McCann Technical School pins 15 graduates of its practical nursing program on Tuesday.

Guest speaker Wendy Kipp, a McCann nursing graduate, speaks about how challenging but rewarding nursing school can be. See more photos here.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — McCann Technical School celebrated the achievements of its 15 practical nursing graduates on Tuesday with its annual pinning ceremony. 

In addition to the pinning, the graduates received words of encouragement and congratulations from several administrators and faculty. To open the ceremony, Superintendent James Brosnan spoke highly of the accomplishments of the graduates. 

"To my right are the 15 hardest working individuals that I am aware of," he said. 

Fellow McCann graduate and infection control nurse Wendy Kipp, who works at Williamstown Commons, addressed the graduates as they enter their careers. Kipp said she sympathized greatly with the graduates, noting that she went through all of the same things that they did. 

"To say that nursing school is challenging is an understatement," she said. "It is hard to explain to anyone that has not experienced it exactly what nursing school is like, but it's kind of like being on fire all of the time with no water in sight. There are either sleepless nights. endless studying, APA formatted papers, poor diet choices, more studying, random breakdowns, hundreds of cups of coffee, tear-filled moments of frustration, sadness, joy, and all of the above, all at the same time."

Kipp said despite everything nursing students have to go through, helping people makes it worthwhile. 

"As difficult as that all is, the first time you hold a patient's hand, and you know, deep down, that you are making a difference in their lives," she said. "That makes all that hard work seem trivial by comparison."

Practical nursing coordinator Christa Berthiaume said someone has to be genuinely passionate to be a nurse. 

"People who are drawn to nursing don't do it for fame, or glory, or pay," she said. "It is not uncommon to hear people say 'I don't know how you do it' or 'I couldn't be a nurse,'" she said. 

Berthiaume said nurses are the medical professionals who patients trust the most. She said it is crucial for the graduates to care deeply for each and every patient. 

"We see people at their weakest, scaredest and most comfortable. We share sadness and joy," she said. 

Jennifer Racine was the recipient of the Fay Ellen Fosser Memorial Scholarship as well as the Academic Achievement Award and the Faculty Committee Participation Recognition. Jessica Ryan received the Clinical Excellence Award, Benjamin Todd the Advisory Committee Participation Recognition and Tiana Sims the Rachel Rhodes Scholarship.

The graduates are: 

Adams

Tiana Sims

Brockton

Johane Fleuriot

Cheshire

Jessica Ryan

Clarksburg

Breanna Sumy

Florida

Tammy Desormeaux

Holyoke

Benjamin Todd

Lanesborough

Cassidy Kiernan

North Adams

Lynn Delaware

Rose Goddard

Jennifer Racine

Ashley Reed

Gabriella Shafer

Pittsfield

Sahsha Pellot

Savoy

Hailey Williams

Stamford

Caccious Bradford

• Most Read

• Most Comments

• All News

• Blogroll

• Photos