News

By Alex Freeman, MCC Communications Coordinator

Montcalm Community College recognized 25 nursing students during a pinning ceremony on December 4 in the gymnasium on the college’s Sidney campus. The students were honored for completing their Associate of Applied Science Degree in Nursing (ADN), which prepares them for national licensure as a registered nurse. 

Kimberly Murphy, of Newaygo, and Logan Tidey, of Cedar Springs, were both chosen by their fellow classmates as student representatives of the cohort. Murphy was the designated student speaker at the ceremony. 

 “Everyone watching today probably has their own idea of what a nurse is, and I think every graduate sitting here will add nuance to that picture,” Murphy said. “Nursing requires curiosity, learning, and patience. Each nurse brings something a little different to this work. You can go in every day and see your job as a list of tasks, or you can choose to build real connections with your patients, because that’s where great care starts.” 

Murphy urged her cohort to invest their time into getting to know their patients on a personal level, which takes the level of care from basic to special. 

“One thing I believe with my whole heart is that this group of graduates will not just follow the culture of whatever unit they join — they will shape it,” she said. “They’ll be the ones who jump up to help with someone else’s call light. They’ll make a point to check in on a fellow nurse after a brutal shift. I know this because I watched every one of them support each other throughout this program. This is a group of true team players, and they’re going to be incredible nurses in whatever specialty they choose.” 

Murphy’s speech culminated with a round of gratitude expressed to various faculty members as she celebrated the end of the cohort’s nursing education at MCC. 

“Let’s go be the kind of nurses who make people feel safe, seen, and cared for.” 

Honorees included: 

Belding 

Elizabeth Powers 

Love Wisniewski 

Cedar Springs 

Logan Tidey 

Coral 

Meagan DeHate 

Fenwick 

Lukas Schafer 

Grand Rapids 

Allyson Rodewald 

Greenville 

Kendall Alcalar 

Alayna Carew 

Jacquelyn Karnes 

Alec O’Connor 

Morgan VanNortrick 

Ionia 

Kullan Granger 

Jessica Heintzelman 

Kentwood 

Shelby Straw 

Lake Odessa 

Morgan Gorman 

Lowell 

Elyse Bosscher 

Mt. Pleasant 

Richard Hartley 

Newaygo 

Kimberly Murphy 

Pierson 

Zachary Schofield 

Rockford 

Reese Gonzales 

Sheridan 

Olivia Bailey 

Six Lakes 

Brooke Dillon 

Skyler Teaker 

Stanton 

Sharlene Otto 

Trufant 

Nathan Schiner