July 28, 2023
Hundreds of family members and friends came to support their loved ones as Pearl River Community College recognized 82 Practical Nursing graduates at a pinning ceremony held on Wednesday at The Ethel Holden Brownstone Center for the Arts. The afternoon was a time of celebration for all while recognizing the hard work each of the students put in during the past year.
Graduates were greeted by PRCC Dean of Career and Technical Instruction Dr. David Collum with words of congratulation for their accomplishments on behalf of the faculty, staff, and Board of Trustees.
“Mississippi needs quality nurses like you,” Collum said. “There may come a day when you feel like giving up. Remember what you have accomplished and the lessons learned about perseverance, grit, and pushing through difficulty.
“Be the best nurse you can and be the reason someone feels comfort or can smile when medically facing their worst.”
During the pinning ceremony, each student had their dedication card read aloud. Through these, they were able to express their gratitude to those that helped them reach the finish line.
Poplarville Campus student Gregory Breland gave the invocation. Forrest County Campus student Keith Gonzales led the newly pinned students in reciting the Practical Nurse’s Pledge. Forrest County Campus student Ariel Carter did the closing Benediction.
Practical Nursing Graduates July 2023
Practical Nursing students are listed by campus with hometown and recognitions in parentheses.
Forrest County Campus:
Kennedy Armstrong (Wiggins), Zian Arrington (Wiggins; Phi Theta Kappa), Meagan Aultman (Moss Point), Deirdre Ball (Oakvale), Kadaisha Barnes (Magee), Aaronecia Bickham (Woodville), Layla Blackledge (Laurel; NALPN Member), Kendra Blackmon (Monticello), Tashma Blakely (Leakesville), Alexis Bowens (Bassfield), Shalethia Bridges (Sumrall), Breyanna Burks (Lorman; NALPN Member), Tonia Carson (Hattiesburg; National Technical Honor Society, NALPN Member), Ariel Cater (Wiggins), Calvanna Coleman (Moss Point), Hannah Collamore (Chapman, Kansas), Kristen Conner (Hattiesburg), Madison Crawford (Neely), Melissa Dedeaux (Gulfport), Dasielle Diaz (Columbia; NALPN Member), Maia Ducksworth (Hattiesburg, NALPN Member), Alisa Gatwood (Hattiesburg), Keith Gonzales (Marrero, LA; NALPN Member), Reagan Grantham Jones (Biloxi; National Technical Honor Society), Allexus Hall (Lumberton), Katrina Hall (Prentis), Terri Harmon (Kosciusko), Synquilisis Henry (Poplarville; NALPN Member), Kathleen Hemphill (Mobile, AL), Deja Hooker (Prentiss; NALPN Member), Anita Howell (Moselle), Courtney Jackson (Hattiesburg), Lexus Jackson (Laurel; NALPN Member), Karen Jarvis (Hattiesburg), Kristyn Jones (Wiggins), Raven Jones (Hazelhurst; National Technical Honor Society, NALPN Member), Shermaine Keyes (Gulfport), Erykah Lampton (Hattiesburg), Zakedria Langston (Ridgeland), Justice Lindsey (Laurel), Maegan Maness (Brooklyn), Gregory McClain (Petal; Phi Theta Kappa), Lindsey Moore (Hattiesburg), Ponatavious Moore (Gulfport), Takidrea Moses (Columbia; National Technical Honor Society), Alaina Nix (Petal), Anna Nobles (Richton; NALPN Member), Rylan Pierce (Hattiesburg), JimMekita Richey (Waynesboro; Phi Theta Kappa, NALPN Member), Jenna Rider (Petal; NALPN Member), Chyenne Sanders (Taylorsville), Victoria Scott (Gulfport), Zainap Stewart (Philadelphia; NALPN Member), RaShauna Thomas (Pearl), Atayviah Williams (Columbia), and Bridget Wilson (McComb).
Poplarville Campus:
Akiera Baker (Ocean Springs), Geneterria Bates (Hattiesburg), Ashlyn Brant (Franklinton, LA), Gregory Breland (Gulfport), Asiya Gaston (Bay St. Louis; Honors), Dymond Harris (Wiggins; Phi Theta Kappa), Christina Holmes (Franklinton, LA), Blake Hoyt (Sun, LA), Trinity Jackson (Picayune), Christian Labarge (Carriere), Venedra Lang (Hattiesburg), Samantha Lee (Picayune), James Marshall (Poplarville; Special Honors), Trenton Melbourne (Picayune), Jenniya Milton (Braxton; Phi Theta Kappa), Yoland Moore (Ellisville), Helen Naquin (Carriere), Shana Necaise (Kiln), Destiny Porter (Gulfport), Amanda Powe (Carriere; Phi Theta Kappa and Special Honors), Tarrah Rogers (Hattiesburg), Allison Russell (Greenwood; NALPN Member), Kelsey Svatko (Poplarville; Special Honors), Andrea Tassin (Baxterville), and Destiny Williams (Hattiesburg).
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 3 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 Alexx Kennedy.
