Loretto Heights School of Nursing Pinning and Recognition Program
December 7, 2023
PROCESSIONAL
INTRODUCTION AND INVOCATION
Ms. Melissa Mooney, RN
Facilitator
OPENING REMARKS
Dr. Karen Riley
Provost, Regis University
WELCOME
Dr. Catherine Witt, RN
Dean, Loretto Heights School of Nursing
STUDENT PERSPECTIVES
Joseph Lach, RN
Master of Science
Family Nurse Practitioner
Nursing Program
Victoria Petty, RN
Master of Science
Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
Nursing Program
Michael Cleveland, RN
Master of Science
Psychiatric Mental Health
Nurse Practitioner
Nursing Program
Valerie CdeBaca, RN
Master of Science
Leadership in Health Care
Nursing Program
Zoe Miyasato
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Traditional Nursing Program
Tracy Urban
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Accelerated Nursing Program
Kevin Davis
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
CHOICE Nursing Program
AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT
Sarika Steinhaus, RN
Outstanding Achievement:
Master of Science
Family Nurse Practitioner Program
Emily Grabau, RN
Outstanding Achievement:
Master of Science
Neonatal Nurse Practitioner Program
Samrawit Mersha, RN
Outstanding Achievement:
Master of Science
Psychiatric Mental Health
Nurse Practitioner Program
Hmong Nguyen, RN
Outstanding Achievement:
MS in Nursing Leadership
in Health Care Systems Program
EXCELLENCE IN NURSING AWARD
Destiny Arias-Buckeye
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Traditional Nursing Program
David Huang
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Accelerated Nursing Program
Tracy Wiffler
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
CHOICE Nursing Program
DAISY FOUNDATION FACULTY AND STUDENT AWARD
Presented by
Dr. Catherine Witt, RN
Dr. Lisa Chappell, RN
Loretto Heights School of Nursing
LuAnne Hicks, RN
DAISY Award for
Extraordinary Nursing Faculty
Zoe Miyasato
DAISY Award for
Extraordinary Nursing Student
LUKE DANIEL YOUNG AWARD
Presented by
Dr. Catherine Witt, RN
Dean, Loretto Heights School of Nursing
Madeline Burroughs
UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT EVIDENCE-BASED POSTER AWARD
Tracy Wiffler
Kevin Davis
Meghan Smith
Nayi Rodriguez
OUTSTANDING AFFILIATE FACULTY AWARD
Presented by
Dr. Catherine Witt, RN
Dean, Loretto Heights School of Nursing
Dr. Richard Wallis, RN
SERVICE LEARNING AWARDS
Presented by
Dr. Susan Meier
Loretto Heights Faculty
Valerie CdeBaca, RN
Master of Science
Leadership in Health Care Systems
Melanie Inglefield, RN
Master of Science
Family Nurse Practitioner Program
Constance Deines, RN
Master of Science
Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
Gabrielle Wain
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Accelerated Nursing Program
Zoe Miyasato
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Traditional Nursing Program
PRESENTATION OF GRADUATE HOODS
Dr. Patricia Cullen, RN
Assistant Dean, Loretto Heights School of Nursing
Graduate Programs
PRESENTATION OF THE PINS
Dr. Lisa Zenoni, RN
Assistant Dean, Loretto Heights School of Nursing
Undergraduate Nursing Programs
CLOSING REMARKS
Dr. Linda Osterlund
Academic Dean, Rueckert-Hartman
College for Health Professions
NIGHTINGALE PLEDGE
BLESSING
Dr. Shawn Anderson
Loretto Heights School of Nursing
Director Experiential Learning
THE TRADITION OF THE MASTER’S HOOD
The tradition of wearing graduation regalia dates back nearly 800 years. Robes varied in color, material and style based upon a person’s place in society regardless of gender or class. With the formation of professional guilds, color and material were indicative of professions. Eventually, further differentiation was made between the apprentices (bachelor’s prepared), the teachers (master’s prepared) and teachers who had completed graduate studies (doctoral prepared). Through time, the hood, which was once a practical piece of clothing, became purely symbolic in the academic world.
Today, these hoods are worn by graduates with a degree beyond the undergraduate level. The color of the hood’s lining indicates the institution granting the degree, while the color of the hood’s velvet edging that carries forward around the throat of the hood is indicative of the discipline from which the degree is offered.
