Saturday, May 13, newly graduated nursing students were celebrated in a pinning ceremony held in Cass Gym. A pinning ceremony is a tradition for new nurses in which a nurse of significance in their life pins them with a specially designed pin. The ceremony culminates with all nurses in attendance reciting the Florence Nightingale Pledge. This semester’s celebration honored 45 students having just graduated.
As part of the ceremony, five students were inducted into the the Organization for Associate Degree Nursing Alpha Delta Nu Honor Society. The students have excelled in their general education and nursing studies and completed a community service project.
Congratulations to all of this year’s nursing graduates and special thanks to their honored pinners, ADN faculty, for being an inspiration to these new nurses!
On Monday, students of the winning class and club officers delivered four boxes of collected breakfast foods to the students of Grant Middle School. The graduated nursing students shared some of their tips for success with the middle school students, which include starting each day with a healthy breakfast.
On May 5, Marcie Leonard, assistant professor of nursing, graduated from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville! She earned a doctorate of nursing practice with an emphasis in executive leadership and is a member of Epsilon Eta Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing Honor Society. Congratulations to Marcie for all of her hard work and earned achievements!
Seven second-year LLCC Student Radiography Association members attended the 88th Illinois State Society of Radiologic Technology (ISSRT) Annual Conference in Bloomington, April 12-14.
Leigh Giles-Brown, program director, diagnostic medical sonography, attended the Minority Health Fair hosted by the Springfield-Decatur Area Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. The event was held at the Kerasotes YMCA on Saturday, April 29, and was well attended. Activities included fitness instruction, health screenings and free farmers market produce. At the LLCC display table, information about the DMS and other health professions programs was offered along with giveaways. The event was recommended by Tracey Benn-Cockayne, the DMS Diversity and Equity Fellowship Initiative (DEFI) fellow, and provided the opportunity to increase community awareness about the college’s health care training opportunities.
Karina Moore joined LLCC April 3 as health professions recruiter. She previously worked as a health and human sciences educator and human development specialist for Purdue Extension. She has experience in youth mentoring, trauma-informed care and brain health. Karina earned a master’s degree in educational leadership from University of Illinois Springfield. She can be reached by phone at