Front: Marynetta Hairston-Bates (Ft. Wayne), Victoria Sharp (Spencerville), Victoria Mooney (Van Wert)
Middle: Kecia Pontius (Van Wert), Amy Hartman (Van Wert), Stephanie Folgar (Van Wert)
Back: Mandy Renner (Middle Point), Sarina Hittle (Van Wert), Toby Boroff (Van Wert), and Alex DeGraw (Ft. Wayne)
Ten graduates of the Vantage Career Center Adult Education Licensed Practical Nursing program were recognized during a Pinning Ceremony held on August 5, 2021.
Practical Nursing Instructor Jessica Hoyng welcomed family and friends who attended the ceremony in support of the graduates, while Superintendent Rick Turner commended the students for their hard work and dedication to their skills.
During opening remarks, Hoyng expressed the extreme need for each of these graduates in the nursing field due to the ongoing nature of the pandemic. “Nurses are needed, especially now. You answered that call. And while others were running away, you decided to be part of the solution. You were not scared away by all the uncertainties and you put your trust in our program.”
Class speaker and graduate Victoria Mooney also delivered an empowering speech declaring that, “Each one of us had to push through independently. No one learned the information for us. We each are sitting here because we proved that we’re capable of being critical thinkers, problem solvers, empathetic listeners and fantastic nurses.”
Special awards were presented by Practical Nursing Instructor Sara Beining to students who achieved high test scores in the following categories: Kecia Pontius, highest score for HESI Exit Exam, highest score for HESI Medical-Surgical Exam and highest score for HESI Fundamentals of Nursing Exam; Victoria Sharp, highest score for HESI Maternity Exam; Sarina Hittle, highest score for HESI Pediatrics Exam, and Victoria Mooney, highest score for HESI Pharmacology Exam. Two other distinguished awards were given to Sarina Hittle, Nursing Excellence for Outstanding Nurse, Readiness, and Patient Advocacy, and to Stephanie Folgar, Nursing Excellence for Outstanding Determination and Drive. Beining completed the special awards with words of encouragement. “I think we can all agree that this past year was unpredictable, but you all rose to the occasion in a way that nursing professionals are expected to do. I was fortunate enough to be part of both your clinical, and classroom, experiences here at Vantage Career Center, and looking back, I can see the incredible growth of each, and every one of you.
During the pinning ceremony, family members of the graduates were welcomed to present the students with the Practical Nursing graduate pins. The 2021 Licensed Practical Nurse graduating class includes: Toby Boroff (Grover Hill), Alex Degraw (Ft. Wayne), Stephanie Folgar (Van Wert), Marynetta Hairston-Bates (Ft. Wayne), Amy Hartman (Van Wert), Sarina Hittle (Van Wert), Victoria Mooney (Van Wert), Kecia Pontius (Van Wert), Mandy Renner (Middle Point) and Victoria Sharp (Spencerville).
Closing remarks were delivered by Erin Askins, Practical Nursing Instructor. Askins welcomed each graduate to the nursing field and applauded them for their accomplishments this past year.
A special thank you was mentioned of the following hosting clinical facilities of this year’s graduating class: Ridgeview Behavioral Health, Van Wert County Health Department, Mercer Health, Mercy Health St. Rita’s, Paulding County Hospital, Lincolnview Schools, Crestview Schools, Van Wert Schools, Vancrest Health Care, Van Wert Manor, Van Wert Health and Wee Care Day Care.
Classes for the Class of 2022 will begin on September 7. The Practical Nursing Program consists of 1318 hours completed in 11 months, with clinical and laboratory components. Clinical experiences will take place at local hospitals and long-term care facilities. For more information about the Vantage Adult Education Practical Nursing program, please visit
http://www.vantagecareercenter.com/practicalnurseprog.aspx.