May 15, 2026
Ninety-four 91福利 students were honored at pinning ceremonies on Wednesday, May 6, for completing the Associate Degree of Nursing program. Joyful celebrations rang through the Ethel Holden Brownstone Center for the Arts, where graduates were cheered on by an energetic and supportive crowd.
Dean of Associate Degree Nursing Education Brandi Linares welcomed those in attendance, including faculty members, family and friends of the graduates. She also thanked the nursing administrative staff and PRCC Administration for their support of the program.
鈥淭his ceremony marks a significant milestone in the lives of our graduates,鈥� said Linares. 鈥淭hese ladies and gentlemen have successfully completed a very rigorous RN program. Graduates, congratulations on this incredible achievement. Today, we will celebrate your dedication and all your hard work.鈥�
At the morning pinning for Poplarville Campus graduates, Alexis English led the prayer before four students were honored with different awards. Ciarra Walker (traditional ADN program) and Aleigha Williams (LPN to ADN program) were recognized for Academic Excellence. Chandra Bowen (traditional ADN program) and Erika Bland (LPN to ADN program, day) were recognized for Dedication to Patient Care. Bowen also received a Mississippi School of Nursing Scholarship.
Poplarville Campus Class President Bowen spoke on behalf of the cohort.
鈥淓ach of you has shown incredible strength and resilience, and it’s been an honor to walk this road beside you,鈥� said Bowen. 鈥淭oday, as we receive our nursing pins, we accept more than a symbol; we accept a responsibility, a responsibility to serve with compassion, to advocate fearlessly, and to lead with integrity.鈥�
鈥淟et us always remember why we started, honor those who helped us get here, and never forget the impact we can make as nurses. Now, may we move forward with courage, guided by our faith, grounded in what we have learned, and committed to serving others with excellence.鈥�
During the afternoon pinning ceremony for Forrest County Campus graduates, Brittani Hartfield led the prayer before eight students were honored with different awards. Hartfield (Fall 2025 Evening Program) and Secoya Bailey (Spring 2026 Day Program) were presented with a Hannah Laborde Memorial Scholarship. Makinzee Melton (traditional ADN program), Justice Leverette (LPN to ADN program, day), and Kelsey Svatko (LPN to ADN program, evening) were recognized for Academic Excellence. Kelsey Terrell (traditional ADN program), Kami Moler (LPN to ADN program, day), and Nyquavia White (LPN to ADN program, evening) were recognized for Dedication to Patient Care.
Forrest County Class Traditional Class President Trinity Calhoun spoke on behalf of the cohort.
鈥淣ursing school has a way of draining you, but the support we receive from the people around us refill that cup again and again,鈥� said Calhoun. 鈥淭oday marks the end of a very challenging chapter, but it is also the beginning of something incredible.
鈥淎s we move forward into our careers, my hope for this class is simple, that we become nurses who are both kind and competent, nurses who advocate for our patients, support one another, and never forget why we started this journey in the first place.鈥�
Forrest County Class LPN-ADN Evening Class President Takia Young spoke on behalf of the cohort.
鈥淭oday we are pinned, not just as graduates, but as nurses who’ve persevered,鈥� said Young. 鈥淭his pin represents every obstacle we overcame and every life we will touch moving forward. So, while today we celebrate how far we’ve come, we also look ahead with confidence because we didn’t just complete a program, we answered the call to lead, to serve, and to step forward as the future RNs we are already becoming.鈥�
The Nightingale Pledge was led by Walker for the morning pinning and Niqurira Martin for the afternoon pinning. The pledge is named after Florence Nightingale, considered the founder of modern nursing, and is a modified form of the Hippocratic Oath. All registered nurses in the audience were invited to join the graduates in reciting the pledge, with dozens answering the call.
The presentation of pins to the graduates included the reading of dedication cards as they had their pins placed and accepted their lamp. Several graduates received their pin from a family member who is also a graduate of the PRCC ADN program.
Ten graduates were given cords in recognition of their membership in the Mississippi Organization for Students of ADN (MOSA) for one year of service with at least 50 community service credits. Ten graduates earned a medallion, having completed two years of service and a minimum of 100 community service credits.
MOSA is the only state chapter for students in the nation with the PRCC chapter participating in numerous educational, recruitment, and community activities. Morgan Jackson from the Forrest County Campus led the chapter for this cohort.
The ceremonies ended with the lighting of lamps and a recession of the graduates to the lobby where they could begin their individual celebrations with family and friends.
ALPHA DELTA NU HONOR SOCIETY OF NURSING
Between the pinning ceremonies, Morgan Jackson, President, and Makinzee Melton, Vice President were inducted into the Alpha Delta Nu Honor Society of Nursing. Held in Malone Chapel, the ceremony provided an opportunity for reflection upon what sustained them on their journey as nursing students.