THE TRADITION OF PINNING
Several ways of recognizing the educational level and status of nurses have existed throughout history. They included a nursing school cap and pin. Both the school cap and pin were unique to each school of nursing. Historically, nursing students were awarded a school cap during the first few months of the nursing school program. For each year of their nursing education, the students received a band indicating another year completed. Upon graduation they were awarded a different, wider band. The tradition of the capping was eliminated from nursing programs in the 1960s, but the tradition of pinning remains.
The current pin is unique to Regis University’s Loretto Heights School of Nursing. Designed in 2002, the pin is reflective of the roots of Regis’ nursing program, which was established at Loretto Heights College in 1948. The lamp on the pin represents the traditional lamp of nursing knowledge. The cross represents the faith-based tradition of Regis University’s Jesuit mission.
GRADUATES
Master of Science
Department of Graduate Nursing Programs
Family Nurse Practitioner
Sophie Allen
Jose Amador
Nadya Andonov
Colleen Basham
Christine Beckert ◆
Shelby Blickenstaff
Terra Borchers
Elizabeth Carrington
Ines Daniel ◆
Laura Davis
Jay Deanda
Tigist Desta
Lucy DiPaola
Laura Failinger
Jessica Feiler
Brianna Haliburton ◆
Linda Hollyman ◆
Melanie Inglefield
Katrina Karakas
Koneta Karns
Danielle Kerns
Emily Kitzerow
Joseph Lach
Kelsey Lacomb
Brooke Laessig
Allison Landry
Morgan Luedecke
Emily Mason
Emily Moore
Jenny Navarro
Jennifer Nguyen
Trang Nguyen
Morgan Owens
Kristin Ramon
Tracy Rasmussen
Kathryn Rayner
James Robb
Diana Rodriguez Ortiz
Kelsey Rutt
Piper Secklin-Gals
Taylor Sensecqua
Adrienne Simmons ◆
Vanessa Sonnen
Jamie Steadman
Sarika Steinhaus
Lisa Stolp ◆
Courtney Strocky
Anneliese Sullivan
Jessica Tomlinson
Genna Tonstad
Caleb Towner
Chukwudumebi Ugeh
Paula Vogel
Raquel Welch
Kimberly Zier
Post Master’s Certificate: Family Nurse Practitioner
Karen Snider
Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
Samrena Allawala
Hannah Antista
William Ashline
Brie Bernal
Kennedy Brinkworth
Traci Couture
Constance Deines ◆
Emily Grabau ◆
Katheryn Graves
Bridgette Jones
Meredith Kilgore
Jaime Koenig
Amy Lloyd
Yvette Luna
Jena Lupia
Steph Marick
Stephanie Meier ◆
Jessica Miller
Reeha Patel
Victoria Petty
Katelyn Rusch ◆
Ali Savage-Hand ◆
Jordan Templin
Post Master’s Certificate: Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
Sara Brown
Vonne Skannal
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Melody Bourret
Michael Cleveland
Chandra Crawford
Michael Hagiwara
Elizabeth Haselwood
Rachel Hatch
Nathan Jipson
Brandy Knudtson
Kimberly Lomonaco Haycraft
Rick Loonam
Sean McNamara
Samrawit Mersha
Kevin Moffett ◆
Melita Nerima
Nadine Neswadi
Jill Peterson ◆
Megan Riederer
Abbey Stone
Leadership in Health Care Systems
Valerie Cdebaca
Abigail Leonard
Hmong Nguyen
Post Master’s Certificate: Leadership in Health Care Systems
Stephanie Stanislaw
GRADUATES
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Accelerated Nursing
Gwen Allen
Claudia Angulo
Giovanna Bacon
Natalia Badia
Mary Beitzel
Ellijah Bowers
Bailey Brurud
Maria Buck
Madeline Burroughs ● ◆
Michael Buster
Denise Carl
Lauren Castanon
Stacey Conley
Micaela DeGregorio
Julia Dimech
Mary Douglass
Vipada “Ella” Eack
Erin Ellinwood
Mimi Eshleman
Beau Gent
Ian Giacopuzzi
Hannah Gould
Aimee Hernandez
Courtney Hirsch
Garth Hsu
David Huang ● ◆
Amy Jeacock
John Kaupas
Diana Klemm
Mckenna Klink ◗
Sarah Lefkowitz
Ileanna Lesko
Shannon Listy
Isabella McClelland ◆
