Montgomery County Community College celebrated the graduation of 29 nurses during a special pinning ceremony on Aug. 25 on the Blue Bell Campus. Photos by Linda Johnson
Montgomery County Community College recently honored 29 graduates of the Dr. Stuart H. & Sandra K. Fine Nursing Program during a special pinning ceremony held on the Blue Bell Campus, marking the start of their careers as professional nurses.
Organized by nursing students Tyisha Hutchison and Sierah Thompson, 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 licensure exam, graduates are prepared to enter the workforce as registered
nurses and/or seamlessly transfer to a Bachelor of Science in Nursing program. Among
MCCC’s most popular transfer schools are 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 faster than average.
At the beginning of the ceremony, MCCC Nursing Program Director Kyle Raczynski, MSN, RN, welcomed the families and friends that filled the Parkhouse Hall Atrium, and introduced the keynote speaker, MCCC Nursing Instructor, Kelly Lyles, MSN, RN, CEN, CPEN, who is an alumna of the nursing program. Lyles also works in the emergency room of a local hospital and shares her workplace experience in the classroom.
“Graduates, as you leave this campus, remember the world needs your voice, expertise
and compassion more than ever. May you find purpose in the care you provide,” Lyles
said. “Healthcare systems are evolving, and challenges are plentiful, but nurses are
the backbone of it all.”
Following Lyles’ remarks, the graduates individually crossed the stage to receive their pins from the nursing faculty. Collectively, they recited the Nightingale Pledge, a traditional oath named after Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing.
The 2026 summer graduating class includes Anthonesha Anguin, Norristown; Mariana Bernal Cabrera, Schwenksville; Eric Cox, Ambler; Erixen Cruz; Bridget DiCesare, Glenmoore; Samyrah Figueroa, Coatesville; Tyisha Hutchison, Pottstown; Crystal Idrovo-Chavez, Norristown; Zachary Jones; Kaitlyn Kemmerer, Telford; Stephanie Kingsbauer, Telford; Saige Kling, Harleysville; Paulina Lal; Rachida Mokhtari; Erin Morse, Norristown; Sangwoo Park, Harleysville; Ryan Philbrick, Lansdale; Ulyana Rebeza, Warminster Township; Kiana Rosado; Isis Michelle Sagastume, Souderton; Anina Salvucci, Jamison; Megan Santillo, Phoenixville; Harris Schaefer; William Shukowitsh, Pottstown; Courtney Steiner, Perkasie; Aaliyah Stovall, Philadelphia; Sierah Thompson, Ambler; Neida Tirado, Norristown; and Jordan Tripp, Royersford.
This student speaker, Ryan Philbrick, spoke to his classmates about their journey together and thanked families and faculty for their support along the way.
“For faculty and clinical instructors, thank you for seeing in us what we often couldn’t
see in ourselves. You challenged us because you understood exactly how much this profession
demands. You helped us understand that standards of ‘good enough’ will not one day
be ‘good enough’ for a patient depending on our knowledge and judgment. Thank you
for the lessons, corrections, and encouragement and for investing in not only our
education but in the nurses we will be become,” Philbrick said.
The ceremony concluded with remarks by Nursing Program Director Raczynski.
“As you leave here tonight and begin the next chapter of your professional journey, remember that nursing is more than a career, it’s a privilege,” Raczynski said. “You will be invited into some of the most vulnerable and meaningful moment of people’s lives. Your knowledge will heal, your compassion will comfort and your presence will matter more than you will ever realize.”
“To the class of 2026, we are incredibly proud of each and every one of you. Carry forth the values you learned here—integrity, compassion, professionalism and excellence in patience care. Continue to learn, continue to lead and never forget the impact you have on the lives of others,” he said.
For more information about MCCC’s Dr. Stuart H. & Sandra K. Fine Nursing Program, visit the nursing program webpage and access the online information session.