News & Events

New nurses celebrated at graduation and pinning ceremonies

Date: 06/05/2023

Eastern Maine Community College (EMCC) and Northern Light Mayo Hospital recently recognized five individuals who successfully completed their coursework to become nurses.

The nurses’ two-year course of study, which included classwork at the Penquis Higher Education Center and clinicals at Mayo Hospital, culminated in a graduation ceremony from EMCC as well as a pinning ceremony, a time-honored traditional that marks students’ transition into nursing.

“It was an honor to be a part of these individuals’ journey to become nurses,” says Beth Weatherbee, BSN, M. Ed, course instructor. “They are active learners, empathetic listeners, and committed to helping others. I have no doubt they will succeed at caring for our community with dignity, integrity, and compassion while maintaining safety and confidentiality.”

EMCC and Mayo Hospital collaborate on this distance learning option to make nursing education accessible to more people in Piscataquis County. Two classes of nurses have now graduated from the program. The third cohort will begin this fall. For more information about the fall classes, please contact Nikki Chadwick, RN, MSN, CPHQ, vice president of Quality and Education at Mayo Hospital at nchadwick@northernlight.org.

Pictured, from left to right, are Beth Weatherbee, BSN, M.Ed., program instructor and staff development specialist at Mayo Hospital, graduates Stacy Carpenter, Jade Harmon, Gina Thomas, Justice Black, and Sabrina Sharrow (recipient of the Nursing Leadership Award), and Nikki Chadwick, RN, MSN, CPHQ, program instructor and vice president of Quality and Education at Mayo Hospital.