The GACTC graduated 63 students, both full-time and part-time, from the Practical Nursing program on August 18, 2022. Graduation activities including a pinning ceremony and graduation, which was held at the Altoona Area High School.

The “pinning ceremony,” a symbolic welcoming of new nurses into the profession, can be dated as far back as the 12th century, and became standard in the United States by 1916. During the ceremony, students are pinned by nursing faculty. Separate pinning ceremonies were held for the part-time and the full-time programs on August 16 — check them out below!

The graduation ceremony on August 18 honored the practical nursing students through conferral of diplomas, awards, and honors. The evening included remarks from Christopher Clemons, RN, and Eric Palmer, Executive Director of the GACTC, recital of the nurse’s pledge, and lamp lighting. Class messages were provided by the class presidents for the full- and part-time classes from Kyan Berry and Bridget Montgomery, respectively.

The practical nursing graduates included the following:

Angelyn Adams *               Julia Auerbeck*                  Kristen Barto**

Cheyenne Bennett              Kyan Berry**                      Rachel Brenner*

Cynthia Brooks*                 Sandra Burd*                      Larissa Caporuscio**

Linda Carper**                    Amanda Cicon*                   Tara Clemons*

Brittany Cunningham       Todd Davis**                      Taylor Day*

Ashley Dick**                     Taylor Dively*                    Alexis Elvey

Kylee Firm*                         Sabryna Fitzsimmons*     Kaitlyn Franks*

Heather Gensamer*           Amee Gersch**                    Madison Guyer**

Arian Hicks*                       Brooke Hicks*                     Taylor Hinkle

Courtney Houck**             Jamie Kanach**                  Miranda Kling*

Kyra Larson*                       Alexandria Littlehale*      Madison Longo

Sean Lytle                            Jamie McClaskey**            Tia McFadden

Veronica Mister                  Bridget Montgomery**      Jessica Murphy*

Patricia Nogel**                 Alisyn Nolan*                      Grace Parks*

Haley Patterson*                Matthew Peletski               Claressia Perez*

Amanda Pershing*             Loeghen Pitts*                    Sondra Potts**

Kylie Richardson*              Patricia Sheredy*               Brooke Smeal*

Kirstie Stayduhar*             Sherri Tipton**                   Janae Tragon*

Makena Tragon*                 Kelly Tyler*                         Amber Varner*

Stacy Walk*                        Paige Walters*                    Kelcie Weaver**

Angela Williams                 Amber Woytowiez*            Charissa Yakemik

Students which achieved High Honors are noted with **, and students which achieved Honors are noted with *.

Recognition of outstanding student achievement were provided to the following graduates:

• Knowledge Award recipients included Todd Davis and Kyan Berry.
• Skills Award recipients included Bridget Montgomery and Miranda Kling.
• Work Ethic Award recipients included Kirstie Stayduhar and Madison Guyer.
• Volunteer Award recipients included Stacy Walk and Linda Carper.
• Garman Award recipients included Jamie McClaskey and Brooke Smeal.
• Perfect Attendance Award recipients included Todd Davis, Ashley Dick, Angelyn Adams, Larissa Caporuscio, and Amee Gersch.

A special thank you to the sponsors of the awards including Homewood at Martinsburg, UPMC Altoona, Encompass Health, Garvey Manor, Maybrook Hills, Juniata Valley VFW Ladies Auxiliary, Mr. Ken Garman, American Red Cross, New Look Uniform and Embroidery, Lois Medina, RN, Allegheny Lutheran Home of Hollidaysburg, and Barb Arthur, LPN.

For more information about the Practical Nursing program, please call 814-941-TECH (8324).