College celebrates 25 years of nursing
Karen Peterson
Graduating nurse Sunny Whiteman is pinned by her son Tyrone.
Karen Peterson
SKC Nursing Director Patricia Kelly tells nursing graduates they have many opportunities to follow.
Karen Peterson
Anthony Lee Christensen is given a blanket with his graduation pin.
Karen Peterson
Karen Peterson
Karen Peterson
Karen Peterson
Hey savvy news reader! Thanks for choosing local.
You are now reading
1 of 3 free articles.
PABLO – “This is a special year,” said Salish Kootenai College President Sandra Boham of the 2016 Nurses Pinning Ceremony held on Friday.
The college is celebrating its 25th graduation year for nurses. Boham said that SKC nurses are “highly sought” in the healthcare field for the way they care for patients.
“Nursing isn’t easy,” she said congratulating the students for their achievements.
Sunny Whiteman worked towards her associate’s degree in nursing while raising three small boys. She said her children inspired her to finish.
“I want to give them a better life,” she said.
Patricia Kelly was recognized during the ceremony as the new SKC nursing director. She comes from Tribal Health as a nurse practitioner. She is a retired lieutenant colonel with the Army. She has helped with HIV programs, resumed a smallpox vaccination program, and collected data for soldiers concerning the West Nile virus.
“This is my first pinning, ever,” she said explaining that she didn’t attend her own ceremony years ago possible because they didn’t have one.
She said she always wanted to be a nurse. In high school, she was motivated to achieve her goal when she was told she wouldn’t be able to do it.
“I’ve been a nurse longer than some of you have been alive,” Whiteman said. She became a nurse in 1973.
She recommends that people take control of their own lives and overcome any roadblocks, like being told you couldn’t do something. She was also told not to go into the Army.
“Watch me,” she said of her response.
Danice Thorne received her bachelor’s degree in nursing. She chose SKC for its approach to the profession.
“Here they focus on a person’s way of life and respecting all things,” she said. “To me, that is what nursing is about.”
Baccalaureate degrees went to Annesha Rae Anderson, Elise Bennett, Joanna Rose Browning, Anthony Lee Christensen, Heather Naomi Harbin, Susan Elaine Harlan, Rebekah Marceau, Rochelle Dawn Nelson, Sara Nelson, Tabitha June Normandeau, Marilee Peterson, Brandi Kay Robinson, Kimberly A. Rose, Danice Thorne, and Diamond Workman.
Associate degrees: Juliann Boes, Christian Alexander Buth, Trae Steven Fouty, Ronnea Gramling, Brueshana Jenae Grant, Michelle Rose Patterson, Shelbie Jae-Lynne Piedalue, Kayla Marie Smith, and Sunny Marie Whiteman.
