Friends and family packed Towsley Auditorium on December 15 to celebrate the 65-member Washtenaw Community College nursing program Fall 2025 graduating class.
During her faculty address, Alisha Noel summed up the mood of the bi-annual pinning ceremony, telling the graduates they "should feel overjoyed today."
"This is not a small achievement," Noel added. "You have earned your place in this profession. You are ready. You are capable. And you are needed."
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WCC Executive Vice President for Instruction Dr. Brandon R. Tucker and Dean of Health Sciences Dr. Shari Lambert also provided congratulatory messages while Nursing faculty member Dr. Marva Brooks served as the Mistress of Ceremonies.
Rory House was chosen by her peers to serve as the graduate speaker and told the gathered crowd — plus those watching a live stream — about the random group of people she met two years ago that became "like family."
The graduating class takes a giant step closer to joining the nursing profession by participating in the pinning ceremony, a time-honored tradition dating back to the 1880s that represents a transition from academia to profession.
Up next for the group is passing the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) to become a licensed Registered Nurse. Many members of the graduating class plan to continue their education and earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing.
Members of the Fall 2025 WCC Nursing Graduating Class include (in alphabetical order):
Zakariya Abuzir+
Grace Anthony
Alicia Anton*
Alysia Atsumi
Rachel Auty
Seema Awan
Amanda Baker
Kylie Balent
Linda Barakat
Angela Barnstead
Kendra Beebe
Elia Berry
Jenna Bowman+
Dawn Bracken
Ellie Branton
Reese Burnia+
Leah Chatell
Madeline Christie
Fatoumata Conde
Katrina Delong
Hodan Dirsche*
Nicole Dockery
Ava Eckerman+
Breanna Farmer
Benjamin Foster
Alexandria Garrett
Lauren Hainley
Sabrina Hontz
Rory House
Sarah Hunt
Shelby Jackson
Miranda Jarvis
Torianna Johnson
Julie Kritch
Kathie Lee
JaNay Madison+
Barbara Malcolm
Courtney Miatech
Jacqueline Miller
Amari Murphy
Olivia Nolan
Teya Olan*
Nicole Omler
Janet Omotosho*
CJ Patterson+
Natalie Michelle Pestano
Madeline Pierron
Natalie Price
Ella Rasmussen
Sydney Ray
Cierra Rice
Megan Rinehart*
LaShawna Robinson
Emily Sanderson
Shirin Shakeri
Laurel Shurtleff
Alisha Stapleton
Christina Tamer
Jack Thibault
Olivia Thomas
Jessica Tubb
Briana Viurquiz
Sarah Wahab
Hannah Woods
+ - Members of American Association of Men in Nursing
* - Graduating as members of the Organization of for Associate Degree Nursing Honor Society
Tags: Graduation, Health Sciences, Nursing, Pinning Ceremony