GAVC Health Occupations holds pinning ceremony for Class of 2021

MORRIS – On Wednesday, the Grundy Area Vocational Center’s Health Occupations Class of 2021 was honored during a pinning ceremony on the Morris Community High School football field.

GAVC Director Lance Copes gave the introduction before health occupations instructor Jennifer Shell welcomed the graduates and those gathered to celebrate them.

“This is a program that can only be completed through hard work, diligence and determination,” Shell said “The CNA [certified nursing assistant] curriculum is very intense and elaborate, yet through thick and thin and throughout all the challenges, you did it anyway. I say, good job and congratulations.

“A pinning is a solemn occasion, dating as far back as 1850, when Florence Nightingale was honored with the Red Cross pin for her great nursing work she did in the war in Crimea, and back in 1880, when a class of nursing students at the Bellevue Hospital School of Nursing in New York was the first to be pinned at a graduation.

“So, Class of 2021, this is your time. It is an occasion to honor you. Also, for the successful completion and the first and biggest part of your education as professional caregivers. You graduate at a time in history when we are dealing with enormous challenges, but at a time in which opportunities created by those challenges have never been greater.”

After Shell’s remarks, guest speaker Megan VandeWerken of Coal City addressed the students via a prerecorded message. VandeWerken’s daughter, Kaysen, needed two heart transplants before her eighth birthday.

Given the amount of time the VandeWerken spent in the hospital, Megan VandeWerken told the graduating class how much the CNAs at Lurie Children’s Hospital have meant to Kaysen and the rest of the family. They helped Kaysen make TikTok videos and were helpful in keeping the family’s spirits up when times looked tough.

After VandeWerken’s speech, the pinning ceremony took place. Each graduate chose someone special – a parent, grandparent, other family member, friend or teacher – who had made an impact on their lives to put the pin on them.

After all graduates received their pin, there was a candle-lighting and reciting of the CNA pledge before closing remarks were given by Dr. Keith Rezin. The pledge says:

“I solemnly pledge to attend to the physical and emotional needs of those in my care with kindness and a gentle hand, to maintain high moral and ethical values, to always keep the rights of patients in mind, to keep my patients safe from harm, to keep a kind sense of humor, to help others in positive ways and to listen to my patients, not only with my ears but with my eyes and heart, as well. This is my pledge to my profession as a CNA.”

Shell thanked her staff – assistants Angela Hatz and Tiffany Larsen – as well as Copes, GAVC Assistant Director Jeanne Skube and GAVC Student Services Coordinator Kara Geirke. Also thanked were the MCHS maintenance department, J.D. Morrison, Michael Butler, GAVC maintenance staff, Joan Tully and Theresa Maskel. Shell also gave a special thank you to Olivia Borne and the culinary arts department for preparing cupcakes.

The list of graduates includes Ashley Adam, Hadeer Al-Hinnawi, Aaliyah Almazan, Jadira Aguilera, Makayla Anderson, Mekhi Faint-Anderson, Jayden Bass, Hannah Casey, Veronica Cumba, Carly Daniel, Ella Davy, Cristina Dominguez, Madigan Doss, Alyssa Eikey, Makenzie Espinoza, Carly Ford, Brianna Funk, Brianna Gillson, Natalie Gonzalez, Susie Grassano, Jada Ingram, Olivia Jermolowicz, Jayden Jones, Navaeh Jones, Nadia Karimi, Allie Klemme, Kylee Ledlow, Jazmin Leranger, Yvonne Magana, Jacob Mammosser, Shelby Martin, Alexxis McKerrow, Megan Medlin, Dakota Morphew, Aydan Murphey, Payton Murray, Grace Norris, Samy Oleksyn, Gabriella Olson, Prachi Patel, Kayla Paulsen, Damaris Pena, Adriana Plascnecia, Gianna Pyles, Alaina Reader, Autumn Riggs, Marysa Rivas, Lindsey Rodriguez, Angie Saldana, Ella Sandeno, Stefanie Schellhorn, Macey Sorden, Kylie Spalliero, Claire Stephenson, Carly Szewczyk, Tara Szewczyk, Izabelle Terrazas, Alyssa Terrell, Madelyn Valdez, Joselyn Webb, Madison Wells, Jaelyn Wiers, Ashlin Zielinski and Mackenzie Zweeres.