DMACC Perry VanKirk Career Academy holds spring 2024 CNA pinning ceremony

COURTESY OF DMACC VANKIRK CAREER ACADEMY
·3 min read
Spring 2024 CNA graduates include front row, from left, Elizabeth Grell, Kiley Robinson, Alexandra Gonzalez, Sandra Alvayero, Gabriela Orellana, Mia Munoz, Kenneth Martinez, Donovin Delp. Back row, Danielle Navarro (instructor), Icela Vargas, Alisson Diaz, Lillian Carey, Miley Sanchez, Madison Stika, Isaiah Ruiz, McKenna Collum, Avalon Saddoris, NataLeigh Herron, Elizabeth Schaumburg, Jocelyn Canahui and Katie Tuel (instructor).

The DMACC Perry VanKirk Career Academy recently celebrated 20 area high school students who completed the Certified Nursing Assistant program at DMACC this spring during a special pinning ceremony on May 1 at the Hotel Pattee in Perry.

The graduating students represented six area high schools: Adel-DeSoto-Minburn High School, Dallas Center-Grimes High School, Madrid High School, Panorama High School, Perry High School and Woodward-Granger High School.

“This was one of the largest groups of CNA students we’ve had participate in the DMACC Perry VanKirk Career Academy Pinning Ceremony,” said Eddie Diaz, Director of DMACC Perry VanKirk Career Academy.

Diaz opened the ceremony by welcoming the new graduates and everyone in attendance, including family members, friends, fellow students, Career Academy staff and area high school guidance counselors. Diaz also spoke about the origins of the pinning ceremony and the legacy of nurse Florence Nightingale.

Dr. Jeanie McCarville-Kerber, Dean of the Health Science & Fitness and Public & Community Service Pathways at DMACC, served as the event’s keynote speaker and spoke about key values of the nursing profession – including empathy, patience, diversity and resilience – in her congratulatory remarks.

The 20 graduates were introduced by Diaz and awarded certificates by Connie Saenz, DMACC VanKirk Career Academy Academic Advisor, before being pinned by DMACC CNA Academy instructor Katie Tuel.

The CNA graduates are now eligible to work at long-term care facilities in Iowa and will continue on to obtain their advanced CNA certification, which will allow them to work in hospital settings as well. Students must pass state tests in order to be certified by the State of Iowa.

The graduating students were:

  • Lillian Carey, Adel-DeSoto-Minburn (ADM) High School

  • Avalon Saddoris, Dallas Center-Grimes (DCG) High School

  • McKenna Collum, Dallas Center-Grimes (DCG) High School

  • Elizabeth Schaumburg, Madrid High School

  • Donovin Delp, Panorama High School

  • Alexandra Gonzalez, Perry High School

  • Alisson Diaz, Perry High School

  • Gabriela Orellana, Perry High School

  • Icela Vargas, Perry High School

  • Isaiah Ruiz, Perry High School

  • Jocelyn Canahui, Perry High School

  • Kenneth Martinez, Perry High School

  • Kiley Robinson, Perry High School

  • Madison Stika, Perry High School

  • Mia Munoz, Perry High School

  • Miley Sanchez, Perry High School

  • Sandra Alvayero, Perry High School

  • Zoey Vail, Perry High School

  • Elizabeth Grell, Woodward-Granger High School

  • NataLeigh Herron, Woodward-Granger High School

“I am proud of the hard work and dedication these students have put in to reach this goal,” said Katie Tuel, DMACC CNA Academy instructor. “Students spent many hours in class, lab and clinical locations to achieve this certification. Some of those hours had to be completed outside of normal school hours, requiring early mornings, late evenings and weekends of clinical rotations. For many of these students, this is the beginning of their healthcare career journey. I am excited to see each of them continue to grow in the healthcare field.”

Tom Lipovac, DMACC Career Advantage Advisor, said graduates of the DMACC CNA graduates are moving forward with a strong foundation.

“Under the instruction of Katie Tuel and with the assistance of Danielle Navarro and Megan Nikolish, our students develop a strong knowledge base and the essential skills necessary in becoming valued healthcare professionals,” Lipovac said. “These students demonstrate confidence in their ability, humility in serving others, and passion for their pursuit of a purposeful career pathway.”

Thousands of high school students take advantage of DMACC Career Advantage offerings each year, giving them a jump start on their academic and career goals while attending tuition-free college courses. With the early start on college, students gain hands-on experience that can lead directly to a degree, diploma, certification, apprenticeship or a job while saving time and money.

Registration for the fall is open now. For more information, students are encouraged to visit their high school counselor or contact the DMACC Perry VanKirk Career Academy at (515) 428-8100 or perrycenter@dmacc.edu.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: DMACC Perry VanKirk Career Academy holds spring 2024 CNA pinning ceremony