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PN Graduates
photo by Mark Delaney
AVON PARK, Fla. – July 29, 2025 – South Florida State College (SFSC) graduated 22 Practical Nursing (PN) program students in a traditional pinning ceremony on Thursday, July 17 in the Alan Jay Wildstein Center for the Performing Arts on the Highlands Campus at SFSC in Avon Park.
The graduates are Naomi Arguelles, Agustin Arriaga, Keyara Auguste, Lucerito Chavez, Megan Crosson, Jordyn Donahay, Crystal Douglas, Damion Edwards, Sara Hernandez-Jaramillio, Yulissa Hernandez-Torres, Hunter Hoffman, Ana Ibanez, Tammy Lee, Jacqueline Loney, Araceli Mares, Claire McClellan, Karen Monterrosa, Katherine Moore, Ariana Olmos, Jenika Sanders, Milena Suarez Moron, and Shatenda Watson.
Each year, PN graduates award the Golden D.U.C.K. to someone or an organization that has served as a mentor to the students in the program. The D.U.C.K. acronym represents the foundational elements of the mentoring arrangement: Developing, Understanding, Compassion, and Knowledge. Presenting the Golden D.U.C.K. award to the Children’s Museum of Highlands County was PN graduate, Yulissa Hernandez-Torres.
“The Children’s Museum has created a remarkable environment where children, ages 1 to 12, can learn through play in hands-on, interactive exhibits,” said Hernandez-Torres. “Their dedication to fostering creativity, curiosity, and a love of learning is something truly special. More than just a place for children to explore, the Museum serves as a critical space for growth, allowing young minds to stretch their imagination and discover the world around them. The collaboration between the Museum and our Nursing class provided us with an opportunity to participate in clinical experiences, offering real-world interaction in a dynamic and engaging setting. Additionally, the “Boo Boo Clinic” event, a Kid’s Night Out initiative, gave our students the chance to practice their skills while caring for children in a fun, supportive environment.”
The practice of pinning new graduates has been a nursing school tradition in the United States since 1916 and, symbolically, welcomes each graduate into the nursing profession. The pin is worn prominently on a nurse’s uniform throughout their career. One story of the ceremony’s beginning goes back to 1883, when Queen Victoria awarded Florence Nightingale the Royal Red Cross on St. George’s Day for her service to the sick and injured during the Crimean War. In turn, Nightingale later extended the honor to her outstanding nursing students by presenting them with a medal of excellence.
Graduates of the 11-month Career Certificate PN program become licensed practical nurses (LPN) by passing the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN) exam. SFSC Nursing graduates are usually fully employed in nursing within a few months of graduation.
SFSC offers an Associate in Science degree in Nursing (ADN) program for students interested in becoming registered nurses in three formats: a two-year Generic-RN program, a two-year Evening/Weekend RN program, and a one-year Transition-LPN to RN program. The College also offers a fully online Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program.
For information about SFSC’s Nursing programs, contact Danielle Nuccio, Health Sciences advisor at 863-784-7027 or by email at healthsciences@southflorida.edu.
