Seven Richmond County residents received their Richmond Community College Practical Nursing School pins during a ceremony held Tuesday night at the Cole Auditorium. They are (seated, l to r) Monteeia McDonald, Calisa Wall, and Stacey Wood. (Standing) Betty Almond, Ragheena Dixie, Sandy Wright, and Kimberly Rainwater.

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Students from the Practical Nursing program at Richmond Community College received their nursing school pins during a solemn ceremony held Tuesday night at the RCC Cole Auditorium. The graduates are now eligible to take the state exam to become licensed practical nurses.

April Grice, RN was the keynote speaker. A 2007 graduate of RCC’s Practical Nursing program, she returned to RCC and graduated from the Associate Degree Nursing program in 2011. She is a nurse at Scotland Memorial Hospital. She told the graduates they were well-prepared for the workplace and encouraged them to become life-long learners in a field that is ever-changing.

RCC Health Science Division Chair Carole Gibson called out graduate’s names as Practical Nursing Professor Kay Privette pinned each graduate.

Graduates are Ragheena Simone Dixie of Hamlet; Candace Rose Woods of Marston; Betty Crowley Almond, Monteeia Shanta McDonald, Kimberly Oxendine Rainwater, Calisa Angela Wall, Stacey Lynn Wood, and Sandy Jewelene Bowman Wright of Rockingham; Toinette Jessie, Dana Parker Mahar, and Kelli Lynne Taylor of Laurel Hill; Amanda Denise Mumford of Laurinburg; Brittany Amber Hall and Priscilla Arlene Locklear of Maxton; Eden Locklear Oxendine of Rowland; Tawana Lasha Cox of Wadesboro; and Brooklyn Curtis Quick of Wallace, S.C.

Privette and Practical Nursing Professor Catherine Allen presented awards to several students for exceptional performance.

The Dr. Diane Honeycutt Practical Nursing Education Academic Excellence Award was presented to Calisa Wall.

The FirstHealth Richmond Memorial Hospital Compassionate Caregiver Award and the Scotland Memorial Hospital Nursing Service Award were presented to Brittany Hall.

The Sandhills Regional Medical Center Teamwork Award was presented to Betty Almond.

The Practical Nursing Faculty Award was presented to Dana Mahar.

The James Edison Sellers Sr. Memorial Nursing Award was presented to Raghenna Dixie.

Practical Nursing Class President Brittany Hall spoke on behalf of the students. She said the graduates were proud to stand before friends and family who has supported them. She thanked everyone who made it possible for the students to reach their goals.

Practical Nursing graduate Candace Wood led the graduates in the Nurse’s Pledge before they lit their nursing lamps and made their way out of the auditorium.