Iowa Central Community College honored its Class of 2024 nursing graduates with pinning ceremonies May 9 at Decker Auditorium on the Iowa Central Fort Dodge campus.

Dr. Jesse Ulrich, Iowa Central president, welcomed and congratulated the graduates on their achievements and encouraged them to go on to work with care and compassion.

“With the skills these graduates have, they will be able to go on and do great things,” said Ulrich.

“Whether this is your first pin or your final pin, people will look to you for compassionate care. The number of lives you save will be inspirational. Congratulations on choosing one of the most noble professions our society has.”

Ian Wellik, representing the Fort Dodge campus; Karen Pantoja, representing the Storm Lake campus; and Macy Filbrandt, representing the Webster City Campus, presented the student addresses for the associate degree pinning.

Collins Lagat, representing the Fort Dodge campus; Makenna Withers, representing the Storm Lake campus; and Aubrianna Bixby, representing the Webster City Campus, presented the student addresses for the practical nursing pinning.

“These past two years have been a trial testing and perfecting us into the nurses we have become,” said Wellik.

“Today marks the end of a bittersweet journey and the beginning of another,” said Pantoja. “We never gave up. We are here today because we chose to keep going.”

“We may have found ourselves asking, ‘Why did I choose nursing,'” Filbrandt said. “We have learned that being a nurse isn’t all about the grades but rather about who we are. May we never lose sight of why we became nurses.”

“Here we are at the culmination of hours of study, practice and perseverance,” said Lagat. “This is a new era. Let’s step forward with courage and compassion as we celebrate the end of one era and the beginning of another.”

“It was not always easy,” said Bixby. “We studied harder, gave more, and learned that despite the challenges, we can do difficult things.”

“I don’t think we could predict just how fast-paced this year would be,” said Withers. “Congratulations to all of the nursing graduates here today, we did it.”

Nursing instructors Christel Becker, Betty Daniel, Christina Foth, Amanda Johnson, Jessica Johnson, Carrie Kephart, Jennifer Leffler, Stacey Poldervaart, Kaylee Schmitt and Joleen Sernett conducted the conferring of pins to the graduates.

At the conclusion of the ceremonies the graduates recited the Nightingale Pledge, led by the student speakers.

Associate Degree (Registered Nurse) graduates and hometowns are: Teresa Bernal, Albert City; Madeline Darst, Alta; Maddysen Wheatley, Ames; Taylor Andrews, Boone; Tami Cross, Boone;

Carinne Hayworth, Boone; Trinity Tassell, Carroll; Hayden Thooft, Carroll; Angela McLaughlin, Cherokee; Kaitlyn Youngdale, Clare; Cynthia Fregoso-Reyes, Clarion; Cassandra Mendoza, Clarion; Courtney Studer, Clarion; Blaney Miller, Des Moines; Nelius Mwangi, Des Moines; Dorothy Wheeler, Duncombe; Claire Kienzle, Eagle Grove; Morgan Bruns, Earlham; Morgan Abbott, Ellsworth; Kristen Schoeberlein, Farnhamville; Morgan Border, Fort Dodge; Oscar Calles, Fort Dodge; Brianna Campbell, Fort Dodge; Sydney Crimmins, Fort Dodge; Hannah Grass, Fort Dodge; Brooke Hansen, Fort Dodge; Julia Hanson, Fort Dodge; Joan Jelimo, Fort Dodge; Angela Mobley, Fort Dodge; Erin Rogers, Fort Dodge; Theophilus Sengera, Fort Dodge; Brandi Smith, Fort Dodge; Rianna Vivens, Fort Dodge; Stephanie Stumbo, Gilbert; Jenny Ackerson, Gowrie; Abby Gaudian, Hudson; Sophia Capesius, Humboldt; Morgan Lange, Humboldt; Amanda Myers, Humboldt; Laycha Orona-Lopez, Humboldt; Lily Reuter, Huxley; Maryssa Pierson, Jefferson; Avery Walker, Jefferson; Chelsea Odem, Kanawha; Nicholle Winter, Lake City; Sue Linn, Lehigh; Alissa Holtz, Manchester; Tate Bianchi, Manson; Kelsi Eaton, Manson; Briana Haroldson, Manson; Cheyenne Kuhlmann, Manson; Natalie Pearson, Manson; Tiffany Harmison, Mitchellville; Macy Filbrandt, Nevada; Klaire Gobell, Nevada; Aubrie Spevack, Nevada; Ashley Othoudt, Newell; Laura Abbott, Odeboldt; Kelsey Knobbe, Rockwell City; Ian Wellik, Rolfe; McKenzie Diamond, Sac City; Emily Hansen, Sac City; Hanna Jastorff, Sac City; Sandra Garcia, Storm Lake; KathyGutierrez, Storm Lake; Hannah Johnson, Storm Lake; Kimberly Mountysayalath, Storm Lake; Ka Paw, Storm Lake; Morgan Sievert, Storm Lake; Rita Hinson, Tiffin; Michaela Douglas, Thor; Jonbenet Johnson, Waterloo; Doninika Ross, Waterloo;

