December 5, 2025
Pearl River Community College recognized 51 Practical Nursing graduates at a pinning ceremony at the Ethel Holden Brownstone Center for the Arts on Thursday, Dec. 4. Students were from the night and weekend programs held on the Forrest County, Hancock County, and Poplarville campuses.
On behalf of the faculty, staff, and Board of Trustees, Director of Practical Nursing Education Dr. Melissa Bryant welcomed the graduates, along with their families and friends, with words of congratulations on their accomplishments.
“Thank you for joining us on this special occasion in spite of the rain and the cold,” said Bryant. “I want to recognize you, the families, the friends, the loved ones who supported the graduates on their journey to becoming nurses. You were there through the late nights, the early mornings, the stress, the doubts, the studying, and possibly financial support. Today, you share in their success. Please give yourselves a well-deserved round of applause.”
Abbie Guillory of the Poplarville Campus provided the opening invocation with words of gratitude for God’s provision through their educational journey.
“Thank you for guiding us through the long nights of study, the early mornings of clinical, and the countless challenges that shaped us into the nurses that we are becoming,” said Guillory. “May we honor this calling with humility, resilience, and love.”
Each student wrote out a dedication card expressing gratitude for those who helped them on the journey to becoming a Licensed Practical Nurse. They were read aloud while each new nurse approached their instructors to receive their pin. The dedications were read by Chelsea Dunhurst for the Hancock County Campus, Bridget Cahill for the Forrest County Campus, and Ruthie Long for the Poplarville Campus.
The Practical Nursing Pledge was led by Kassie Torres from the Hancock County Campus. Kalon Byrd from the Forrest County Campus provided the Benediction to close out the ceremony, concluding with wishes for herself and classmates.
“Let this moment remind us of our strengths, our growth, and the purpose that brought us here,” said Byrd. “Today is not just a ceremony. It is the beginning of an impact that we will make. Congratulations to the PRCC LPN graduating class. May we carry this feeling, this gratitude, and this hope into every step ahead.”
Practical Nursing students are listed by campus.
Forrest County Campus: Markayla Arrington (Heidelberg), Arneshia Ashford (Hattiesburg), Tasha Bolton (Beaumont), Michal Box (Hattiesburg), Kalon Byrd (Collins), Dakiya Duckworth (Collins), Mandy Giles (McLain), Alexis Goza (Hattiesburg), Hannah Hackler (Lucedale), Keeleigh Hall (Sumrall), Victoria Hall (Petal), Danielle Hennis (Beaumont), Carlos Hinton (Richton), Amber James (Wiggins), Latoya Keys (Columbia), Haley Knue (Lumberton), April Lees (Sumrall), Jennifer McNair (Hattiesburg), Kelsi Millis (Magee), Kashayvia Osborne (Hattiesburg), Alyanna Poole (Waynesboro), Serenity Robins (Hattiesburg), Jana Walker (Prentiss), Taliyah Washington (Hattiesburg),Veronica Williams (Hattiesburg), and Takara Woods (McCain).
Hancock Campus: Nicole Bachmann (Diamondhead), Hannah Bailey (Biloxi), Destiney Cangelosi (Slidell, LA), Vanessa Chappell (Long Beach), Keaira Evans (Gulfport), Alexus Guidry (Kiln), Kiyandi Jones (Bassfield), Za’Ciyah Moton (Gulfport), Octavia Sanders (Gulfport), Heather Spencer (Pearlington), Akimmeone Stubbs (Gulfport), Jessica Sullivan Jones (Biloxi), Kassie Torres (Picayune), and Anna Wolverton (Norfolk, NE).
Poplarville Campus: Hannah Benn (Wiggins), Nicole Evans (Petal), Abbie Guillory (Carriere), Venus Hampton (Carriere), Deoushia Jefferson (Columbia), Zyjeria Jones Evans (Laurel), Kelly Marcotte (Carriere), Sarah Marcotte (Carriere), Timeka Perryman (Wiggins), Candi Richardbey (Poplarville), and Denisia Wesley (Slidell, LA).
LPN PROGRAM OPTIONS AND HOW TO APPLY
The Practical Nursing program is available for full-time students during the day at the Forrest County and Poplarville Campuses. An evening/weekend option is available at all three campuses (Forrest County, Hancock, and Poplarville.) Full-time students complete the program in three semesters (one year) while part-time students take five semesters to finish.
Prospective students must first meet all PRCC admission requirements before completing the Practical Nursing application. Applicants must also take the TEAS Test completed through ATI Testing. The deadline to apply to ANY option is March 1.
For the latest news on Pearl River Community College, visit PRCC.edu and follow us on Twitter (@PRCC_Wildcats), Instagram (PRCCWILDCATS), Facebook (@PRCCMKTG), and TikTok (@prcc_wildcats).
Article by Laura O’Neill. Photography by Patrick Peerboom.
