West Windsor, N.J. – Thirty-eight graduates of Mercer County Community College’s (MCCC’s) highly acclaimed Nursing Education program are ready to take their place among frontline healthcare professionals. 

In a Nursing Pinning Ceremony held on January 21, 2023, a standing-room only Kelsey Theatre was filled to the brim with friends, family and MCCC faculty and staff as members of the class of January 2023 received their pins. The 38 nurses completed their studies in December 2022.

The event, which was also livestreamed to friends and family, recognized the achievement of the nurses as they embark on their professional careers. 

MCCC’s Director of Nursing Education Elizabeth Mizerek presided over the event and introduced and welcomed the college’s new President, Dr. Deborah Preston, who commended the graduates on a job well done. “I have so much admiration for what you do,” said Preston. “Thank you for your work put forth this year and for the work you are going to do.”

MCCC’s Vice President of Academic Affairs Dr. Robert Schreyer, who is also a health care practitioner, recognized the hard work and accomplishments of the class.

“You have all done an excellent job and I know you are well prepared,” said Schreyer. “Be strong and go forward.”

As part of the ceremony, Mizerek recognized the nursing faculty who spent countless hours with the students in classroom, laboratory and clinical experiences.

“None of us would be here tonight for this celebration was it not for the dedicated efforts of our faculty who share their knowledge and clinical expertise with our students throughout the program,” Mizerek said.

She also took the opportunity to explain why nurses get pinned. “The pin symbolizes an educated person who is able to serve their community,” said the nursing director.

Dr. Lisa Dunn, MCCC’s Professor of Nursing, introduced each graduate during the ceremony. And, speaking on behalf of the class was nursing valedictorian Sondra Ibrahim, who offered thoughtful and encouraging remarks.

“As we move on in the next step of our careers and education,” said Ibrahim, “let us do so with compassion, knowledge and the tenacity we’ve gained over these past two years.”

Ibrahim recalled how, at the beginning, her fellow students “fumbled with IVs, catheters and simulations” then grew and persevered through the program.

“We evolved, made sacrifices, enlisted the help of friends and family, and turned to each other as well as our professors to guide us,” said Ibrahim. 

With sincere thanks, Ibrahim acknowledged faculty and staff by name on behalf of the class, and she thanked friends and family for their support while adding a little humor about the stresses encountered. 

“You have made a monumental contribution to our accomplishments,” said Ibrahim. “You have been a shoulder to lean on and often had to endure the pendulum of emotions and odd behavior on exam days … very odd behavior.”

Ibrahim also made note of the special role of her fellow students, and provided words of encouragement as the class begins a new chapter. 

“I am sure many of us would say that we gained a best friend, a brother or a sister during our time here,” said Ibrahim, “ ... Looking at my classmates I see a group of compassionate, driven, astute individuals who are all capable of great things. So let us always strive to give the best care to patients by continuing our education and show the world just how essential it is for a patient to have their nurse.”

Ibrahim concluded, “As Florence Nightingale stated, “Let us never consider ourselves finished nurses, we must be learning all of our lives.”

Highlights of the ceremony included the induction of seven graduates, Lauren Bauer, Kristen Hunter, Sondra Ibrahim, Jeannine Jupiter, Olha Khomitska, Marika Kossadowski and Samantha Procaccini into MCCC’s Epsilon Rho Chapter of Apha Delta Nu, the national nursing honor society whose mission is to promote scholarship, academic excellence, and service to the community.

Six graduates received special recognition for a job well done and received awards funded by William Paterson University that were matched dollar-for-dollar by the Mercer County Community College Foundation: Heidi Turner (Perseverance Award); Nichole Stevens (Clinical Excellence Award); Mavin Sakwa (Teamwork Award); Louis Momplaisir (Professionalism Award); Elon Lee (Caring Award); and Sondra Ibrahim (Academic Excellence Award).

Most of the graduates have already passed the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN), the final step to becoming a registered nurse (RN). The remainder of the class will take the exam in the near future. 

Many of the nurses will soon begin work as RNs locally, working at healthcare organizations such as Capital Health, Penn Medicine Princeton Medical Center and RWJ Hamilton.

Congratulations to MCCC's Nursing Class of January 2023: Emmanuel Amankwaah, Rena Amponsa, Emily Austin, Lauren Bauer, Olga Boiko, Danica Bradley, Danielle Devlin, Diana Doctor, Janise Domenech, Andrew Fejko, Gina Gutierrez, Rosaury Hernandez, Kristen Hunter, Christy Hunter-Price, Sondra Ibrahim, Myriam Isaac, Shantol James, Jeannine Jupiter, Marika Kossakowski, Elon Lee, Adrianna Marin, Lauren McQueeney, Olivia Miller, Louis Momplaisir, Britney Ochoa, Samantha Procaccini, Mayra Ramirez-Garcia, Amanda M. Richter, Danielle Riggleman, Krystal Rodriguez, Mia Sabo, Mavin Sakwa, Parthvi Shah, Laniya Smith, Nichole Stevens, Bianca Theophile, Heidi Turner and Chelsea Walton. 

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Mercer County Community College’s nursing program is ranked as the 4th best program in the state of New Jersey with a NCLEX-RN pass rate of 94.26%. The program, which was recently funded in part by the Mercer County Community College Foundation, educates aspiring RNs through its associate degree in nursing (ADN) program. The MCCC curriculum emphasizes patient-centered care, leadership, information management, collaboration, and many other aspects to create well-rounded and caring nursing professionals. For information about pursuing a career in nursing at MCCC, please visit  www.mccc.edu/nursing or email nursing@mccc.edu.

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Pictured above: Nursing graduate Laniya Smith (on right) with her mother Angela Roberts who flew up from South Carolina for the January 2023 Nursing Pinning Ceremony at Mercer County Community College. The two were thrilled about Laniya's accomplishments. Nurse Smith has already secured a position at Capital Health in Trenton. “I wanted to become a nurse practitioner,” said Smith. “I came up to New Jersey from South Carolina because someone I knew told me about this program, so I wanted to give it a try.”  (Photo credit: Marcya Roberts/MCCC)

Pictured above: Nursing graduate Louis Momplaisir was the Professionalism Award winner at the January 2023 MCCC Nursing Pinning Ceremony. The award was provided by William Paterson University and matched dollar-for-dollar by the Mercer County Community College Foundation. “I chose nursing because my mother became sick and I was the one to take care of her. That was 15 years ago,” said Momplaisir. “I said to myself: 'I have to do this ... I have to become a nurse.'” (Photo credit: Marcya Roberts/MCCC)

Pictured above: Nursing graduate Jeannine Jupiter who was inducted into the Epsilon Rho Chapter of Alpha Delta Nu, the national nursing honor society, is in the floating residency program at Capital Health in Trenton. From Hamilton Township but originally from Haiti, Nurse Jupiter said,  “I had a great experience at MCCC and really liked the curriculum. I will be getting my B.S. in public health at Montclair State University.” (Photo credit: Marcya Roberts/MCCC)