Graduating members of the Bristol-Plymouth Practical Nurse Day Program. (Photo courtesy Bristol-Plymouth Regional Technical School) 
Graduating members of the Bristol-Plymouth Practical Nurse Evening Program. (Photo courtesy Bristol-Plymouth Regional Technical School) 
Program Director Lynne Sullivan and graduate Jaqueline Resende following last week’s ceremony. (Photo courtesy Bristol-Plymouth Regional Technical School)
TAUNTON — Superintendent-Director Dr. Alexandre Magalhaes and Program Director Lynne Sullivan are pleased to share that Bristol-Plymouth Regional Technical School’s Practical Nurse Program celebrated its graduation recently.
On Thursday, June 24, the school recognized students for their successful completion of either the day program or the evening program. Superintendent Magalhaes presented diplomas to each of the 36 students in attendance.
“Our Practical Nurse Program graduates have shown a great deal of resiliency and determination to get to where they are, and we are proud of each and every one of them and congratulate them on their graduation,” said Director Sullivan, who will be retiring after this school year.
B-P Practical Nurse Day Program graduates included the following:
Britney Araujo, Ashley Arruda (class representative), Amanda Boudreau, Jocelyn DeBarros, Nicole DeLuca, Fatima doCouto-Garcia, Julie Forte, Krystalyn Gil (class representative), Stanley Jean Pierre, Brooke Leonard, Leann Lomba, Krystina Matos* (class representative), Faith Mwangi, Kerline Orelien, Madison Pinto, Jaqueline Resende, Erika Sironen, Chelsea Sousa, London Sylvia**, Katelynn Tetreault, Amanda Zanellato.
B-P Practical Nurse Evening Program graduates included the following:
Alexis Andre, Ashley Aucoin (class representative), Patrick Donovan (class representative), Gabrielle Gomes, Mandy Gomes, Megan Greenwood, Christine Hilchey, Hillary Hougasian, Sherilyn Howland, Ninoshka Lugo-Lopez, Taylor Mello**, Cheryl Morrissette, Brandon Simpkin (class representative), Nicole Stone, Cassandra Sylvia.
* Recipient of the Eleanore P. Croteau Memorial Scholarship
** Recipients of the Peter Lee Memorial Scholarship
The ceremony opened with a welcome address from Director Sullivan and greetings from Taunton Mayor Shaunna O’Connell. Pins were presented by Director Sullivan and faculty members Joyce Contois and Karen Pacheco.
The nurse’s pledge was then led by faculty member Laura DeCastro.
Mayor O’Connell delivered the keynote address to students.
“This past year more than ever we saw the importance of dedicated and highly qualified nursing and public health professionals,” Superintendent Magalhaes said. “On behalf of the entire Bristol-Plymouth school community, I applaud the hard work of our Practical Nurse graduates and wish them the best in their future careers.”
Awards were also presented to the following students as part of the ceremony:
- Julia Bik Award – Brandon Simpkin, presented by faculty member Lisa Melo
- Barbara Shaw Award – Leann Lomba and Alxis Andre, presented by faculty member Lisa Melo
- Marie LeBrun Leadership Award – Ashley Aucoin, presented by faculty member Jennifer Kelly
- Attendance Awards, presented by faculty member Maureen Flanagan-Rocha
“On behalf of the City of Taunton, I want to extend my sincerest congratulations to the graduates of the Practical Nurse Program and wish them the very best as they move on to the next stages of their lives,” Mayor O’Connell said. “We are fortunate to have a school such as Bristol-Plymouth here in the city that prepares young men and women for careers in nursing as well as so many technical programs.”
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