128 Nursing Students Celebrated at SCF 2024 Spring Pinning Ceremony

Bradenton, Fla. May. 3, 2024

(Bradenton, Fla., May 3, 2024) — State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota (SCF) awarded 86 nursing students their nursing pins May 3 at SCF’s Neel Performing Arts Center. The pinning ceremony included welcome remarks from SCF President Dr. Carol F. Probstfeld. Sheena Alexander-Barros, a proud SCF nursing alum who received her associate in science in nursing degree in 2018 and Bachelor of Science in nursing degree in 2020 was the guest speaker. The nurses that received their pins during the ceremony completed associate in science in nursing degrees (ASN) and are now eligible to become certified as a registered nurse (RN). SCF’s 42 Bachelor of Science in nursing (BSN) program graduates were also recognized.

Graduates Jason Trefil and Paige Stewart-Eaton were selected by their peers as the student speakers. Faculty participants included Michele Tomaino, Laura Cochardo and Kim Hagans and Bethany Tucker served as faculty readers to announce each graduate. Tomaino spoke on the tradition of pinning ceremonies, from its roots in the 12th century crusades to the introduction of the modern tradition by Florence Nightingale in the 19th century.

Beaman King received the Pat Kuebler Memorial Scholarship for exhibiting potential for excellence in planning and implementing patient care, qualities Kuebler exemplified. Pat Kuebler was an assistant administrator in charge of nursing for Sarasota Memorial Hospital before joining SCF, then Manatee Junior College, as an instructor. While teaching for four years, she had a profound effect on her students before passing away from cancer in 1981. In 1985, the nursing department of Manatee Memorial Hospital, made up of many of her former students, established the scholarship in her name for students who display her character, compassion and dedication to nursing.

Additional scholarship winners included Danielle DeFabrizio for the Dustin Lane Memorial Nursing Scholarship, Ashely Faudoa for the Manatee Memorial Hospital Excellence in Nursing Scholarship, Joanne Gustave for the Sarasota Memorial Health Care System Excellence in Nursing Scholarship and Michaela Jane Puyod for the HCA Blake Hospital Excellence in Nursing Scholarship.

Christine Lingard, Skills Lab Manager received the Future of Nursing Award. The award honors an SCF nursing faculty or staff member who has impacted the future of patient care with their exemplary dedication to SCF nursing students.

For information about SCF’s nursing program, visit SCF.edu/Nursing. For more information on creating a memorial scholarship, contact Cassandra Holmes at HolmesC@SCF.edu.

Photo caption: SCF AVP of Communications, Jamie M. Smith; SCF Graduate and scholarship winner, Joanne Gustave; Sarasota Memorial Hospital Education Manager, Krista Byler; and SCF Foundation Advancement Director, Robyn Bell.

Photo credit: State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota