This December, SBVC celebrated its Fall cohort of nursing students in its first in-person pinning ceremony since 2019. Held in the historic Auditorium, the event honored 42 graduates with flowers and a cherished pin, signals the completion of the rigorous two-year nursing program. Student speaker Erica Lopez reflected on starting the program in 2019 before the COVID-19 pandemic. “The RN class of 2021 faced a great challenge of possibly not being able to complete nursing school,” she said. “Fortunately for us, however, this challenge was accepted and in just two weeks all faculty quickly transitioned all curriculum to an online-based platform.” Savannah Palamino also spoke, and said, “These future nurses are marching on forward into the battle dedicating themselves to the unselfish care of others that these are truly the warriors of. We could not have gotten to this point without all our amazing professors, instructors, our friends, and family.” The ceremony ended with each of the graduates reciting the Florence Nightingale Pledge. All graduates of the program will continue preparations to take their National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) while concurrently hunting for employment at local hospitals and health care organizations.