Antonio Calles, Webster City; Lakesa Danie, West Des Moines; Kaitlyn Weston, West Des Moines; Sierra Harrison, Zearing; Andrew Thexton, Arvada, Colorado.

Practical Nursing (LPN) graduates and hometowns are: Aubrianna Bixby, Altoona; Alexzandria Ramirez, Altoona; Christina Busch, Ames; Allyssa Kline, Ames; Avery Scandrett, Ames; Fabiloa Gomez, Belmond; Eevarista Oxlaj, Bode; Kailey Reetz, Boone; Carsen Hamann, Cedar Falls; Tori Etter, Clarion; Callista McCracken, Clarion; Lashelda Williamson, Des Moines; Kacy Ramirez, Early; Regina Wolf, Early; Althea Ball, Farnhamville; Ashley Ayala, Fort Dodge; Savanna Ayala, Fort Dodge; Jenna Carlson, Fort Dodge; Kasey Chesnut, Fort Dodge; Rylie Goraczkowski, Fort Dodge; Autumn Houy, Fort Dodge; Emma Krivolavy, Fort Dodge; Collins Lagat, Fort Dodge; Jordan Martin, Fort Dodge; Alexis Miller, Fort Dodge; Cheyenne Miller-Hameed, Fort Dodge; Molly Myer, Fort Dodge; Kiersten Myers, Fort Dodge; Alyssa Perez, Fort Dodge; Winrose Phillips, Fort Dodge; Aleaha Pommer, Fort Dodge; Jaymie Ray, Fort Dodge; Hailey Stone, Fort Dodge; Rose Wredt, Fort Dodge; Mia Kerns, Goldfield; Mason Ackerson, Gowrie; Chelsea Elwood, Harcourt; Samantha Dominguez, Humboldt; Alexis Hansen, Humboldt; Haley Stockdale, Humboldt; Jessica Trunkhill, Humboldt; Emma Johnson, Jewell; Grace Arnold, Kamrar; Payton Steig, Lake City; Sawyer Steig, Lake City; Jessica Rodriguez, Lakeside; Annamae Leverson, Lime Springs; Alyssa Klatt, Marathon; Juliana Warren, Norwalk; Mindy Cardenas, Otho; Christina Marine, Pocahontas; Katherine Folsom, Rockwell City; Milena Munoz, Rockwell City; Chelsey Helbing, Sioux Rapids; Italia Delgadillo, Storm Lake; Yen Lam, Storm Lake; Autumn Michaelson, Thor; Tori Adams, Wall Lake; Florence Kamrara, Waukee; Allisa Fox, Webster City; Caroline Hennagir, Webster City; Stephanie Loftus, Webster City; Kennedy Moore, Webster City; Ellenor O’Hearn, Webster City; Autumn Spurling, Webster City; Britany Tudor, Webster City; Lisa Willms Badillo, Webster City; Ayanii Satcher, Cottage Grove, Minnesota; Brittany Tufvesson, Jackson, Minnesota.