Cochise College officially welcomed and celebrated the Class of 2024 registered nurse graduates at the Sierra Vista Campus on Thursday, May 16. The annual pinning ceremony began with a procession of 66 graduates. 
The pinning ceremony, a time-honored tradition in nursing, symbolizes the transition from student to nurse. It recognizes the hard work and dedication students have invested in both their coursework and clinicals. Family and friends filled the lawn, cheering as each student approached the stage to receive their pins.
As the graduates received their pins, there were many hugs and heartfelt congratulations from faculty, peers and loved ones. The pins, presented by nursing faculty members, symbolize the graduates’ commitment to providing compassionate care and readiness to enter the nursing profession.
Registered Nurse Graduates
Andrea Acuna Ochoa
Megan M. Autz
Stacey Barrios
Sheree Barss
Meghan Marie Beaudry
Lindsey Benson
Stacy Blalock
Miranda Boyer
Devin Wayne Calley
Denisse Campos
Rosalie Collins
Reyna Cordova
Haleigh Crever
Jose A. Cuevas
Logan Daley
Edward De La Rosa
Melonie DeMars
Daniel Dotson
Shana Eagen
Yarandra Echevarria
Liam Fernald
Lesley Flores
Kimberly Gloria Fragoso
Madelyn Frisby
Anastacia Theresa Frizzell
Kma Gardley
Samantha Rhae Gephart
Corrina Gomez
Willow Howie
Isabella Knipp
Jacqueline Lessard
Rylee Danielle Liberty
Alicia Martinez
Larissa Mast
Silvia Vanessa Moctezuma
Ashley Nadine Morris
Claudette Murray
Leticia Murrietta
Kendra Nicole Nelson
Annie Ohlde
Antonio Ornelas
Kimberly Orona
Mayra Perez
Jynae Gabrielle Phagan
Danny Polanco
Marie Reeves-Knipp
William B. Riesgo Jr.
Amanda Roark
Michelle Leigh Robert
Victoria Rojas
Alonso Rojo Cuevas
Yetnatletzi Rubio
Teresa Marie Ruiz
Scott Schendorf
Marissa Skattie
Desiree Spaulding
Rebecca Stover
Valerie Strait
Mikayla Tamez
Alondra Toscano
Callie Ullery
Heidi Uriarte
Candice Marie Valdez
Frank Aparicio Villasenor
Katrina Wilson
James Work
The pinning ceremony concluded with a recitation of the Nightingale Pledge, a vow to uphold the ethical and professional standards of nursing. As the graduates lit their ceremonial candles, the campus glowed with a sense of hope, pride and commitment to the future of healthcare.
Cochise College’s Nursing Program has earned a reputation for producing top-notch nursing and allied health professionals. Its impressive nursing pass rates and consistent ranking among Arizona’s top 10 nursing programs have made it a well-respected program among the communities it serves.
To learn more about the nursing program, visit www.cochise.edu/nursing.