Montgomery County Community College celebrated the graduation of 41 nurses during a special pinning ceremony on the Blue Bell Campus. Photos by Linda Johnson
Montgomery County Community College (MCCC) recently honored 41 nursing graduates from the Dr. Stuart H. & Sandra K. Fine Nursing Program, celebrating their academic achievements and the start of their professional journeys in the vital healthcare field.
The College hosted a special pinning ceremony at the Montco Cultural Center theater on the Blue Bell Campus on Dec. 12. Organized by student co-chairs, Kelsey Korst and Isabella Vitelli, the event featured inspiring speakers, the presentation of nursing pins and the recitation of the nursing oath.
Upon successful completion of the Dr. Stuart H. & Sandra K. Fine Nursing Program and the NCLEX-RN, graduates may directly enter the workforce as registered nurses and/or seamlessly transfer to a Bachelor of Science in Nursing program. Some of MCCC’s top transfer schools include Drexel University, Penn State University and West Chester University.
Many of MCCC’s nursing graduates are employed at hospitals, physicians’ offices, clinics and other healthcare settings across Montgomery County and the region. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the 2024 median pay for registered nurses is more than $93,600 per year and the 10-year job growth rate is 5%, which is higher than average.
At the beginning of the pinning ceremony, Dr. Isabelle Porter, PT, DPT, Dean of Health Sciences, gave the opening remarks.
“I’m so proud of each and every one of you. In a few minutes, when you walk across
this stage, you won’t only be walking toward a bright, shiny pin—although they are
beautiful—but you will be walking toward a bright future,” said Porter. “Every graduate
that we honor here tonight will be entering a profession that is synonymous with caring.”
Following Porter’s remarks, the keynote speaker, Christine Troyer, MSN, PMHNP-BC,
BFA, PHRN, CFRN, nursing instructor at MCCC, offered her congratulations and advice.
“You are ready for this. You are ready,” Troyer. “You know if I repeat it, it must be important. If you call me, I’ll say it again because your support doesn’t end tonight. Once a Mustang, always a Mustang.”
After listening to Judy Davis-Radich, MSN, RN, Associate Professor of Nursing, read
the history of the pins, the graduates individually crossed the stage to receive the
special tokens from nursing faculty. Collectively, they recited the Nightingale Pledge,
a traditional oath taken by nurses and named after Florence Nightingale, the founder
of modern nursing.
The Fall 2025 graduating class includes Nelly Aguilar, Royersford; Jonathan April,
King of Prussia; Jordan Brown, Chalfont; Jacquianna Carter, Ardmore; Katie Chavez,
Ambler; Jaime Cunningham, West Norriton; Urszula Dean, Philadelphia; JacJac Devorah,
Rockledge; Meghan Donnelly, Schwenksville; Ashley Driscoll, Souderton; Jamila Fisher,
Philadelphia; Silvia Gonzalez, Souderton; Nicole Gorczyca, Green Lane; Lyndsea Hawkins,
North Wales; Victor Irungu, Harleysville; Matthew Johnson, Philadelphia; Ryan Joyce,
Mont Clare; Mary Kamau, Fairless Hills; Kelsey Korst, King of Prussia; Mohammed Kortobi,
Philadelphia; Jennifer Lennon, Ambler; Richard Mann, Roslyn; Latoya Martin, Wynnewood;
Lauren McDermott; Flourtown; Kasey McElderry, Lansdale; Leah McMenamin, Gilbertsville;
Jasmine Mercer, Sharon Hill; Nayah Moore, Philadelphia; Marissa Nadachowski, Oxford;
Eric Nazario, Audubon; Robin Polen, Philadelphia; Nicole Reyes, Wyncote; Tiffany Rosado,
Cheltenham; Taylor Seymore-Johnson, Willow Grove; Avalon Shields, Palmyra, NJ; Hailey
Shin, East Norriton; Erica Stewart, Chalfont; Loren Stewart, Green Lane; Michael Tran;
Isabelle Vitelli, Trappe; and Jada Vivian, Horsham.
The ceremony concluded with remarks from the student speaker, Robin Polen, and Kyle Raczynski, MSN, RN, Director of the Dr. Stuart H. & Sandra K. Fine Nursing Program.
“To our professors, you pushed us to be the best version of ourselves and supported
us even on our worst days,” Polen said. “Your patience, guidance and humor touched
us in more ways than you’ll understand. It’s easy to look at you and see the nurses
you want us to be.”
“Congratulations! Today, you leave with more than a pin; you leave with a purpose.
This moment reflects your hard work, dedication and unwavering determination,” Raczynski
said. “Through it all, you’ve shown not only your intelligence but your compassion
and that will make all the difference in the lives of your patients.”
For more information about MCCC’s Dr. Stuart H. & Sandra K. Fine Nursing Program, visit mc3.edu/nursing and view the online information session.
