Montoya
• Joann O’Hare*
• Maria O’Hare*
• Maverick Oviedo
• Rikki Pine
• Christy Romero
• Allison Tucker*
• Claudia Urtuzuastegui
• Luz Villegas
• Katherine Wallis*
• Savannah Willis*

For 50 years, Central Arizona College has been serving and educating the diverse communities of Pinal County. With five campuses and three centers located strategically throughout the county, CAC provides accessible, educational, economic, cultural, and personal growth opportunities for those of all ages. Go to https://centralaz.edu/.

Editor’s note: Angela Askey is CAC’s executive director for public relations and marketing.