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Thirty-nine students in the Sewickley Valley Hospital School of Nursing Class of 2007 participated in commencement ceremonies at the Edgeworth Club in Edgeworth on Sunday, June 10.
The graduates are Michael Agrecky of Ambridge, Terri Bathory of Pittsburgh, Faith Beegle of Beaver Falls, Stephanie Blair of Beaver Falls, Jo Lynn Conti of Center Twp., Jessica Dudash of Industry, Julia Fehl of Baden, Esther Finley of Moon, Barbara Freed of McKees Rocks, Lee Fulton of Beaver Falls, Sarah Hahn of Cranberry, Kyle Harancher of Evans City, Kristi Indovina of Ambridge, Jennifer Jesko of Beaver Falls, Jennifer Kamzelski of Rochester, Anna Kane of Monaca, Kari Kriger of Crescent, Michele Lynn of Butler, Traci Lynn of Kilbuck, Tara Mackintosh of Wampum, Sarah Merrihew of Baden, Kristia Mitchell of Zelienople, Christen Moss of Cranberry, Megan Noell of Chippewa, Julie Norman of New Brighton, Lisa Nutter of Aliquippa, Valerie Osborne of Beaver, Donna Paladin of Pittsburgh, Stefanie Powell of Rochester, Cheryl Prosser of Cranberry, Dineen Raeford of Cranberry, Dana Shondel of Pittsburgh, Nicolette Skonieczny of Baden, Dina Swaney of Imperial, Rita Swink of Monaca, John Szakach of Sewickley, Samantha Taylor of Georgetown and Andrew Wright of Pittsburgh.
The graduates have accepted nursing positions within Heritage Valley Sewickley and Beaver as well as Pittsburgh-area hospitals.
At the graduation, Marilu Piotrowski, Director, School of Nursing, presided and awarded the students their nursing pins. Timothy Merrill, chairman, board of directors awarded the diplomas. Mary Carol Kennedy, Director of Staff Development at Mayview State Hospital, was the keynote speaker. Offering congratulatory remarks were the following individuals from Heritage Valley Health System: Norman Mitry, president and CEO; Dr. Daniel H. Brooks, chief medical & operating officer; and Dr. James Meditch, president, Medical Staff. Janet Skees, faculty member, presented the traditional graduation rose.
Special awards or recognition were given to Esther Finley, who received the Faculty Award for the highest academic achievement. Dineen Raeford received the Ruth V. Myers Alumni Award and Tara Mackintosh received the Flora Guthrie Applegate Award for outstanding nursing care.
Sewickley Valley Hospital School of Nursing offers students two flexible programs, an accelerated 22-month program and a progressive 33-month program, both starting in August. The program combines course credits from La Roche College with a wide range of clinical nursing courses. The program is fully accredited by the National League for Nursing Accreditation Commission. At the end of the program, the graduates are eligible to take the national licensing examination for registered nurses. Credits are transferable to BSN and MSN programs, providing students with educational mobility.
Recipients of 2007 awards, from left to right: Dineen Raeford, Ruth V. Myers Alumni award, Tara Mackintosh, the Flora Guthrie Applegate award, Esther Finley, the Faculty Award and John Szakach, the Evidence Based Practice award.
Students participated in a food drive to help give a needy family Thanksgiving dinner. The effort is coordinated through the Sewickley Union Aid Society.