GREENFIELD — One student was pregnant throughout her studies and gave birth recently. Another student is due any day now. And at their graduation, some husbands stood in the back of the room rocking their babies to sleep.
It’s been a journey and a team effort to get to this moment 10 months later, class speaker and Shutesbury resident Robert Hardy explained to the crowd at Greenfield Community College Friday to celebrate the pinning of two dozen nursing students who have completed their practical nursing certificate program.
And in many cases, it has been a family effort, too.
Hardy brought to mind a popular quote from Martin Luther King Jr., in which the civil rights leader asks what are you doing for others.
“Now I can answer, ‘Hello, my name is Robert and I will be your nurse today,’” Hardy said.
President Bob Pura, who is retiring in a couple weeks after nearly two decades of leading the college, expressed the importance of the nurse in today’s society and evolving health care industry.
“Never ever lose sight of why you’re there as a nurse,” Pura said. “Never ever lose sight you’re there for your patients and their healing and their health care.”
“For all of the things that will pull you from that, ask, ‘what does my patient need the most?’”
The following are the graduates of the Class of 2018 from the practical nursing certificate program:
Shanique Marjorie Blake, Springfield; Stephanie J. Brusco, Easthampton; Laura Caranfa, Athol; Ivory L. Coombes, Springfield; Brittny Jane Corriveau, Ware; Nichelle Daniels, Springfield; Trisha Lynn Earl, Greenfield; Jessica Elizabeth Gavrilov, Chicopee; Yarphel Ghani, Greenfield; Morgan Gradie, Colrain; Robert D. Hardy, Shutesbury; Mike Isaiah Imbale, Chicopee; George Musindi Imbayi, Westfield; Colleen A. Kicza, Westhampton; Kristy L. Krusz, Chicopee; Shawna M. Motley, Springfield; Jacquelyn L. Plunske, Hinsdale; Sheila J. Rhodes-Dow, Northampton; Amandeep Kaur Saini, Easthampton; Carrie St. Jacques, Holyoke; Tallon Akua Tomasi, Chicopee; Gina Marie Vona, Sunderland; Sheyda Westbrook, Holyoke; and Ryanne J. Whalen, Holyoke.