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Montcalm Community College recognized 13 nursing students during a pinning ceremony on May 1 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.

Chase Taylor, of Edmore, was chosen by his fellow classmates to speak at the ceremony.

“Today, we are not just celebrating our academic accomplishments, but also the values, compassion and resilience that we’ve cultivated throughout our nursing education,” Taylor said. “We are officially joining a community of healthcare professionals committed to the well-being of others. Nursing is not just a profession — it is a calling. It is a commitment to care, a promise to support and a willingness to put the needs of others above all else.”

Throughout the speech, Taylor gave many thanks, including to a select few nursing instructors who have made a significant impact on the education of the Spring 2025 cohort.

“Our work is not going to be easy,” Taylor added. “The hours are long, the demands are unrelenting and the emotional toll can be profound. Yet, every day we will show up, not only as skilled professionals but as beacons of hope for patients and their families. Whether it’s offering a comforting word, a gentle touch or critical medical care, you will make an impact that goes far beyond the clinical.”

Nursing and Health Careers Instructor Kim Holt also spoke at the ceremony and celebrated the achievements of the cohort.

“Today marks the culmination of years of hard work, perseverance and unwavering commitment,” Holt said. “You have faced challenges head-on, learned to navigate complex situations and developed the skills necessary to provide exceptional care. Your journey has been one of growth, both personally and professionally, and today, we honor your accomplishments.”

Holt offered seven principles for success during the speech — be willing, show compassion, possess integrity, remain humble, show gratitude, rise above and challenge yourself.

“As you move forward and start this new chapter in your life as a nursing professional, our hope is that all of you will become the nurse we know you can be and that you make your own positive mark on the nursing profession,” Holt added.

Taylor’s speech closed with the recognition of the significance of the pinning ceremony itself.

“As we are pinned today, let us remember that they symbolize more than just a professional milestone — they represent our commitment to the highest standards of care, compassion and integrity,” Taylor said. “They are a reminder that the work we do is both sacred and essential and that every day, in every interaction, we have the privilege of making a difference in someone’s life.”

Honorees included:

Big Rapids

Elizabeth Huertas-Andino

Coral

Ellie Nielsen

Ashlee Porter

Crystal

Georgina Pickens

Edmore

Faith Johnston

Chase Taylor

Gowen

SkyeAnne Sherwood

Greenville

Kristen Allard

Marisa Halfacer

Lowell

Kaelobb Decker

Joshua Underwood

Sand Lake

Kali Hoag

Six Lakes

Bailey Snyder