23 LPNs graduate in Downingtown

Friends and family celebrated at commencement for new licensed practical nurses on their graduation.

DOWNINGTOWN » Friends and family celebrated at commencement for the new licensed practical nurses (LPNs) on their graduation from the Chester County Intermediate Unit (CCIU) Practical Nursing Program.

The 23 graduates were composed of full-time students from the Downingtown program. The ceremony began on Dec. 7 with remarks by Frank McKnight, the principal at the Technical College High School (TCHS) Brandywine Campus. He welcomed and congratulated the graduates on their achievements. The full-time cohort is the 121st class to graduate from the Downingtown program.

Practical Nursing Program Director Nancy Haughton presented the graduates, including the Downingtown cohort valedictorian Lauren Kolachny and salutatorian Lei Li.

Downingtown’s class president Ulonda Brazzle led the class in the Practical Nursing Pledge and then introduced the guest

speaker, Kimberly Ratcliff, BSN, RN who is the Director of Nursing at Wellington at Hershey’s Mill. In her remarks, Ratcliff discussed that the sense of service that drew the Practical Nursing Program (PNP) graduates which would serve them well as leaders. She called for the graduates to be servant leaders in the organizations they will go on to serve to help improve patient care and uphold the high standards they learned in PNP.

Following Ratcliff’s remarks, seven students were inducted into the National Association of Licensed Practical Nurses, Inc. Honor Society.

To learn more about the Chester County Intermediate Unit’s Practical Nursing Program, visit www.chestercountynursing.org.

SUBMITTED PHOTO Students in the full-time CCIU Practical Nursing Program based out of Downingtown became the 121st class to graduate from this program on Dec. 7. Pictured are: Row 1 left to right: Rebecca Silva, Yasmari Watson, Lauren Kolachny (Valedictorian),...