Jackson delivered the opening prayer before Melton presented the history of the honor society. Their capstone project focused on educating level two nursing students about the importance of mental health and stress management.
Cords and pins were presented to the inductees by nursing faculty members Mrs. Anna Busby, Mrs. Amy Esslinger, and Mrs. Cindy Skinner.
SPRING 2026 ASSOCIATE DEGREE OF NURSING GRADUATES FORREST COUNTY CAMPUS
Hillery Ash* (Columbia), Secoya Bailey (Lumberton), Victoria Becerra (Carriere), Reagan Beech (Sumrall), Mallory Blunt ^ (Laurel), Kayla Burrell ** ^ (Beaumont), Cesar Cabrera Lara (Ellisville), Trinity Calhoun (Hattiesburg), Shalinda Capps (Lucedale), Veronica Clemons (Lumberton), Shannon Collins (Petal), Dominic Cooper (Monticello), Mckenzie Davenport (Hattiesburg), Joretta Ellison (Petal), Kryslynn Fulmer (Richton), Karen Gamer (Seminary), Celena Gonzales (Bogalusa, Louisiana), Destiny Gordon (Covington, Louisiana), Dymond Harris ~ (Wiggins), Brittani Hartfield ^ (Purvis), Courtney Jackson (Hattiesburg), Morgan Jackson ** + (Hattiesburg), Trinity Jackson * (Bay Saint Louis), AhLexus Johnson (Bassfield), Malyssa Johnson (Foxworth), Tiyana Johnson ** (Hattiesburg), Raven Jones (Hazelhurst), Dustin Lambert (Ovett), Justice Leverette (Wiggins), Cameron Lizana (Brooklyn), Niqurira Martin ** (Mount Hermon, Louisiana), Shelby McCreary (Petal), Tycelin McDonald (Hattiesburg), Alisa Mcmahon (Hattiesburg), Trenton Melbourne (Picayune), Makinzee Melton + (Bridgeport, Texas), Kami Moler ** (Petal), Tiffany Moody (Petal), Joshua Morgan (Brandon), Takidrea Moses (Columbia), Cassidy Nall (Hattiesburg), Raven Newell (Sumrall), Aarionna Nickey * (Taylorsville), Megan Noble (Laurel), Isabella Phillips (Petal), Jamiracle Rayborn (Petal), Elshanti Smith (Hattiesburg), Kelsey Svatko (Poplarville), Kelsey Terrell ** (Hattiesburg), Brittany Townes (Hattiesburg), Tonya Waller (Hattiesburg), Lauryn Watson (Hattiesburg), Nyquavia White (Laurel), Tanya Windmon (New Orleans, Louisiana), and Takia Young (Lumberton).
SPRING 2026 ASSOCIATE DEGREE OF NURSING GRADUATES POPLARVILLE CAMPUS
Brianna Alexander (McNeill), Katlyn Beal (Picayune), Erika Bland (Gloster), Chandra Bowen ** (Poplarville), Mary Louise Buck ~ (Bay Saint Louis), Maya Calloway (Picayune), Gloria Camus * (Slidell, Louisiana), Monica Caro (Picayune), Savannah Cooper (Purvis), Alexis English ** (Oak Vale), D’Naeya Gray (Hutchinson, Kansas), Morgan Greer (Covington, Louisiana), Sam Hancock (Baxterville), Blake Hanson * (Columbia). Michael Huddleston (Picayune), Madison Joiner ** (Ponchatoula, Louisiana), Lexie Ladner * (Poplarville), Nina Liverett ~ (Slidell, Louisiana), Brennon Maulden (Biloxi), Candice Myers (New Orleans, Louisiana), Lila Pace (Sandy Hook), Angelina Palisi (Diamondhead), Logan Price * (Poplarville), Julia Reiter (Poplarville), Alana Rogers ** (Bay Saint Louis), Rachel Saavedra (Carriere), Lily Schimmeck (Biloxi) Ariana Secondine * (Picayune), Baileigh Smith * (Carriere), Rainey Smith ~ (Picayune), Macy Spiers (Stone), Lizbeth Sullivan (Foxworth), Caitlyn Thornhill (Foxworth), Ciarra Walker ** ~ (Poplarville), April Walters * (Hattiesburg), Gabrielle White (Carnes), Whitney Whitfield (McNeill), Aleigha Williams (Williamsport, Pennsylvania), and Davonna Williams (Long Beach, California).
* Mississippi Organization for Students of ADN (MOSA) Cord & Medallion: 1- year member with 50+ community service credits
** Mississippi Organization for Students of ADN (MOSA) Cord & Medallion: 2- year member with 100+ community service credits
+ Alpha Delta Nu Honor Society of Nursing
~ Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society Cords
^ National Technical Honor Society Cords
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Article by Laura O’Neill. Photography by Patrick Peerboom.
