More than 60 nursing students made up the Class of 2023 at pinning ceremonies held at the Brooklyn and Long Island campuses of St. Joseph’s University, New York this month.
The ceremonies were opportunities for graduates to intimately celebrate the completion of their nursing school education before commencement. In the nursing community, the pinning ceremony marks the start of a student’s professional career.
Associate Dean for Nursing Maria Fletcher, Ph.D., R.N., C.N.E., Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Heathery Barry, Ph.D., and Vice President for Institutional Advancement Rory Shaffer-Walsh addressed students at both ceremonies.
Honors presented included the Director’s Award, given to the students with the highest GPA at both campuses. The Brooklyn Campus awardee for the Director’s Award was Christina Mastropierro, and the Long Island Campus winner was Shannon Healey.
Lordnel Saint-Jean and Jake Maresca were honored for their voluntary service at the University with the Award for Social Responsibility and Service at the Brooklyn and Long Island ceremonies, respectively.
Naomi Vallejo (Brooklyn) and Daviana Smith (Long Island) won the Award for Spiritual Values and Integrity; Faith Sylvan (Brooklyn) and Joelle Vetter (Long Island) won the Leadership Award; and Jimmy Reyes, Jr. (Brooklyn) and Jade Albert (Long Island) were the recipients of the Nightingale Student Nurse Award, presented to the students who “demonstrate the values and dedication to the nursing profession espoused by Florence Nightingale.”
Brooklyn Students Ahead of the National Curve
Nursing students at the Brooklyn Campus pass their certification examinations at a rate higher than the national average, according to a recent report.
In 2022, 82.9% of Brooklyn Campus students who took the National Council Licensure Examination-Registered Nurse (NCLEX-RN) for the first time passed.
SJNY’s pass rate was 0.6% higher than four-year programs nationwide and 9.8% higher than competitors in New York state.
