New Class of Nurses Honored at SIC Pinning Ceremony
Applause and proud tears filled Southeastern Illinois College’s Joseph Deaton Gymnasium on May 15 at 4 p.m. as the 2025 Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) and Practical Nursing (PN) graduates received their official nursing pins during a special ceremony marking the end of their journey as students and the beginning of their careers as healthcare professionals.
Family members, friends, and faculty gathered to witness the traditional rite of passage, where each graduate was pinned by their clinical instructors—a symbolic welcome into the nursing profession.
“The pinning ceremony honors more than just academic achievement—it reflects our students’ compassion, strength, and commitment to caring for others,” said Dr. Emily York, Dean of Nursing and Allied Health. “This moment represents the culmination of their hard work and the beginning of their calling to serve.”
This year’s event recognized 15 ADN graduates and 32 PN graduates. After the ceremony, a reception was held in the SIC Student Center, giving graduates and their guests a chance to celebrate with faculty and classmates.
This year’s keynote address was delivered by Dr. Gynelle Baccus, a trailblazer in nursing education and the first director of the Associate Degree Nursing Program for a consortium of southern Illinois colleges that included SIC. A Harrisburg native and 1965 graduate of Harrisburg High School, Dr. Baccus rose from modest beginnings to earn multiple degrees in nursing and higher education, and spent more than five decades teaching and expanding access to nursing education in the region. Now retired, she continues to inspire others through volunteer work, public speaking as her alter ego “Ms. Carrie Giver,” and local theater. Her message encouraged graduates to “dream big” and serve their communities with compassion and excellence.
The following ADN students were recognized during the ceremony: Andrea Bowen, Karis Carlson, Abigail Horn, Jennifer Johnson, Tristian King, Daizha Locke, Chelsey Naas, Stephanie Oker, Katrina Quertemous, Gabrielle Russell, Camren Snell, Katie Stout, Alyssa Werner, Erin Wicker, and Olivia Womack.
The following PN students were recognized during the ceremony: Owen Butler, McKayla Coogan, Max Davis, AbbyGail Denton, Alexys Dutton, Brittany Dutton, Sydney Farmer, Kylie Fox, Kenlee Grisham, Adrian Hill, Keri Horton, Morgan Howard, Brooklyn Keown, Addison Kittinger, Montana Long, Anna Martin, Hailey McDowell, Makenna Millis, Megan Morgan, Morgan Murphy, Katelyn Niehaus, Tanya Peterson, Hanna Rinehart, Sarah Ritcheson, Kivilcim Spanel, Brittany Tackett, Emma Tauillili, Cierra Vos, Cameron Wendler, Sidney Wheeler, Caleigh Whiting, and Heaven Winters.
Southeastern Illinois College’s Practical Nursing program celebrates its 70th year in 2025, having started in 1955 with a class of just 13 students meeting in the basement of Harrisburg High School. At the time, it was the only nursing program in Illinois south of St. Louis.
The Associate Degree Nursing program is celebrating its 50th year in 2025 and is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN). Between 2010 and 2024, graduates of SIC’s ADN program achieved an average pass rate of 95.9% on the state licensure exam, while graduates of the PN program averaged an impressive 98.5% during the same period – well above state and national averages.
Today, the nursing and allied health programs serve nearly 100 students annually in the Shirley Oshel Nursing Complex, named in honor of the founder of SIC’s Practical Nursing program, whose vision helped establish nursing education in the region.
Applications for the nursing programs will now be due no later than Feb. 28 each year for fall admission, and several prerequisite courses must be completed beforehand.
For more information about SIC’s nursing programs, contact Dr. Emily York, Dean of Nursing and Allied Health, at 618-252-5400, ext. 2330, email nursing@sic.edu, or visit sic.edu/nursing.
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