Mary McGrory
Taylor Mudd
Aaron Pagano
Connor Panse
Mia Patel
Eileen Penny ◆
Elliott Pizer
Kristen Pokorny
Natalie Reese ◗ ◆
Michael Risch
William Roberts
Amanda Rock
Dustin Roth
Max Ruppert
Angeline Sanders ◗
Meadow Tarves ◆
Tracy Urban ◆
Stasia Vinnedge
Gabrielle Waln
Jordan Wilkins
Kelly Zavaleta
Alexandra Zerbe
CHOICE Nursing
Mansraba Barandao
Philip Boateng
Ana Cano
Maria Carrillo
Micaela Cotts
Thuy Trinh Dang
Kevin Davis ◆
Brienna Hinman
Mikayla Hinman
Vanessa Hofmann ◆
Angela Immitt
Kylie Kennard
Rebekah King
Emma McComb
Catrina Parsons
Kira Rae
Amy Randall
Nayi Rodriguez
Meghan Smith ◆
Tawnya Thurow
Asmait Tsegay ◆
Tracy Wiffler ● ◗ ◆
Traditional Nursing
Avery Anderson
Destiny Arias-Buckeye ■ ●
Samaa Aryan ●
Jose Avila ■ ● ◗
Joanna Begler ■
Claire Bouffard ●
Maureen Brennan
Jamie Bronson ●
Grace Butler
Marvin Callahan
Jadeyn Carr ●
Madison Cheshire ■
Alyssa DeSplinter ●
Jenna Dulla ●
Lexi Dunham ● ◆
Brittany Gioso
Ashley Glorioso
Louis Gonzales
Emma Goodrum
Chloe Green ●
Bendan Greenbury
Jaylese Guerrero ●
Rosemarry Ha ■
Margaret Hanson ■
Lindsay Hanson ●
Ashley Hatfield ●
Anna Hernandez Barrios
Skye Holdridge ●
Henry Hyde
Mariah Ibarra
Cecilia Jamero ●
Daniel Kim
Monica Koch ●
Sasha Kozak
Alexis Leeret
Hao Lu ●
Jael Mallory
Jadyn Mancini ●
Brandon Marasigan ● ◗
Margaret McGraw ●
Sophia McGuire ●
Zoe Miyasato ● ◆
Megan Monroe
Valerie Naas
Jon Neri ●
Katelyn Nguyen ●
Aine Niland ●
Nelisse Niyongabo ●
Gillian O’Brien
Ellee Ohnoutka ●
Nnachetam Okorie
Shelby Osmun ●
Daniella Passarelli
Daniel Pearsall-Dineen
Rory Pennington
Abigail Perella Savarese
Litzy Rivera-Delgadillo ●
Kara Rodeheaver
Jerimiah Rodriguez
Anahi Sanchez Villarreal ●
Ivet Sandoval
Laura Schiro
Anne Seier ●
Elise Shaw ●
Jack Smith ●
Faith Softcheck ●
ShyAnn Sherwood ●
Jewel Thomas
Allison Warta
Madison Weed
Alexandra Wrich ●
RN-BSN Nursing
Viktoriya Martinez
Jocquilyn Stalnaker
Lesa Boettcher
Brenda Edwards
BODY OF WORK
When the body of our work is tending to bodies
Minds become adept at piecing together all the moving parts of treatment,
adept at bridging science and care
Eyes become observant
Ears, attuned to subtle sounds
Hands well-versed in working tools performing procedures
These hands,
Hands that pump hearts that no longer beat
Hands that feel for veins to administer lifesaving medication
Hands around shoulders when death comes
When the body of our work is tending to bodies
Our bodies become vessels of Listening and Healing
They become simultaneously tender as they strengthen from this labor of tending to bodies
Nursing is labor.
Labor that demands not just our minds, but our bodies, and our hearts,
and when we hear talk of heart, or care we cringe and call it fluff because in a culture
and in a system that devalues
Care
We strip away the language of heart work but the heart, mind, and spine of
the $800B dollar healthcare industry body is nursing & without nursing, the industry
declines from within
For the body cannot function without the mind and heart
We know in our bones that at the core of this profession is heart work
So when the time comes when your own heart becomes heavy from the trials & tribulations
of this labor
Bring those eyes that assess inward
Tune those ears that listen to your own internal rhythm
Place those hands that heal others on your own beating heart and remember that you form
the body of nursing which is the mind, spine, and heart of healthcare
Rosa Le
January Accelerated 2022
BLESSING FOR NURSING GRADUATES
Presider: May the God of gentleness be with you, calming the fears of your patients and bringing them hope.
