Mercer County Community College Celebrates 29 Graduates from Nursing Class

Twenty-nine graduates of the Mercer County Community College (MCCC) Nursing Class of January 2016 celebrated with faculty, college administrators and loved ones at a graduation and pinning ceremony on Tuesday, Jan. 12 at Kelsey Theatre.

Said graduate Danielle Franks, “It has been an amazing. Our professors have wanted to see us succeed. The work ethic we developed will help us as we prepare for our national boards.” Franks added that she has had a passion for helping others since she was a child and earning her associate degree in nursing is a dream fulfilled. Ultimately she plans to become a nurse practitioner.

Valedictorian Alex Bannwart, of Lawrenceville, echoed Franks’s sentiments in his speech during the pinning ceremony.

“There was so much support among students and between students and faculty,” said Bannwart. “The faculty genuinely cared about our success. I thank them for their dedication and their love.”

Bannwart, who came to Mercer after having already earned a bachelor’s degree, chose to pursue a nursing career because of the wide range of skills it requires.

“You must apply yourself in so many ways – as a problem-solver, an advocate, a critical thinker and a caregiver,” he said, adding that his initial unease in the clinical setting eventually grew into confidence as he observed and learned.

He was so intrigued by the professionalism of the hospital staff during a code blue emergency that he plans to become an emergency room nurse.

Presiding over her first nursing graduation was MCCC’s new president, Dr. Jianping Wang.

“We salute you for keeping your dream alive with hard work and perseverance,” Wang told the students. “Nursing is not for the weak. It is a calling. We hope you will wear your white coat proudly.”

A number of graduates were selected for special awards: Samantha Wagner of Hamilton (HelenMarie Dolton Clinical Excellence Award); Nora Kent of Yardville (Clara Lidz Nursing Leadership Award); Kathleen Gavin of Pennington (Nightingale Award); William Swisher of Bensalem, Pa. (MCCC Nursing Faculty Award); Alexander Bannwart of Lawrenceville and Brandon Gelormine of Howell (Academic Excellence Awards).

The graduating class included: Alexander Bannwart, Marie Benedetti, Dayana Diaz, Danielle Franks, Chelsea Furch, Kathleen Gavin, Brandon Gelormine, Estefania Granada-Gonzalez, Suzanne Harris, Marcella Isaacs, Matthew Jaworsky, Shawn Kemble, Nora Kent, Lindsay Korwin, Sofiya Kozak, Adriana Lazo-Brito, Elizabeth Lee, Britney Mantone, Precious McClees, Alexandra Misuraca, Michael Mulvan, Kathy O’Neal, Aingye Oliver, Chantel Ramsey, Gibril Sandy, Dominika Strakos, William Swisher, Neven Tadros and Samantha Wagner.