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Fifty-one students received their two-year degrees and 32 students earned 16-month accelerated degrees as part of the ceremony.
More than 20 students were honored for their achievements, including Brenden Martin of Branford and Michele Banks of Derby for leading each class in grade-point average.
“The Bridgeport Hospital School of Nursing was the vehicle that helped each of us get to where we wanted to go,” said class speaker Erin Carey of Beacon Falls in her speech. “We can only repay our debts in one way – by being the best nurses we can be.”
Connecticut Nurses Association member Mary Jane Williams gave the commencement address and talked about how the profession would change each of the graduates
“Your perspective will change as you move forward. This may present a challenge to you but is essential to the development of your nursing practice," she said. "Develop a broader perspective. Think critically. Examine new perspectives with an open mind.”
MaryEllen Kosturko, Bridgeport Hospital's chief nursing officer, ended the ceremony with a note of hope.
“It is with great pride that I welcome you to the profession of nursing," she said. "You have endless possibilities. I urge you to take every one of them.”
Bridgeport Hospital School of Nursing's Accelerated Class (completed studies December 2014)
- Michele Banks, Derby
- Kidesha Black, Bristol
- Tara Bruce, Bridgeport
- James Capuano, Stratford
- Erin Carey, Beacon Falls
- Juanita Cavallaro, Waterbury
- Jessica Dziala, Bristol
- Grantley Grant Jr., Bridgeport
- Michelle LeFay, Southington
- Nicole Lynch, Wilton
- Steven Mallon, Fairfield
- Danielle Massaro, North Branford
- Kaleigh Mierzwinski, Litchfield
- Sabrina Nelson, New Haven
- Kathy Nhan, Meriden
- Susana Odoom, Stamford
- Charles Ollero, Waterbury
- Alyssa Papotto, Meriden
- Marcus Rabovsky, Milford
- David Raccio, Cheshire
- Jamie Rondinelli, Manchester
- Mark Rugarber, Monroe
- Kristen Ruge, Orange
- Kathleen Savage, Bristol
- Erin Sherman, West Haven
- Meghan Simpson, Bristol
- Loren Thompson, Bridgeport
- Hayley Vyas, Stratford
- Tina Worden, Middlebury
- Rebecca Wright, Wallingford
- Valarie Yeaton, West Haven
- Omera Young, Bridgeport
Traditional Two-Year Class (completed studies May 2015)
- Megan Anderson, Bridgeport
- Vathsana Athitang, Bridgeport
- Andrew Baldovin, Stratford
- Joanna Barbosa, Milford
- Ashley Bauchmann, Wallingford
- Ashley Brown, Shelton
- Alicia Colquhoun, Stamford
- Katelynn Cotto, Shelton
- Christina Curtiss, Wallingford
- Winter DeFeo, Stratford
- Cinthia DeFreitas, Bridgeport
- Veronica DeJesus, Bridgeport
- Allyson DuBois, Shelton
- Alyssa Edwards, Waterbury
- Veronica Ernst, Shelton
- Melissa Francetic, Milford
- Tammy George, Branford
- Ashley Gomes, Stratford
- Laura Guardiano, Derby
- Megan Haberman, Orange
- Donna Heath, Woodbridge
- Donda Hilke, Southington
- Brigid Keeney, Stratford
- John Kozlowski, Shelton
- Monica Lage, Monroe
- Jessica Luyckx, Guilford
- Victoria Lynch, West Haven
- Bradley Martin, South Windsor
- Brenden Martin, Branford
- Elizabeth Masi, Southbury
- Claudia Matos, Bridgeport
- Mallory McArthur, Bridgeport
- Kara McDonald, Oxford
- Stephanie McEwen, Sandy Hook
- Shaileen Morton, Milford
- Odette K. Nkuilin, Stratford
- Cassandra Parker, Colchester
- Kaitlyn Paz, Bridgeport
- Marlene Piscioniere, Seymour
- Alexandra Porter, Westbrook
- Katherine Ritter, Milford
- Leigh Russ, Woodbridge
- Shaun Ryan, Monroe
- Bailey Scharpf, Hamden
- Elisabeth Scollard, Darien
- Lisa Stein, Fairfield
- Margaret Struzik, Trumbull
- Michelle Tartaglio, Stratford
- Monica Torres, Meriden
- Devon Wendel, Brookfield
- Heather Wilson, Stamford
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