News

Montcalm Community College recognized nursing students during a pinning ceremony on April 30 in the Beatrice E. Doser Building on the college’s Sidney campus. The students were honored for completing their Associate of Applied Science Degree in Nursing (ADN), which prepares them for national licensure as a registered nurse. 

Danielle Coty, of Vestaburg, was chosen by her fellow classmates as the designated student speaker for the ceremony. 

 "I want to start off by saying thank you to all of you that are here tonight,” Coty said. “Whether your commute was near or far, your presence is very much appreciated by each one of us. The encouragement from all of you has uplifted us on our weakest days during this program and has led us to this incredible accomplishment we are celebrating tonight.” 

Coty used the time to thank numerous nursing faculty members individually, recounting fun memories along the way. She spoke to the intensity of the nursing program and the amount of relief she and her fellow cohort feel after completion of their ADN studies. 

“They don’t see the parts of our lives we had to put on pause,” Coty said. “The birthdays we studied through, the dinners we missed, the nights we were physically home but mentally buried in material we needed to know by 9 a.m. the next day. They don’t see the guilt we carried, the constant tug-of-war between wanting to be everything for our families and having to put everything on hold for this accomplishment. Well, we can finally breathe a little bit.” 

Coty concluded her speech by sharing personal memories from each of her cohort members, celebrating their journey together one final time. 

“We have shared long nights, early mornings, clinical days that pushed us to our limits and moments that tested all of our will. This cohort is made up of some of the strongest, kindest and most resilient people I know — people who have shown up even when they were exhausted. People who kept going even when they were overwhelmed. And, most importantly, people who never gave up.” 

Honorees included: 

Edmore 

Felisha Bandfield 

Gowen 

Adison Nichols 

Greenville 

Micah Merren 

Saranac 

Kelsey Stickney 

Vestaburg 

Danielle Coty