Students from the 2014 summer LPN class

Cassadaga NY- The most recent class from the Erie 2 BOCES School of Practical Nursing at the Cassadaga Job Corps celebrated the conclusion of their year long training program on Tuesday afternoon. The graduates began their journey last July as they gathered at the Cassadaga Job Corps from as close by as Fredonia and as far away as California and Puerto Rico. The intense training program requires a year of classroom time, clinical experiences, testing and skills development in preparation for the NCLEX Licensing Exam. The graduates are Shenita Aaron, Dwayne Abbott, Theresa Baron of Fredonia, Jacqueline Figueroa, Angel Gonzalez, Samone Jefferson, Gerardo Lopez-Mesa, Jade Mosley, Sumaiya Mukooza, Kelitah Payne of Gerry, Chasity Pierce, Katlyn Preston, Chelsey Sam of Fredonia, Brittany Senko of Mayville, Annisha Singho-Scott, Kristine Utegg of Cherry Creek and Mathew Zarzycki.

The class is collaboration between Erie 2 BOCES and Job Corps. BOCES provides all instruction and skills development. Job Corps provides the scholarship for students to attend as well as supportive services and residential services for most of those enrolled. Graduates will now begin final preparations for their licensing exams. Many will begin or return to working in healthcare facilities in a variety of roles, until they pass the exam and the license arrives at which time they will begin working as Nurses.
Several student awards were given out to recognize extraordinary efforts. The class Valedictorian was Sumaiya Mukooza. The class Salutatorian was Brittany Senko. Other recognition included; Work of Heart awarded to Chasity Pierce; Outstanding Bedside Nurse awarded to Annisha Singho-Scott; Star of Life Award given to Sumaiya Mukooza and the Most Improved was awarded to Kristine Utegg.
Addressing the class as keynote speaker was Dr. LaTroy Navaroli, owner of Navaroli Medical, specializing in wound care. She shared advice and tips on what other nurses wished they had known entering their field. She emphasized “you need to accept you will make some errors along the way, and that you need to learn from them, but forgive yourself. All people make mistakes, you need to accept that and let it go.” Other students addressing the class included Class President Dwayne Abbott and Valedictorian Sumaiya Mukooza.
Also included in the commencement was a special video montage prepared by Jade Mosley, with photos taken by her classmates throughout the year. During the video the graduates gave special thanks to BOCES, Job Corps and especially their instructors Marilyn Spitzer, Terrie Bowen, Dottie Lauricella, Julie Spears, Annette Reynolds and Ruth Sipp. Academy Director Ann Anderson concluded the program by discussing how important a nurse or caregiver can be, especially as a person approaches the end of their life. She asked them to take that responsibility seriously and remember they can be a difference maker for someone who needs them.