Beaufort County Community College congratulates the 40 students who graduated from its Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) program. In honor of this milestone, graduates were celebrated at a special pinning ceremony — a long-standing tradition in the nursing profession — held on May 6 in the Dr. Charles O. Boyette Conference Center on campus, the day before commencement. Each graduate invited a family member or friend on stage to pin them, creating a moment of shared pride and recognition.
Awards and Honors
The ADN graduates completed a demanding five-semester program that combines rigorous coursework with real-world clinical experiences in hospitals. Clinical rotations frequently involve 12-hour shifts alongside exams and assignments. Students are trained across a broad range of settings, including general nursing, long-term care, home health, medical-surgical nursing, and both intermediate and intensive care.
Awards and Honors
Student Madison Marslender had the honor of presenting two awards during the ceremony.
Academic Excellence Award: Presented to Clara Harvin, who earned the highest GPA in the graduating class.
DAISY Award for Exceptional Nursing Students: This honor recognizes graduates who deliver extraordinary, compassionate care during clinical training. Sponsored by the DAISY Foundation in collaboration with ECU Health, the award includes a hand-carved stone sculpture and national recognition. This year’s recipients were Madeline Heins and Emily McCrary.
On Madeline Heins, a nominator wrote: “One of our patients has a precipitous infant delivery at the start of our shift. This student was flexible in this fast-paced situation as the baby initially arrived with poor scores – limp, purple, and silent. The mother of the baby was rightfully upset and panicked. Your student jumped at the opportunity to help resuscitate the baby and then managed the mother’s fears in a soothing yet educational manner.”
On Emily McCrary, a nominator wrote: “In the fast-paced, high-pressure environment of the Operating Room, it can be easy to focus on the tasks at hand and the surgical preparation. This student noticed something deeper — the fear in the patient’s eyes, not just procedures on an OR schedule. Rather than remaining silent or allowing the routine of the OR to take over, this student acknowledged the patients when they entered the OR suite, spoke to them, and treated them as human beings deserving of emotional support, dignity and reassurance. This may seem like a small act, but in the OR, where patients feel powerless and afraid, being seen and spoken to can make all the difference.”
Class of 2026
The following 40 students make up the ADN Class of 2026:
- Victoria Alligood
- Bethany Baynor
- Darien Bright
- Brandi Brinkley
- Morgan Burroughs
- Sarah Cahoon
- Belen Castaneda-Franquez
- Lena Chaplin
- Jasmine (Jazz) Cherry
- Evelin Coronel
- Jasmin Corprew
- Reagan Cratch
- Nicolshia Crawford
- Jessica Edwards
- Taylor Fussell
- Karley Harris
- Clara Harvin
- Madeline Heins
- Miranda Hollingsworth
- Kristin Ingalls
- Ceirra “CeCe” Knight
- Taylor Lassiter
- Alexis Livengood
- Jay Lohman
- Laci Lozner
- Amber Magazine
- Emily McCrary
- Christian McCullen
- Rachel Meadows
- Shala Melton
- Anna Purvis
- Kaylee Ramirez
- Kayle Sawyer
- Madison Singleton
- Maggie Stewart
- McKenna Taylor
- Bianca Torres
- Jessica Vanderweit
- Tanesha Weaver
- Brianna Wiggins
What’s Next
Before beginning their careers, ADN graduates must pass the NCLEX-RN — the national licensing exam for registered nurses. Most of this year’s class has already accepted positions with healthcare providers. Twenty-two students will begin their careers at ECU Health Medical Center in Greenville, while nine will join ECU Health Beaufort.
Beaufort County Community College applauds these graduates for their dedication and thanks them for their service to the health of our region.
Interested in the ADN program? The application period for the next cohort opens in September for students enrolling in Fall 2027.