ALL: May the blessing of gentleness go with you.
Presider: May the God of compassion be with you, holding you close when you are weary, fearful and alone.
ALL: May the blessing of compassion go with you.
Presider: May the God of joy be with you. May God thrill and surprise you with nearness and newness, filling your heart with gratitude for your own talents and gifts.
ALL: May the blessing of joy go with you.
Presider: May the God of love be with you, brightening your eyes and helping you to share God’s healing power with your patients, your family and your friends.
ALL: May the blessing of love go with you.
Presider: May the God of strength be with you, preserving your ideals and keeping you well-balanced.
ALL: May the blessing of strength go with you.
NIGHTINGALE PLEDGE
I solemnly pledge myself before God and in the presence of this assembly to adhere to the code of ethics of the nursing profession.
I will do all in my power to maintain and elevate the standard of my profession and will hold in confidence all personal matters committed to my keeping and all family affairs coming to my knowledge in the practice of my calling.
As a missioner of health, I will dedicate myself to devoted service for human welfare.
FACULTY AND STAFF
Loretto Heights School of Nursing Faculty and Administration
Dr. Shawn Anderson
Ms. Charlotte Barber
Ms. Kelly Bastian
Ms. Christine Beck
Dr. Cecelia Benns
Dr. Julie Benz
Fr. Jason Brauninger
Ms. Cheryl Campbell
Dr. Mary Castang
Dr. Lisa Chappell
Dr. Lora Claywell
Dr. Stephanie Cradick
Dr. MaryJo Coast
Dr. Patsy Cullen
Dr. Susan Dalbey
Ms. Rebecca Dethman
Dr. Courtney Duggan
Ms. Kandice Eakes
Dr. Kristen Etten
Mr. Anthony Gifford
Dr. Kari Goerke
Ms. Alexandra Gordon
Mr. Justin Grace
Dr. Jennifer Heisser
Dr. LuAnne Hicks
Ms. Andria Hinds
Dr. Julie Javernick
Ms. Shanna Knierim
Ms. Sarah Kurash
Dr. Vincent LaBarca
Ms. Dee Martinez
Dr. Sarah Masten
Dr. Ellyn Mathews
Dr. Susan Meier
Ms. Faustina Mensah
Ms. Melissa Mooney
Mr. Keith Roussil
Dr. Deb Roybal
Dr. Robin Saiki
Dr. Krista Scorsone
Ms. Beth Smith
Dr. Holly Vali
Ms. Amy Wallace
Dr. Carol Wallman
Ms. Abbie Wegert
Dr. Kathleen Whalen
Ms. Ange Whiteacre
Ms. Susan Wilcinski
Dr. Cathy Witt
Dr. Lisa Zenoni
Loretto Heights School of Nursing Staff
Ms. Rashelle Arrazola
Ms. Amber Bentley
Ms. Sherry Birney
Ms. Sally Chambless
Ms. Jennifer Chavez
Ms. Analicia Guerrero
Ms. Tennille Hamler
Ms. Jaynee Hilfer
Ms. Daniela Lotito
Ms. Ellen Martinelli
Ms. Liz Mason
Ms. Jenn Massler
Mr. Douglas Miller
Ms. Cassie Mondrow
Ms. Carmen Nightengale
Ms. Brenda Sheridan
Special Thanks
To all the speakers, the Loretto Heights School of Nursing staff, ASL Interpretors: Leora Rosenbaum and Michele Gardner, and most of all, to all the family, friends and faculty for their support and encouragement.
REGIS HISTORY
The seeds for Regis University were planted in 1877 in Las Vegas, New Mexico, when a group of exiled Italian Jesuits founded a small school called Las Vegas College. In 1884, the school relocated to Morrison, Colorado, and was renamed College of the Sacred Heart. Thanks to a generous donation of land from John Brisben Walker, the college settled in its current Denver location in 1887. The school was renamed Regis College in 1921 in honor of the Jesuit saint, John Francis Regis. Today, Regis University serves more than 8,000 students through its five colleges. Loretto Heights College was founded in 1891 by the Sisters of Loretto. After beginning as a Catholic school for girls, college curriculum was introduced in 1918. In 1988 the school closed and moved its academic programs to Regis, becoming the foundation for the Rueckert-Hartman College for Health Professions.