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Above: Scenes from the May 14, 2026 Nurse Aide Recognition and Pinning Ceremony held in Hendersonville, North Carolina. Photos provided by Health Sciences faculty.
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Blue Ridge Community College recognized 68 students completing the Nurse Aide program during a special Nurse Aide Recognition and Pinning Ceremony held May 14 at the Health Sciences Center in Hendersonville.
The ceremony celebrated the 2025-2026 nurse aide class as they completed training to enter the healthcare workforce, where they will play an essential role in caring for patients and supporting healthcare teams throughout the community and region through compassionate service.
During the ceremony, completers recited the Nurse Aide Creed, pledging “to serve every patient with dignity, respect, and kindness” and “strive to bring comfort and hope to those in my care.”
The event included welcome remarks from Leigh Angel, dean of Health Sciences; a program overview from Michele James, nurse aide program coordinator; the recognition and pinning of completers by nurse aide faculty; and closing remarks from Dr. Amy Szoka, nursing program director.
Blue Ridge recognized Nurse Aide faculty members Jeanette Burrell, Angel Coffey, Shannon Cooper, Amy Dyer, Sharon Hill, Sarah Holt, Michele James, Amanda Lambert, Jami Reese, and Deborah Barwick for their dedication to student success.
Special recognition was also given to Dr. Amy Szoka, Evie Emory, and Sheila Merrill for their continued support of Health Sciences students and programs.
Blue Ridge also expressed appreciation to The Oaks of Brevard for sponsoring pins and refreshments for the ceremony.
2025-2026 Nurse Aide Completers
Enrique Alanis Jr.
Isabella Itzel Alvare
Nola Aragon
Natalie Arnold
McKinley Barton
Peyton Beach
Allie Brittain
Jennifer Liliana Zavala Ceballos
Savannah Clayton
Hope Cook
Aspyn Cornett
Heather Craig
Gage Anthony Hicks Dellinger
Ireland Diaz
Paige Dinsdale
Emjhey Dela Pena
Tariah Federick
Ruby Gonzalez-Perez
Jocelyn Guadalupe Barco Grimaldo
Cally Nickole Gosnell
Amarah Hall
Britlyn Head
Zoe Hebb
Aniyah Hemphill
Maddisyn Hubbard
Christine Mckenna Johannes
Heidi Alexandria Justice
Steven Kenerson
Adien King
Michael Gabriel Lopez
Arianna Lopez
Kylie Tapia Lopez
Amber Rose Matlak
Emily Marra
Armisha McCluney
Kaelan McIntosh
Zabdiel Mercurio
Evelyn Mendoza
Sophia Miguel
Nerly Amely Solano Montes
Leanna Michelle Norman
Juan Marcos Ornelas
Kaidance Owen
Elisa Pablo-Martinez
Grace Sofia Peattie
Fatima Guadalupe Perez Ortega
Ruben Prado, Jr
Stephania Ramirez
Sydney Reardon
Michelle Roblero Reynaldo
Melanie Salas
Dymond Sanders
Samantha Leia Sherlin
Lee Sherrill
Melina Sipek
Caroline Reade Stage
Sebastian James Stall
Avery Steven
April Jennette Tierney
Sophia Leigh Waters
Dixie Lynn Waldrop
Erika Waldrop
Hayden Wheat
Dymia Whitmire
Faye Lynn Wilkie
Tapanga Willis
Joslyn Lee Williams
Caitlin Wolf